What was the cost of your last fill-up at the pump? It is no secret that gas prices are at a record high across the country. In 2011, the yearly national average for a gallon of gas was $3.513, a whopping 72.6-cents per gallon higher than the national average price for 2010. This translates to the typical American spending $400 more in 2011 than 2010. Commuting is becoming more and more expensive as the summer months near with per-gallon pricing likely to exceed $5 for regular unleaded. 

  While one solution could be to downsize your inefficient truck or SUV to a more economical commuter, relocating closer to your downtown office could end your gas woes permanently. Condo living in the Mill District, North Loop, and downtown Minneapolis areas is

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Minneapolis Skyways

  Minnesota winters get cold. Very cold. For many who frequent downtown Minneapolis, these figid temperatures may have you thinking twice about making the trip downtown to the Nicollett Mall or surrounding business in the heart of the city. The climate controlled skyways span over 7 miles across downtown, linking multiple buildings to each other over the busy streets in the city. This unique system allows citizens to navigate the urban areas without stepping foot outside. Weather can no longer be an excuse toenjoy the restaurants, businesses, and shops that you love in the large towers.  Panoramic windows still allow daylight and scenic views of downtown to be apartof your commute, making this skyway system an all around solution

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Through the boom of the early 1980s when downtown was a skyline of cranes busy working on multiple Minneapolis Condo developments numerous buildings surfaced such as The Crossings which tied the skyway system together on the north end of the city.  There was also the dramatic Loring Green East and West at the south end of Nicollet Mall which was a massive project consisting of well over 500+ total units.  On the other side of the river a 170 year old Kajima Corporation started work on La Rive in Northeast Minneapolis. 

  These buildings have stood the test of time but with anything starts to become dated as soon as construction is complete. 

  Recently homeowners associations have become keen to updating their common area elements with greater

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  Plans are under way for a future Trader Joe's to unfold in the Uptown area along Lyndale and 27th St in the coming months.  The only thing stopping the Minneapolis real estate development taking place are city and neighborhood approvals.

The Proposal
A new 14,000 square foot Trader Joe’s grocery and liquor store on the corner of 27th Street and Lyndale Avenue in the Wedge area of Minneapolis. This is just outside of Lyn-Lake and the core of Uptown. Currently the site is home to four buildings with two separate owners.

One owner has been in the neighborhood since the mid 60s, the Geurts family.  They own the Sunnyside Up Cafe/Coin Laundry building, the building that’s home to a tee-shirt shop and the building that’s home to Planet Soccer. 

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  Yesterday I wrote an offer for a buyer client on a Minneapolis Condo that we knew the seller already had multiple offers.  Multiple offers in this real estate market you ask?  Yes and the trend will begin to ripple across the market as we see new listings drop (-16.1%), pending sales increase (11%) and closed sales increase (8%) year over year.

  The North Loop condo was priced right--arguably under market value, in a financially healthy building with good resale trends.  There were already 3 offers on the condo and our strategy was to offer 5% above list price with zero closing costs and non-refundable earnest money to combat the fact that the buyer was financing some of the purchase price as opposed to a cash offer to sweeten the deal.

 

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  The future of downtown Minneapolis looks busy-really busy when you factor the amount of residents the city is predicting will begin calling downtown their home over the next 15 years. 

  In a bold move today the Downtown City Council released a plan of action that charts the progress for development in the urban core of the city. 

  For decades, suburbs have captured growing shares of the job and retail markets. But the next successful economy, when it arrives, may turn the tables by placing higher value on the efficiency and proximity that traditional big-city downtowns can offer.

  Downtowns come with ready-made templates for compact living, working and shopping -- all without the need for long, costly car trips. And they provide the

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  Last week was quite busy in the Minneapolis Condo market-two very large purchases were made.  One in multiple offers at the Washburn Lofts in the MIll District and the other at Phoenix on the River.   

  Washburn Lofts was part of the Washburn-Crosby Mills from long ago that was turned to lofts in the early 2000s before the Minneapolis Condo boom took hold of the area--the Mill District was still coming together as a neighborhood from a previous life as a heavy industrial area.  The extremely well appointed, multi million dollar unit under contract in the building is on the top floor which includes an outdoor terrrace that measures roughly 3200 square feet.  The lot has fantastic downtown and riverviews of the city making it a rarity in the

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  The sign of our times: another highly successful local company is in the works to develop a vacant city lot in the Mill District.  Some of the most amazing ice cream in the twin cities through the years has consistently come from Izzy's Ice Cream.  An icon to St Paul residents the owners of Izzy's have putin an offer to purchase a vacant lot at 1100 2nd Street South in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis. 

  The plan is to build a headquarters beginning in 2012.  Owners Jeff Sommers and Lara Hammel have been working with David Salmela, local architect extraordinaire, on the plans which calls for a 1.5 story building.  The lot is located to the east of Gold Medal Park next to the Guthrie and Bridgewater Lofts.

  The city recently took

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The landmark building of downtown Minneapolis is the IDS Center which opened its doors in 1973.  If you include a 16 foot garage which houses the window washing equipment, at 792 feet it is truly the tallest building in the city.  If you include the communications spires on the top of the roof the structure rises to a total of 909 feet.  Originally developed for Investors Diversified Services which is now Aperiprise it now houses a collection of legal firms and family offices.  The 57-story IDS became the tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis when it surpassed the height of the 30-story Foshay Tower in 1972 while under construction, ending that building's 43-year reign over the city skyline. Construction of the building was followed with great interest,…

  Local real estate broker United Properties announced the sale of three parcels at 10th Street and Nicollet Mall to retail giant Target not too long ago.  Prior to this the site had enjoyed years of speculation, rumors and setbacks that prohibited anything from moving forward on the site.

  During the heyday of the condo boom this site was to be the future home of a massive condo project called The Nicollet that was to reach 56 stories into the sky.  Plans called for some office space but mainly condominiums.  The attraction at the time was location of being right downtown, having a skyway connected building and the views from the height of the tower.    

  Currently Target does not have definitive plan for the site but rumors are starting

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