Hot Stuff

Fritz Kroll is so hot that he's causing spontaneous combustion!

Only a Downtown Realtor could see the good in this . . .

I filled up my tank at Bobby & Steve's last night. (Ugh!) Sitting in rush hour traffic is bad enough - then you get kicked in the mouth again at the pump. I can't even imagine if I had a long commute.

The folks living downtown are saving LOTS of money on gas - not to mention time, and road rage, and frustration, and wear and tear on their cars, and carbon dioxide emissions, and on and on . . .

What ever happened to the reporters talking about the real benefits of living downtown in a loft or condo?

Smart Idea

Looking for a smart way to double the value of your ONE downtown condo parking stall? Check out the Smart Car! The length of these beauties is 8.88 feet. A standard downtown underground parking stall is 18 feet long. You could probably fit two of these cars in tandem into one stall.

Fuel consumption (from their website) is City/highway 40/45(EPA 2007); 33/41 (EPA 2008)

Am I on to something here?

Meters on Washington

In a small but important move, the city has installed parking meters on Washington Avenue (pictured above in front of Sorella.) "Why is this great?" you ask? It will slow down traffic on this busy street and provide more parking for patrons of the many new restaurants and shops as well as guests of the condo owners in the Mill District Neighborhood. The city had originally talked about "throating" the streets too, but I think the extra street work was probably not necessary.

People constantly ask about the Mayor's vision for a Washington Boulevard. It is an unfunded project and, as such, will probably remain only a tasty campaign talking point. However, I do think the meters will help push the avenue in the right direction.

There Goes Johnny!

Johnny was the infamous numbskull who bought a ground floor unit at the lovely Stone Arch Lofts in the Mill District. Stone Arch is one of the most high-end and well established boutique riverfront lofts downtown. Johnny's stay there caused quite a stir. He's since moved out and his loft has been foreclosed upon.

The home was listed this May at a ridiculously low price see listing but is now in purchase agreement at an appropriate market value. This listing caused one of the biggest feeding frenzies to date in the neighborhood with many offers being presented the day it listed. This little exercise has proven the market strength of the building and the neighborhood.

Bye Bye, Johnny!

Condo Couture

How's a sales agent supposed to stay looking like a million bucks when sloshing through mud, dust, & sheetrock screws on a construction site? Pictured above - this seasons latest new-construction couture. Shoes by MBT and binder clips by OfficeMax.
Shot on site at the Zenith sales trailer.

Mob Scene at Mill City Market

I got a chance to stroll the Mill City Farmer's Market today - it's 2nd weekend of the season - and it looks like MCM will continue its heavenly attendance trajectory. In short, it was packed.

There isn't even a lot of produce available yet as it is so early in the season. That didn't stop every Prius drivin', birkenstock wearin', tree-huggin', green-lovin' Minneapolitan from showing up en masse. Lots of downtown condo-dwellers there, too. I suspect this is as much a social affair as it is a market for the many downtowners that show up religiously every weekend.

This is just one of the many reasons the Mill District has become such a highly sought-after residential neighborhood.

View from Zenith

I took these evening shots from the top floor penthouse at Zenith Condominiums . . . talk about million dollar views! The view of Gold Medal Park shows the progress on the 35W Bridge. This home has a walkout terrace that overlooks the park and The Guthrie.

Our team has been working on this project for over 2 years now and it is uniquely satisfying to be able to walk through a space that at one time was only a vision.

Cotty is Spot on.

Cotty Lowry brought a timely new twist to his billboard this month. His billboard has become real estate legend in Minneapolis. It's been at the same location on Hennepin and Franklin on the side of Burch's Pharmacy for as long as I can remember. The expected and exhalted vandalism and graffiti to Cotty's mug catches everyone's attention and (usually) brings a smile to everyone who passes. See Cotty's site for a choice selection of past art that's graced his face.

I would love to see a picture of someone in the act. Anyone?

Secret Special Spaces #1

I love stumbling on unexpected treasures. I recently toured The Bellevue Condos in Downtown Minneapolis on Hennepin Avenue for the first time. This is a very recognizable 5-story red brick building at 13th Street - Eli's and Espresso Royale are on the main floor with condos above. The building exterior is very ornate. Built pre-1900, the interior common spaces are classic with lots of shiny decorative woodwork.

The condo was exceptionally cool, but what blew me away was the interior atrium I discovered (pictured). OMG! Who would have thought something like this even existed here - I was immediately transported to an old-world european city. Like some bohemian Parisian apartment block. The sunlight filtered through a jungle of hanging and crawling plants - each balcony space was lovingly adorned. This is the condo building that time forgot, and it has definitely stood the test.

Word on the street is that the homeowners here are as unique as their building.

