Minneapolis: Should Historic Alley Block $200 Million Development?

Minneapolis: Should Historic Alley Block $200 Million Development?

City officials and developers debated that question in a recent hearing on the Pacific Condo/Hotel project proposed for the 200 block of Washington Avenue. Project consultants said they did not realize construction of a parking ramp over an alley would even be a point of contention. "The alley is not a core feature of the Warehouse District," Historian Charlene Roise told the Heritage Preservation Commission, referring to the alley next to the Monte Carlo Building. Heritage Preservation and Zoning & Planning commissioners disagreed, voting that elimination of the 150-year old alley would negatively impact building bulk and scale, ultimately hurting the historic character of the neighborhood.