31 STORY SKYSCRAPER PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN WEST

The Hotel Ivy might soon be getting a new neighbor, one that might take a bit of its spotlight away.

Local real estate developer, Alatus, is planning a 31 story mixed-use building at 228 S 12th Street, a site that is directly next door to the Hotel Ivy.

Previously the site was home to a church built in the 1950's that has sat vacant since 2006. Alatus would demolish that structure along with the adjacent parking lot, both of which have already been approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission.

The close proximity to Downtown businesses, such as the Target Headquarters, make this site an excellent location for residential units. The project would include 360 residential units (most likely apartments) that would be found within floors 3-29 along with 8,769 sqf of retail and restaurant space on the ground floor, and 4,800 sqf of office space on the second floor.

THE DESIGN

The ground floor would include a large auto-court, bike storage, residential lobby and offices, and two retail spaces. On the first floor at the corner of 2nd Avenue S and 12th Street S would be a 5,031 sqf retail space. On the opposite corner at 3rd Avenue S and 12th Street S there would be another commercial space of 3,738 sqf of space. Both are perfect sites for a restaurant, something that the area is currently lacking and something that attendees to the convention center (which is across the street) often complain about.

The 380 residential units within the building would be a mix of studio/alcove units, 1-bedroom units, 1-bedroom plus den units, 2-bedroom units, 2-bedroom plus den units, and 3-bedroom+ units. Developers hope to provide accommodations for all types of lifestyles.

Floors 26-29 will hold larger penthouse units, the details of those exact units have yet to be revealed.

Amenities for residents will include "a pet spa, a hotel-like lobby/leasing center and Wi-Fi coffee lounge, fitness center, yoga studio, club room and resort-style courtyard" according to the documents filed with the city. The building will offer its residents on-site management, indoor parking, and private storage lockers.

The seventh floor will also feature an outdoor deck that will have a number of amenities for residents and perfect views of the downtown skyline.

An ample amount of parking will be included within the project for both residents and public use. 580 stalls, all enclosed within the building, will be located on one underground and six above levels.

THE CONSTRUCTION

Constructed with post-tensioned concrete, the building will feature a modern and contemporary design. Standing 407 feet tall at the roof line, one unique element will stand out; a back-lit frosted glass panel and decorative light feature at the top along with a LED color changing spire that would reach from the ground floor all the way to 108 feet above the roofline. The final building height would clock in at 515 feet tall. To put that in context, the neighboring Hotel Ivy is 26 stories and stands 301 feet tall.

The design of the facade of the building would include expansive windows that would allow ample natural daylight into the residential units. The exterior would be clad in pre-cast concrete, metal panels, and high-pressure laminated panels and glass. Outdoor recessed balconies will be found within many of the residential units layouts.

One element that we love about the construction of the building is that the fact that a long portion of the ground facade is recessed back from the first two floors, allowing the upper floors of the building, beginning at the third level, to jut out. The exposed columns within this area will be covered with a polished black granite.

A number of ground floor improvements will be made to the streetscape such as extensive landscaping along with an artistic sculpture within an outdoor plaza at the corner of 3rd Avenue S and 12th Street S.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that this one sails through as we think it's a phenomenal project. Way to go on the design, ESG!

This project will head to the Minneapolis Planning Commission's Committee of the Whole at their February 8th meeting.