Calhoun Square overhaul plan hits resistance

Plans to redevelop Calhoun Square hit a bump this week, after some area residents objected to parts of the project at a meeting of the Minneapolis Planning Commission.

The concerns focused mostly on whether adequate public space is being set aside at the Uptown shopping and entertainment complex. Some objections also were raised to plans that could lead to more large tenants at the mall.

The commission won't consider the proposed renovation again until March 31. The retail center's managers say they're surprised at the delay, because they had expected the commission to adopt recommendations by the city's planning staff to approve the project.

"We're quite puzzled, because the city's staff was completely on board with our plans," Capital Growth Madison Marquette President John Nagle said.

Calhoun Square and other property at Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street was sold in August for $47.3 million to New York investment company BlackRock. Previous owner Principal Financial Group of Des Moines had planned to redevelop the center and add two buildings with housing units.

Those plans were abandoned because of the depressed condominium market.

The new owner's plans include demolishing some small buildings at opposite ends of the center and building a two-story extension on Lake Street and another two-story extension on Hennepin near 31st Street. Plans also call for renovating the existing mall and adding two levels to the three-level parking ramp. Other changes would permit construction of 108 housing units and allow a fitness facility with extended hours.

The developers had hoped for city approval so that construction could begin in April. Work on the parking is being allowed to proceed, but the commission's decision to delay approval on the rest of the project puts the timetable for completing it at risk, Nagle said.

The Calhoun Residents Action Group has been monitoring the proposed redevelopment closely and was among those at the commission meeting expressing concerns about amenities, chiefly public space, said Aaron Rubenstein, chair of the group's zoning committee.

"We're not proposing some huge public park," he said.

The group favors some sort of gathering space that connects the mall to the street, he said.

Susan Feyder • 612-673-1723