East Town, also known as Downtown East, used to be "weed strewn lots and abandoned rail yards."
"The 20-year transformation of Washington Avenue S. in downtown Minneapolis is headed toward a finale that features five projects worth more than a half-billion dollars that would turn the area’s last surface parking lots into residences, shops and offices," report Jim Buchta and Nicole Norfleet.
The article describes the changes underway along Washington Avenue, east of Downtown Minneapolis, as a building boom where once there was only "risky" development investments. Change first arrived in 1999, when "CSM restored the historic train shed and Depot landmark and created the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, the Residence Inn and the Depot event space, that included an ice rink and an office center across the street," according to Buchta and Norfleet.
Now a 30-story luxury apartment tower and a new fire station are in the works, and a Trader Joe's was recently added, among lots of other changes. "East Town is not just the North Loop’s little brother anymore. It’s become its own thing," says Shane LaFave, director of multifamily development for Sherman Associates, in the article.
FULL STORY: Remake of Washington Avenue in Minneapolis enters final phase
Super Bowl Will Highlight Stadium's Surrounding Urban Development
Urbanists and planners might consider looking at the development outside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Super Bowl Sunday. Gone are the vast parking lots surrounding the Metrodome, replaced with mixed use and a popular park, the Commons.
New Park, Developments Reshaping Downtown East in Minneapolis
A new park and lots of new development will follow the under-construction stadium for the Vikings on the eastern side of Minneapolis urban core.
A ‘Public Realm Action Plan’ Charts San Francisco’s Post-Covid Comeback
A nonprofit business group released a plan to trigger the post-pandemic revitalization of Downtown San Francisco by reclaiming public space for human scale activity. But is an improved public realm sufficient to meet the challenge?
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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