North Loop

The North Loop neighborhood, located on the north edge of the Warehouse District has deep roots as an industrial and commercial center. In the late 1800s, the heyday of railroads and streetcars, the neighborhood was bustling with millers, farmers, and furriers. But then, as the industrial boom declined and trucks began to replace trains as a popular mode of business transport, the North Loop lost much of its vitality and energy.

In the 1970s, a smattering of artists moved in, attracted to the cheap rents and large, empty warehouse spaces perfect for studios and galleries. The North Loop, though, remained a sort of quiet urban hinterland of railyards until the condo boom of the late 1990s. Today, it is bustling once again, only this time many of the tenants are loft and condo owners who crave density but want to preserve the neighborhood’s quirky industrial and artistic history.

Mad for Lofts and Condos
Back in the eighties, developer Jim Stanton, owner and president of Shamrock Companies, remembers scrambling to find tenants for his first project in the area, a rental property called Riverwalk that has since been partly  converted to condos.

At the time, he couldn’t get anyone to sign a six-month lease without throwing in a free month’s rent to sweeten the deal. “I learned quickly that I had to make the seventh month free, not the first,” he says.

Shortly thereafter, the picture changed drastically as developers,  drawn to the prime downtown real estate, introduced several new projects. River Station, a group of traditional wood frame townhomes, broke ground in 1999 between North 1st and 2nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues. Construction on The Landings (4th Avenue North and West River Parkway), an upscale development of townhomes, wrapped up in 2002. One of the first true warehouse conversions happened that same year at 801 Washington Avenue—the popularity of that project and of the Lindsay Lofts (408 1st Avenue North) were early indicators of buyers’ enthusiasm for open floor plans and single-level loft living.

Amidst the housing frenzy of the last five years, a new community emerged. Many of the buyers, mostly young professionals, gay and straight singles and couples, and empty nesters wanting to trade the big suburban house for a more lively urban scene, moved in around the same time, creating an exciting “newness.”

Sara Nachreiner, co-owner of Mitrebox Framing Studio, remembers people coming into the store with questions as they adjusted to their new warehouse-style space. “It was, ‘What do I do with my old art? And ‘Hey, how am I supposed to treat these enormous windows?’ They were like these cool urban pioneers,” she says.

A New Retail Destination?
One thing it seems nearly everyone in the North Loop agrees on is the desire for density. Residents envision the North Loop as a cosmopolitan enclave full of boutiques, cafés and restaurants, services, and a variety of cultural offerings. “We still need a few things, like great Chinese takeout, a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, and more neighborhood bars,” says Rock Island Lofts resident Fritz Kroll, who is also a realtor who specializes in the area.

Now that the residents have arrived (the North Loop Neighborhood Association estimates there are nearly 4,000), retail is slowly following suit. In keeping with the neighborhood’s artsy character, there are a handful of unique home furnishing and design shops: Nordic Home, ID-inside design, Montaggio, reSee Gallery, Odegard at Michael Sydney, and newer arrivals like CorAzoN, a funky specialty shop and sometime gallery that supports local artists.

CorAzoN owner Susan Zdon, a veteran of Bibelot and Patina, loves the neighborhood because she believes she can get away with riskier merchandise. “The people are just so supportive,” she says. “They have a really open sensibility. I like that.”

This year, Peter Kirihara, owner of neighborhood fixtures Moose & Sadie’s and Jetset (with business partners Susan Muskat and Susan Liesch, respectively), will answer the call for more neighborhood bars by reinvigorating Bev’s, his cozy wine nook. He plans to make better use of his liquor license by serving more cocktails and making the atmosphere a little more upbeat to accommodate new residents and, presumably, the Twins fans who will stop in on game day when the new stadium arrives in 2010.
More Change on the Way
Residents and business owners are bracing themselves for two big arrivals critical to the neighborhood’s development as a cohesive, self-sufficient urban community: a Whole Foods Market (and the Two Twenty Two luxury condominium tower that will sit atop it), and the new Twins Stadium.

