Kingfield To Get New Building?

An empty lot in Kingfield could soon get a visit from construction crews if city authorities approve key elements of the project next week.

Developer Michael Lander wants to build a three-story, four-unit building at 3824 Grand Avenue South. One of the four units is in the building's basement, kindly referred to as "garden-level" in today's apartment marketing-speak.

Lander's company was also involved in "38," the redevelopment of the building at the corner of 38th and Nicollet several years ago.

According to preliminary plans Lander shared with Patch (posted at right), the building will be done in a contemporary style, with a large, projecting set of windows on its front façade.

The property is zoned for a building containing as many as seven housing units, but Lander told Patch he decided to stick with four to match the other fourplexes in its area of Grand Avenue.

For similar reasons, he said, he is asking the city to let his building to get four feet closer to the sidewalk from the lot's 24-foot minimum distance. Many other buildings on the 3800 block of Grand, he said, share that smaller setback. The City of Minneapolis Zoning Board of Adjustment will review Lander's request at its Thursday, Sept. 13 meeting.

The project has also won support from the Kingfield Neighborhood Association.

"KFNA supports an increase of density and diversity of housing in the neighborhood—especially along transportation corridors—and this street already has a number of fourplexes, so all I heard from the (redevelopment) committee was support for the proposal," the association's Executive Director Sarah Lines-Robinson told Patch in an email.