The Day the Laughter Died: Acme Comedy's Parking Crisis

As someone who follows local development politics pretty closely, I've been watching a strange new debate unfold at City Hall. We're used to hearing concerns about parking and neighborhood "character" from longtime homeowners. Now, that same argument is coming from a cast of comedians in support of Acme Comedy Co's quest to stop the development of a neighboring parking lot into an apartment building.

Rocket House and the Turkey Guys Explained

World famous Rocket House.

Cards and letters have been pouring in with questions about one topic in particular. So here's everything you always wanted to know about the master builders of our time: Danny Perkins and Drew Levin, aka the Turkey Guys.

City Council “Outraged” Over DNR Downzoning to Benefit Elected Officials

Two members of the Minneapolis City Council have expressed serious concern over what they see as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources pushing special land-use restrictions that would protect the proverbial backyards of certain unnamed elected officials. The comments were made during a June 9 Zoning and Planning Committee discussion about new rules for the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area. The MRCCA is an area along the Mississippi River subject to "special land development regulations that protect and preserve unique natural, recreational, transportation, and cultural features."

Investigating Renter Trash

Whittier: more renter trash than your average neighborhood.

There's a new line of argument against new multi-unit rental housing becoming fashionable with concerned residents in the Wedge and nearby neighborhoods. It has to do with trash. Here's an argument made by the group Minneapolis Neighbors United against a 10-unit apartment building at 2008 Bryant Ave:

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If you appreciate our hyperlocal coverage, purchase the shirt that says, "No matter where I am, I'm always live on scene at a neighborhood news event."

Tribute to Parking and Industrial Areas We Have Lost

Over the last ten years the Wedge neighborhood has seen the industrial and parking areas adjacent to the Midtown Greenway transformed into one apartment building after another. This video takes a look back at what we've lost.

One Block, 32 Apartments Too Many

Inspired by the New York Times' recent analysis of Manhattan buildings that would not be legal under current zoning, I undertook a far less ambitious analysis of one block of the Wedge neighborhood. By today's zoning standards, on this one block, there are 32 apartments too many. Seven out of 23 buildings have too many dwelling units; these nonconforming buildings range from triplexes to a 23-unit apartment building. This is largely the result of the neighborhood's 1975 downzoning.