RENOVATIONS TO BRING NEW OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDING TO NORTH MINNEAPOLIS

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An entire city block would be made new according to plans that will be presented to the City of Minneapolis' Planning Commission this week.

The unique project proposed at 212 James Avenue N would make a run down warehouse into a brand new and unique office building. There's also plans for a six story, 150 unit apartment building that will be constructed on the northern half of the block where today a concrete cald warehouse stands. That building would be demolished to make way for the new residentiaul structure.

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Current Warehouse on site | Minneapolis Planning Commission

THE OFFICE COMPONENT

The Leef, which is what the office component of this project will be called, will be a 2 story, 50,000 square foot commercial building.The targeted users of the building are large technology or design businesses. Developers estimate that in the future the businesses within the building could employ 200 or more individuals.

Designed by Twin Cities based Collage Architects, the project will take on a modern industrial vibe with large uses of exposed brick, metals, and other industrial components. An central atirum will divide the office building into two sections with the entrance being found on Currie Avenue W.

The roof of the The Leef project will have two decks, one for the building and another that is for private tenant use. The top floor will also feature a glass enclosed meeting space for the building.

Overall the project is similar to The Broadway building in Northeast Minneapolis. That projectwas developed by First & First and is home to a number of local businesses including both office and retail along with the 612 Brewery on the ground floor. The Leef might just be The Broadway's distant cousin transplanted in North Minneapolis.

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THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT

On the North side of the site a large portion an exisiting warehouse would be demolished and in its place a six story residential building would rise.

The building would be developed by Artspace, a national leader in developing live/work housing for artists and their families and would include a mixture of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units. Parking would be included on both an underground level and the ground floor. On the ground floor one will also find the building's community room along with a studios and one bedrooms. Floors one through five would hold strictly residential units.

This residential building would provide new housing in area that really hasn't been hit by the construction boom that much of Minneapolis has experienced in the last five years. While this may be the first development for this area it likely will not be the last as there is adequate land in the surrounding for similar projects to be developed in the future.

The Leef development will go before the Minneapolis Planning Commission Committee of the Whole at tomorrow's meeting. If approved construction could begin this Summer with an anticipated completion in late 2018.

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