Art at Humboldt Lofts

The homeowner association at Humboldt Lofts in the Mill District is taking lobby art to a new level with a rotating show curated internally by the homeowners. I was recently on a showing of a lovely corner loft here and stumbled across this wonderfully subtle photographic tryptich by John Johnston.

I spoke with the resident who is managing the process and they showcase different pieces from local artists on each floor in their spacious elevator lobbies on a rotating basis. Periodically, the association will vote to acquire a piece permanently. Brilliant.
>>More about Humboldt Lofts

Renderings of Mill District City Apartments

After many requests from neighbors who didn't make it to the DMNA presentation of this project, I've added conceptual renderings (click here to see more images) that the developer Village Green presented that night. (I posted on this subject earlier in March.)

I am personally very supportive of this project. It is right for the market, the developer is reputable, it will get done, and it will improve property values for other owners in the Mill District. Please post comments and start a dialogue.

A public meeting on the proposal is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th at 6:30pm at Level 5 Cafe at the Guthrie. Feel free to attend and offer comments then, too. also to be reviewed is the Marmont Apartments project proposed by Steve Frenz on the Electronic Recovery Site (on Gold Medal Park near Bridgewater and Zenith)

Now Presenting - The Unbelievably Bad Real Estate Photos Hall of Fame

Click here for this visual feast! (You have to click "Run" for the tour) Let me know which one is your favorite. I like the toilet paper roll. I take all the photos for our listings and I must admit, I have photographed my own shoes before!

Yikes!

Hindsight is always 20/20, but I have to say I saw this coming from a market away. The Downtown Journal just ran this article Building Community Out of Chaos about the problems that arose at the Sexton in Downtown Minneapolis. Bad stuff. Thank god the residents and Gittleman Management have gotten things considerably squared away. Now they just need to deal with the legal mess the developer has left them in.

If there is one good reason to use an experienced realtor that KNOWS the area you are looking to buy in, this is it. It is so very hard in this industry to truly quantify the value you can bring to a buyer or seller. The skill of understanding which properties buyers should avoid takes many years to develop and, once acquired, is hard to explain.

Here were the hints from the outset: Developers with questionable reputations and not-so-clear proclamations of who they actually were; tough site surrounded by surface lots; phased development requiring building of a second building to provide promised parking; over-sexed marketing campaign focused on only one type of buyer rather than diverse audience; and word of mouth from realtors and buyers of nasty experiences upon move-in.

The Sexton is an unusual case of a "Broken Condo", but Buyers do need to be aware of these risks. Fingers crossed and hearts out to buyers at the Sexton - it is a very cool building with many clear benefits and I am optimistic the the return if the market will make things much better for the residents there.

Go Brenda!

Just had a delicious lunch at what has become a neighborhood landmark - Spoonriver. Kudos to Brenda Langton (seen here with famous bartender Tony in on his day off, testing wines) and her wonderful staff. Everything tastes so good, the location is so wonderful, and the interior is sublime - it all just makes you feel so damned good to be there - almost like a spa.

Spoonriver is on the main floor of Humboldt Lofts, the uber-cool condos next door to the new Guthrie Theater in the Mill District. Its become popular not only with the throngs of theater-goers, but also a line-up of legenday local philanthropists and captains of industry. What a breath of fresh air - and such a contrast to the "trying-too-hard" macho spots in the central biz district.

You go girl.

Upscale Apartments Proposed for Mill District

Village Green unveiled plans this week to neighborhood residents for a proposed apartment development in the Mill District in Downtown Minneapolis. The site, located on Washington Avenue and Portland was the former site of the Portland Condominiums.

The design is contemporary with clean lines and it doesn't attempt to mimic the historic buildings around it (thank god). Exterior materials are brick and metal with the possibility of some core-ten steel. The overall appearance is somewhat reminiscent of the cancelled Portland Condominiums designed by James Dayton that Brighton Development was proposing prior to their sale of the land to Village Green. Key to the site is a courtyard in the center of the block that is owned by the adjacent Park Avenue Lofts condominiums. The landscape plan is quite lush and the presentation was well received. The apartments would be market rate with no city subsidies. Rents on the apartments would be in the mid-to upper bracket range with high quality interior finishes and reflecting the project's excellent location. Construction is anticipated to start this year.

This lot has been very closely observed because of its high profile and proximity to major cultural institutions such as the Guthrie, Mill City Museum, and MacPhail Center for Music. Expectations of quality design are also quite high due to the many architecturally and historically significant structures in the immediate vicinity.

This project will go before the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on April 8. DMNA is the neighborhood association representing residents and businesses in downtown. This is the best way for downtown residents and business owners to voice their thoughts on the project.
Click here for a related MN Real Estate Journal article.
Click Here for a related Star Tribune Article.

