Possible Peavey Plaza redo inches out of the starting gate

Above: Peavey Plaza shortly after it opened, in 1975 (M. Friedberg & Associates) For more photos of the plaza from across the years, go here. For video from the plaza Wednesday, including of the news conference, go here.

Story updated at 6:09 p.m.

Peavey Plaza was saved from the wrecking ball two years ago, but age continues to take its toll on the downtown Minneapolis park.

Failing pumps and drains have shut down its cylindrical fountains and transformed the plaza's centerpiece attraction, a large pond, into a permanently dry field of tiles. Once a popular gathering space for its below-ground oasis of water and greenery, now it's mainly a place for downtown workers to sit on the steps and eat lunch.

But the ball began rolling — slowly — on Wednesday toward eventual reconstruction of the property. The city is seeking a consultant to conduct what Council Member Lisa Goodman called "yet another study" of the conditions in the plaza, which must be kept largely intact following a legal battle with preservationists. Even under an ideal timeline, however, construction would not be complete until 2018.

The City Council initially sought to demolish the existing 1974 plaza and replace it with a new, more modern space that was also handicap-accessible. Preservationists sued and fought successfully to have the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, resulting in a settlement with the city in 2013 that ditched the demolition plans.

Goodman noted that the reconstruction "would have been done by now" were it not for the legal challenge.

Above: Peavey Plaza on Wednesday morning.

In addition to its deterioration, the plaza is not accessible for people in wheelchairs — a key goal of the reconstruction.

The so-called "Historic Structures Report," expected by the end of the year, will outline possible methods of rehabilitating aspects of the plaza, as well as document the current condition of the property.

"I've described it as kind of an unimpeachable set of facts about what the physical conditions are that need to be improved here," said Downtown Council President Steve Cramer. "And how those can be addressed within the context of the historic designation that has been put in place."

Doug Gasek, executive director of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the report is "a great next step...so we can hopefully finally see a fully rehabilitated Peavey Plaza in the near future."

The Downtown Council and the Downtown Improvement District are committed to programming the plaza while it awaits reconstruction.

Cramer highlighted a number of activities happening in the plaza this summer, including live music every weekday in August, yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays in July and a fitness course taught by the YWCA. A full calendar is available at downtownmpls.com/peavey.

The space also now features items designed to encourage activity, such as pianos, a bean bag toss and vinyl decals for practicing dance steps.

Goodman said they called the press conference in part because of how the $50 million reconstruction of Nicollet Mall has reignited interest in the plaza.