4250 Upton project, formerly called the Linden Corners is just bizarre, it does not have a building permit. The City Linden Hills Development Moratorium established because of this project. This project can not start until the small area plan is developed by the Community and approved by the Minneapolis City Council. “The City put on a Linden Hills Development Moratorium - a moratorium on any new zoning changes AND BUILDING PERMITS in Linden Hills. Until a small area plan was developed. “Hodges' proposal says the temporary ban would make sure the neighborhood organization's efforts to develop a "small area plan" don't get cut off at the knees before it's completed”
Any project in Minneapolis Minnesota that has over 6 residential units needs special approval to proceed. Which means the Moratorium is in effect on this project .Thus the City Linden Hills Development Moratorium - a moratorium on any new zoning changes and building permits in Linden Hills, applies. So this project cannot proceed until a small area plan is developed by the Community and approved by the Minneapolis City Council. At some point I am sure the City Council will stop this project until the small area plan is completed.
Also there is an existing pocket park at the corner of 43rd and Upton, which is a public park. Taking public land and bringing it into a private development, is going to need special approval. (I think this also may be illegal). Either way, the Moratorium applies to this project

@James Sanna Thank You, I did not know “The city stopped requiring Conditional Use Permits for multi-family (6+ units) buildings some months ago”. I guess in Minneapolis Developers rule, and the Community loses. This will get solved in the next election.
As for “the city won't be vacating the pocket park. We'll know for certain when Dwyer's architects finalize the plans, but my understanding is that their proposal for the pocket park may end up being slightly larger (in total square footage) that the area owned by the city. We'll have to wait and see on that one, though.” Any way you look at it, they are “Taking public land and bringing it into a private development. (I still think this may be illegal). City of Minneapolis has one of the Best Parks Systems in the nation, doing this would be a disgrace.
Lastly the 4250 Upton project formerly called the Linden Corners violates the intent of City Linden Hills Development Moratorium. This is clear by Minneapolis City Councilwoman Betsy Hodges and others on the Minneapolis Council ““Hodges' proposal says the temporary ban would make sure the neighborhood organization's efforts to develop a "small area plan" don't get cut off at the knees before it's completed”

The Famous Dave’s space in Linden Hills is important, this is a great space for the right development. (location, size, last great Linden Hills to be developed) Development at West 43rd Street and Upton Ave. S Minneapolis Minnesota can either ensure success for the Linden hills area for years to come, or it can destroy the Linden Hills Business district and thereby destroy Historic Linden Hills. That is why the small area plan is vital. I agree with Jenny Anderson “People in the Linden Hills Community want the Famous Dave’s space to be developed responsibly. We want to see development there, and we want the project to fit with the neighborhood, and want the project to be successful long term. We do not want a project that will sit empty like other projects nearby – 50th and Xerxes retail, Excelsior and Grand retail, or the massive amount of condos that have failed and are now turned into apartments, reducing the property value of houses and other businesses. We do not want this project to fail due to developer’s lack of financial ability, or incompetence” The 4250 Upton project formerly called the Linden Corners violates the intent of City Linden Hills Development Moratorium. This is clear by Minneapolis City Councilwoman Betsy Hodges and others on the Minneapolis Council ““Hodges' proposal says the temporary ban would make sure the neighborhood organization's efforts to develop a "small area plan" don't get cut off at the knees before it's completed”

I also agree with sam c
"@ Joe - You said “Excelsior and Grand is one of the best mixed-use developments the metro has had in a long time”. Then why is there so much empty retail space – empty retail space for years? Why did so many businesses fail there?
And why did the condo prices drop like a rock. And why are there now so many apartments there.

As far as knee jerk reaction, the reason there was a Moratorium was so a well thought out small area plan could be put in place by the community, city planners, and the city council. “ City put on a Linden Hills Development Moratorium - a moratorium on any new zoning changes and building permits in Linden Hills. Until a small area plan was developed. “Hodges' proposal says the temporary ban would make sure the neighborhood organization's efforts to develop a "small area plan" don't get cut off at the knees before it's completed””

“Starting this project up again before the small area plan is completed and approved is just looking for trouble. So sad the Linden Hills community is being ripped apart by this, especially since there was a perfect solution of having a Moratorium until small area plan was developed"

I agree with Jenny Anderson http://southwestminneapolis.patch.com/articles/linden-corner-development-returns-at-half-size “How can this happen, I thought this ended with the city council voting down Mark Dwyer be able to put up a building here, And then the City put on a Linden Hills Development Moratorium ... And how can Mark Dwyer have any credibility now: We were at the meetings were he and his experts said to make the project work at this location the project needed to be 5 stories high and blocks long, or it would be a disaster for the community, the developers, the city and others. So if we go by what Mark Dwyer and his experts said, putting a half sized project would be a disaster.
Starting this project up again before the small area plan is completed and approved is just looking for trouble So sad the Linden Hills community is being ripped apart by this, especially since there was a perfect solution of having a Moratorium until small area plan was developed.”

With Bayers hardware in Linden Hills closed, out of business.
And Chize Salon in Linden Hills closed, out of business, and sitting empty for the last year.
We must get the project on Linden Corners right. For the good of the community, the businesses, and Minneapolis Minnesota.

@ James Sanna

Could you please do an article about Bayers Hardware in Linden Hills closed, out of business?

Thank You

A minor correction: The city does not own the land under the pocket park. They have an easement that allows it to be used in this way.