A new multi-family residential development in Dinkytown is seeking approval from the City and the neighborhood, which have raised concerns over the proposal.
The Minneapolis City Planning Commission reviewed the CA Ventures-backed development last week before its upcoming proposal to the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association. The project, located at 1202 4th St. SE next to the Southeast Library, would be a 111-unit, multi-family housing option targeted at students, according to the developer’s checklist.
“We … saw this as a transitional project between Dinkytown and, really, Marcy-Holmes to the west,” said Neil Reardon, senior project manager for the development during the city planning commission meeting.
The developers did not receive a necessary letter of support from MHNA after their initial proposal, but are expected to propose to MHNA again on Oct. 2.
The neighborhood association had a number of concerns about the initial proposal, said Chris Lautenschlager, executive director of MHNA. At the time, the developers had not discussed the project with its proposed neighbors, including the Southeast Library. The library will be starting its own renovations by the end of the year.
Lautenschlager said the development could impact these renovations, which have been in the works for over a decade. The developers have discussed the project with the Southeast Library since its initial proposal, but it is unknown how this discussion could change the project.
The development has a low number of parking spaces compared to its number of units and bike stalls, which could lead to traffic caused by congested street parking, Lautenschlager added. The proposed development requested a variance to reduce the minimum number of parking stalls from 151 to 70.
The proposed project ends about 18 feet from the curb, which Alissa Luepke-Pier, vice president of the planning commission, said could affect pedestrian traffic.
“You’re either [walking] right up against the street or you’re right up against a tall, boxy building. And neither are good pedestrian experiences,” Luepke-Pier said.
Committee president Matthew Brown said he wouldn’t be opposed to having the building so close to the plot line, but it would need to be justified or else the property may need to undergo rezoning.
The developers are expected to propose the project at the MHNA Land Use and Development Committee meeting on Oct. 2 and could receive a letter of support by mid-October.