New Kindee on the Block

Another new restaurant is coming to Downtown Minneapolis' Historic Mill District. Kindee is a new Thai Restaurant under construction right across the street from the Guthrie Theater and Spoonriver Cafe in the St. Anthony Mills apartment building. When I checked in on the construction crew last week, they were expecting a May or June completion date. The menu will have a more modern spin than the nearby Sawatdee. Sounds great to me! It's nice to see these street-level windows filling up with tenants.

Zenith & Aloft Hotel Take Shape

Zenith Condominiums and Aloft Hotel are flying in the Mill District. Aloft is on course for occupancy this summer and Zenith later this year. Windows are going in on both buildings and the exterior skin should be visible soon. Check out Aloft's updated website. Zenith sales are steady with a top-floor penthouse reserved this week. Hard hat tours are now available.

With the Revue project one block away officially cancelled, it looks like there could actually be a shortage of condos in downtown's Mill District by the time Zenith is built. It's the three L's.

New Home for Denney Kemp Salon

Denney Kemp and his salon fantastica is headed to new digs just up Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis. They are taking over the iconic metal mauve colored building across the street from White Castle. I noticed recently that in his emminent hipness, Denney has installed a gigantic John Grider painting in the lobby (above). These images are stunning - see John's website at www.brokencrow.com and also www.shinyrobot.com for more artists doing great work in the area. It never ceases to amaze me the power of art and good design to brighten up an area that was previously seen as somewhat seedy. The addition of Red Stag, Key North, Fox Tax, Popular Front Interactive, and Left of Center Style has changed the face of this area practically overnight.

R&R Social Club at the U Otter Stop Inn

Last week we hosted our R&R Social Club event at the U Otter Stop Inn in Northeast Minneapolis. This wonderful neighborhood hole in the wall is one of the best karaoke bars in the city and its otter-themed decor is adorable. We had a nice turnout of R&R regulars and some new faces too. Thanks to the Cobalt Condo residents for representin'. Did I sing - hell yes, I sang. The place is addictive and Kat the karaoke operator is one of the sweetest. Stay tuned for our next R&R event at the Red Stag.

Zenith Rising in the Mill District

Progress on Zenith Condominiums and Aloft Hotel in the Mill District are rocketing through construction. Aloft (a funky, yet more-affordable version of W) is set to open this summer in anticipation of the Republican Convention in St. Paul. On the same block is the first phase of Zenith Condos which is already at the seventh floor of nine total.

Zenith is our latest and greatest new construction project and we are pleased to see it getting built in this tough real estate market. Its location next to the River, the Guthrie and Gold Medal Park have propelled sales on the first phase, which is estimated to be ready for occupancy later this year.

Check out the promotional video we've done for Zenith - you'll see some very smart & very happy buyers.

Learn more about our projects and other Downtown Minneapolis Condos at our website www.hoffmanparkin.com.

Fire at Maxwells Bar & Scandia Furniture

A fire this morning destroyed Maxwell's Bar and Scandia furniture store in the Mill District at 12th and Washington. The aftermath was eery with the entire building shrouded in ice from the firefighter's hoses. Maxwell's was a popular destination for many residents in Downtown Minneapolis Condos.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, but our hearts go out to the residents who have lost their homes and the owners and employees of both businesses. Whether the buildings or businesses can be salvaged is unclear, but they will certainly be missed.

See more on this story at:
Downtown Journal >>
Twin Cities Daily Panet >>
Star Tribune >>

Brasa Yum

Just had lunch at Northeast Minneapolis' Brasa. It's the latest from Restaurant Alma's Alex Roberts. It's housed in what used to be Betty's Bikes & Buns. The space is delightfully simple in a former service garage with tons of natural light. The food is equally good with an ultra-simple menu of just savory pork or chicken and a variety of sides. I always have a cava when I'm there - I love the guilty pleasure of imbibing over lunch. Look for locals, hipsters, and foodies. Free parking too which is certainly appreciated during a busy & cold day. Congrat Alex - ya dun good. See more neighborhood good stuff at www.northeastminneapolis.com

Cobalt in the Strib

Cobalt Condominium's unique all-glass facade was featured in the Star Tribune today in an article discussing the virtues of living with floor-to-ceiling windows. See the Article

'Tis the wave of the future!

Inside Peek at MacPhail

Here's an inside peek at the gorgeous new performance hall at the MacPhail Center for Music in Downtown Minneapolis' Historic Mill District. Designed by local architect James Dayton, we often refer to MacPhail as the "Juilliard of Mineapolis."

My friend, Suzuki Violin Instructor Beatrice Blanc, was kind enough to give us a behind the scenes tour. In addition to the great architecture, the spaces provide wonderful new facilities for the instructors and students.

We are so happy to have yet another wonderful new attraction in the neighborhood.

Welcome to CondoMondo

This is the first of what will be many posts on our new blog. Check back for info on the Downtown Minneapolis real estate market,exciting happenings downtown, and info about our wonderful homes for sale.

Thank you for your interest!