Update on the Midway

Are you doing all you can to keep your business secure? Here's a checklist Update Company has put together to help keep your business safe. Start the new year right by reviewing your safety program. The most common incidents in our buildings are stolen purses and laptop computers. Finding ways to keep these two items secure will be a huge step in preventing theft. Employees should have a locked cabinet or drawer for storage of purses/wallets Laptop computers should not be left out on desks if the user is out of the office. Keys should be kept in a secure spot, never leave your keys in the doorknob while working. Keep building doors shut and locked on weekends; do not prop them open. Make regular backups of your computer data, and keep one backup offsite . Blank checks should be locked up, unopened boxes of checks should be taped shut because often a thief will take checks from the middle of the box. Files with bank information, credit card numbers or social security numbers should ...

Update Company would like to say Thank You to all our tenants, contractors and suppliers. We can't do it alone and we're grateful for your business in this challenging year. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday. Sandy, Jack, Jim and Judy

This is Great!! The Lyric at Carleton Place - at University and Hampden - is being built across the street from our Midtown Commons campus. You have to check out their website to believe something this fabulous is being built right here.I have included a photo of the rooftop patio area. It is amazing. The apartment models open this month, with occupancy this spring - the same time as the opening of our Raymond Station Place office building. Check out the amenities : Roof top hot tub and patio area, eco countertops , gorgeous skyline views of Minneapolis, entertainment and workout rooms. This will be the nicest place to live in the whole Midway! http://www.lyricliving.com/

We're making progress on saving the Victoria Theater. Here's a story from MPR.org --- The building has a really interesting past. Click on the link to see what was going on in the Midway in the 1920's! Former St. Paul speakeasy avoids demolition, for now

Start Your Holiday Shopping! 25 artists - one building. This weekend is a great opportunity to see work from a large variety of artists all in one setting. The artists of the Chittenden -Eastman building at 2402 University have an event this Friday and Saturday. Pottery, photography, and much more. Check out their blog: www.artat2402.blogspot.com Friday November 20 noon til 9:00 p.m. Saturday November 21 noon til 7:00 p.m.

This week I am lobbying the City of St. Paul to deny the sign permit applied for by the owners of 2356 University - the Specialty building, right at the corner of Raymond and University. They want to install a 27' long sign with LED illuminated characters on a raceway along the roofline of their building - the sign will read "North Star Mini Storage". What do want our signage to say about our neighborhood? Do we want to scream "We have cheap space that we can't rent out as office?" We are a historic district. We are the future home the Central Corridor LRT Raymond Avenue Station. We're growing, we're cool and the next hip place to live and work. Let's give ourselves some credit and hold ourselves to a higher standard.

The Overflow Espresso Cafe is such a relaxing spot for a latte or a sandwich that I'm putting it on my blog even though technically IT IS in Minneapolis. Located at 2929 University, this two level cafe has delicious sandwiches, salads, and of course coffee. I like the beautiful outdoor seating area with ponds and fountains. Really - the only pond along University Avenue except Iris Park. My favorite spot to sit is next to the giant coffee cup sculpture/fountain inside - covered with inspirational quotes. COOL! Give it a try for coffee break or lunch - just 5 or 6 blocks west of 280 at 2929 University Ave. http://www.overflowcoffee.com/ Catering available too!

I'm excited to tell you about our new tenant at 970 Raymond Avenue -- Wyndgate Health PLLC is a clinical practice specializing in personalized therapeutic vitamin and dietary programs treating symptoms of: Autism, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease, Memory Issues, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Behavior and Violence, Parkinson’s Disease, male and female hormone imbalances, food intolerances and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Press Ctrl+Left Click on the following link or Copy http://www.wyndgatehealth.com/ into your browser’s address bar. What a great way to take better care of our families and ourselves!

Construction Continues on our new project - 700 Raymond Ave. In spite of all the rain, we're making progress on the excavation of the storm water runoff pond and the parking lot. The window openings for the high windows is being done and the utilities are being installed from the street. Sometimes the project looks worse before it looks better. There is a LOT of mud this week, but once the parking lot is complete, people will be able to see how the building will work. And the windows will be amazing! There will be over 30 monitor style windows on each side of the building, letting in so much natural light, our building will definitely save energy on lighting. This photo is a rendering of the west side of the building that faces Raymond. Click on the photo to enlarge.

