Watch this Space: Lake Street & Knox Ave. South

New Luxury Apartments Uptown

What does it take to break ground -- in Minnesota in December, no less -- for a new commercial project in a weak economy for development?

An "A+" location, a proven concept, and access to capital (#3 follows #1 and #2).

In this case, CPM Development and Shelard Group just broke ground off the northeast corner of Lake Calhoun for what will be a $10 million, mixed use property with both 55 luxury rentals and ground-floor retail space.

The official address is 1738 West Lake Street.

The project follows in the footsteps of other, mixed use developments near the City Lakes emphasizing luxury rentals, such as The Ellipse on Excelsior (see, "Pendulum Swings Towards Rentals").

Occupancy is scheduled for Summer, 2011; no word yet on pricing or model units.

"Uptown West Apartments"

Make that,
"Uptown Very West"

"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

I'd actually add a third category to the above: real estate developments.

So, once upon a time when I lived in Manhattan, I rented an apartment at One Columbus Place, that was neither "One" nor on Columbus Circle, its putative namesake.

In fact, One Columbus Place and its next-door sibling, Two Columbus Place, were both about two blocks -- and one very major Manhattan avenue -- to the west.

Stretching the Envelope?

To that genre, now add "Uptown West Apartments," located in St. Louis Park just east of Highway 100 and north of Highway 25 (Highway 7 to us old-timers).

The new signs in front loudly announce the complex's new name, along with the fact that it's under new management (the latter explains the former).

So, is the name merely "stretching the envelope" -- or tearing it?

Put it this way: if you're at least contiguous to the area you're claiming proximity to -- think, West Virginia and Virgina -- you're stretching the envelope.

However, when you're almost three whole neighborhoods away (in this case, Sunset Gables, Fern Hill and practically all of St. Louis Park's Triangle neighborhood) . . . I'd argue you that you're tearing it.

What's Up With Uptown?

Busy Thursday Night

What's up with Uptown?

A lot, it turns out.

Last night, I wandered around the newly redesigned Calhoun Square (BIG improvement) while noshing on all the free food vendors were giving out; went across the street for some great Thai food (not free); and heard a new hip-hop group, called "No Bird Sing."

Not "went to see"-- rather, "heard," as in, "they were so loud I literally couldn't avoid hearing them as I walked by." (that seemed to be a minority take, though).

What's that, you didn't realize Uptown had a new music venue?

No Bird Sing was playing at the new Apple store on Hennepin -- one of the coolest retail stores I've ever been in, anywhere (skylights, 30' (?) ceilings, electronic wall displays -- and of course, throngs of people).