-Whole Foods and Two Twenty Two
Opening in summer 2009, a 73,000- square-foot Whole Foods will occupy almost the entire city block where Washington and Hennepin meet, currently the site of a Jaguar dealership. A significant portion of the store will be devoted to prepared foods, including sushi, meats, and a juice bar. Two entrances will allow for a wine shop to be connected to the grocery store, and a green roof is planned for the third story (on top of Whole Foods) with both public space and a private area for residents to run their dogs, barbecue, lounge in the sun, and possibly play bocce ball.

The 290 residential units will be priced from $300,000 to more than $2 million. Developer Don Milliken isn’t worried about the high price-point or the fact that the condo market has cooled. “Minneapolis is ready for this type of urban mixed-use living,” he says. “It will raise the bar.”

-Twins Stadium and North Loop Village
David Frank, the chair of the North Loop Neighborhood Association, isn’t a baseball fan, but he is excited about the new stadium, opening in spring 2010. That’s in large part because he believes that the team behind the housing and retail project the North Loop Village (formerly Twinsville), primarily Elness Swenson Graham Architects (ESG) and Hines Interests, has a vision for dense, transit-oriented development that is congruent with the North Loop’s plans for safe, pedestrian-friendly growth.

In fact, the expansion of the Hiawatha Light Rail line may have an even bigger impact on foot traffic than the stadium itself. The new station will be located at 5th Avenue North and North 5th Street, right in the heart of the neighborhood. Many residents would like it to be named, appropriately, the North Loop Stop.

-Serious About Greening
Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak would like to initiate the transformation of Washington Avenue into Washington Boulevard, a concept (for now) that unites the University of Minnesota’s Seven Corners neighborhood and West Broadway by improving the pedestrian experience along Washington Avenue. With the help of residents and design professionals, Rybak hopes to create more continuity among distinct urban villages like the Mills District, the area around the Central Library, and the North Loop.

When David Graham, a principal with Minneapolis-based ESG, met with the North Loop Planning and Zoning Committee to discuss the mayor’s vision for the grand boulevard, he liked what he heard. “They want wide sidewalks dotted with trees and good lighting to support the continued growth of small, creative street-level retail like coffee shops and restaurants,” Graham says.

The North Loops knows it’s no longer an industrial corridor. While realizing it’s important to preserve the architectural integrity that attracted everyone to the area in the first place, the emphasis now, in both the mayor’s plan and the neighborhood’s vision for itself, is on creating wider, more accessible sidewalks, more green spaces, and even throwing in a bench or two so residents and North Loop day-trippers can buy a latte or a magazine and stop to take in the city. 

5 Great Spots »Moose & Sadie’s Always bustling with good neighborhood energy, this coffee shop turned café serves up fresh, organic soups, sandwiches, and salads. For a brunch treat, order the huevos rancheros and a made-from-scratch caramel pecan roll. 212 3rd Ave. N., 612-371-0464 »Sapor Cafe & Bar This underappreciated gem focuses on seasonal flavors and ingredients with surprising global twists. The quiet dining room makes it a perfect date spot. 428 Washington Ave. N., 612-375-1971 »Theatre de la Jeune Lune A 2005 Tony Award winner for best regional theater, Jeune Lune is known for its smart and innovative approach to classics like this season’s Tartuffe and The Miser by Molière. North Loop residents receive a discount on Sunday nights. 105 N. 1st St., 612-333-6200 »Cuzzy’s Beloved by locals for its delicious tater tots, cheap beers, and refreshing no-nonsense attitude. Why can’t more bars be like this? 507 Washington Ave. N., 612-339-6211 »Acme Comedy Company Maybe not the hippest spot in town, but who cares? Laughter always feels good. This nationally recognized comedy club draws major headliners every week. Stop in on a Monday during the free open mic night. 708 N. 1st St., 612-338-6393