825 University - The Old Victoria Theater is in Danger I have been working with a group of people interested in buying and renovating the old theater at the intersection of University and Victoria. The building was originally built as a theater for silent movies, then next used as a music venue. Our vision is to restore the building back to its music and art purpose. Unfortunately, it may be torn down to make a parking lot. We are hoping to work with the neighbors on the block to come up with a better solution. There are many buildings on University that may not be worth saving, but I've been through this building and it has promise. There is a neighborhood visioning meeting at the Rondo Library Wednesday Oct. 21, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This is a chance to keep a little gem from being razed! Please help us by contacting the mayor's office, or Council Member Stark's office and tell them to save the Victoria. Check out the Facebook page "Save the Victoria Theatre"...

Our Tenant WomenVenture is in the news! Update Company has been proud to work with WomenVenture since 1990. Since they moved into Midtown Commons, they have grown and expanded many time. Services provided include help in starting your own business and creating a business plan, to specific classes such as marketing your business. They also have individual offices to lease for start-up businesses. I encourage you to view the WCCO spot from this week: http://wcco.com/neweconomy/jobs.women.venture.2.1245471.html Also check out www.womenventure.org to view their classes and register for their 14 th annual WomenVenture Professional Development Conference on November 14. I've taken classes from WomenVenture and attended a number of conferences and found them to be very worthwhile.

Small Box Festival: a celebration of small businesses Oct. 10th & 11th, Historic Raymond & University Come visit some great small businesses in our corner of St. Paul! Jay’s Café – BBQ Saturday & Sunday all day Café specials http://www.jays-cafe.com/ Swift School of Music - The “A” Team (in the alley) - Sat. & Sunday 5:30-6:30 Swift School of Music - Demonstration/Free Lesson – Sat. & Sunday http://www.swiftschoolofmusic.com Jana Nyberg Trio - Jay’s Café - 6:30-7:30 Saturday – inside Kenpo Karate - Demonstration on Sat and Sun morning Succotash – side walk sale - Saturday & Sunday The Edge Coffee Shop – Bluegrass MusicWine Tasting Jay’s Cafe – The Vino Source - Saturday 1-2:30

Urban Boatbuilders, Inc. Dave Gagne helped found Urban Boatbuilders in 1995. A nonprofit organization, they have served over 1700 kids, teaching them wood working skills as they build boats. The kids in this program also learn problem solving skills as they take a project from start to finish. The wooden boats and canoes are beautiful! They will build you a custom boat or sell you one they've made. Dave is really making a positive difference in the lives of young people in our community. Urban Boatbuilders is located in the Midway Shopping Center. 651-644-9225 http://urbanboatbuilders.org/

Update has been a proud member of the Midway Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years. Executive director Lori Fritts does a great job of running our chamber. The great monthly luncheons have interesting speakers on relevant topics. Many fun events are held to help people network. Lori and her staff work tirelessly to provide lots of information to the members about light rail and other important issues and to act as a voice for businesses in the area. Fall is the Chamber's annual membership drive. If you would like to try one of the luncheons, I'd invite you to come as my guest. Take a look at the Midway Chamber's newly re-designed website: www.midwaychamber.com

If you're on Facebook, check out "Update Company LLC". On our page, we have photo albums of the buildings we manage, including photos of our new project at 700 Raymond. We also have Update Co. news and links to other important information. www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Paul-MN/Update-Company-LLC/241050130477?ref=ts

We've been having a busy couple of weeks at Update Company. In the last months I've signed up a few new businesses - Water Diagnostics - An expansion of a company out of Wisconsin that does water testing and monitoring. http://www.waterdiagnostics.com/ Wyndgate Health PLLC - A company that does nutritional consulting. Better Window and Remodeling - a company that sells and installs windows. Also, I have renewed leases with the US Post Office, Oskie Hamilton and Sofio Law Firm and Touching Hearts Inc. Business definitely feels like it is picking up!! Although in our corner of the Midway, we're always busy.

I am starting this blog to spread the news about the many great things that are happening in the Midway area of St. Paul, MN. We've got a lot happening here - especially in the Raymond/University Ave. neighborhood, where we operate our business. I will fill you in on new businesses in the area, local happenings and news that affects our area. I hope to include information on restaurants, stores and interesting people as well. A little bit about Update Company - We are a second generation family business. We renovate old buildings and turn them into new office and warehouse space. We have worked on 15 buildings over the past 30+ years and are very proud of the work we've done.