Reporter's notebook: Update on Minneapolis projects

Recent neighborhood meetings included updates on a number of Minneapolis projects, including:

• In November, news that the famed Forum Restaurant would experience rebirth as Il Forum offered hope for foodies and history lovers alike. ESG Architects presented an update on the renovations at the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association meeting Monday.

The team working on the architectural remodel assured residents that the beloved Art Deco dining room would retain much of its character, just with a new orientation. More than 3,500 pieces of architectural artifacts have been preserved. The project goes to the city's Heritage Preservation Commission in early March with May 15 targeted as the opening date.

• TPI Hospitality plans to start renovations this year on 317 2nd Av. S., turning the downtown Minneapolis office building into a Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

In addition to interior changes, the developer hopes to create a "new front door" on the backside of the mostly vacant building. This will allow cars to pull into a drop-off and parking zone behind the building, much like the Hotel Minneapolis, which is cater-corner from the site.

• Sebastian Joe's, a popular ice cream shop, has submitted a land use application to expand its store in the Linden Hills neighborhood. South Upton Properties Partnership is requesting a variance to allow a three-story building in an area zoned for 2½ floors. The neighborhood, which is just west of Lake Harriet, recently faced a contentious debate over building height with the Linden Crossing development.

The project site is composed of two plots at the corner of 44th Street and Upton Avenue S. — one with the existing ice cream shop and one where a duplex would need to be torn down.