Update on the Midway

The construction site is very busy at University and Hampden where the Platform Apartments are under construction.  This is going to be a great addition to the neighborhood - replacing two blighted buildings - turning the corner into a beautiful place to live.   A roof top patio will be a great amenity, as will the underground parking lot.   We are excited for our new neighbors to move in this fall.  St. Anthony Park is really growing - adding many new neighbors close to University.  Hopefully this development will bring a new restaurant!

This is one of my favorite murals by artist Chuck U. It's painted on 2290 Wycliff, close to my office. The Creative Enterprise Zone did a great job with the mural fest!  It makes the neighborhood feel more vibrant. So much is happening here, but sometimes we fly under the radar. I've always felt that the people in the Creative Enterprise Zone knew we had a lot going on, but now we have visual proof!    It will be fun to see what the CEZ comes up with next. 

It's pretty exciting when you see all the new developments pinned to this map!   We are pleased that the two new housing developments and two office buildings will bring many new jobs and residents to our neighborhood.    Sunrise Banks will build a beautiful office building, I'm sure.   Their bank on Como Avenue is very pretty and sustainable development too.   With their building and our development at 661 LaSalle, there will be over 150 new workers in the neighborhood every day.    The new new apartments on University will bring hundreds of residents  to the area as well.   We need the mix of both to support our restaurants and shops in the  Raymond/University area. Welcome to the Creative Enterprise Zone!   We Make it Here!    And people want to be here.

Sometimes its hard to believe the transformation we have made, even when we worked on it ! Here's a photo from around 1980 when we first purchased the building at 2325 Endicott St.   We removed the addition that was on the right, later we put windows back in the blocked up openings.   In 2013 the Urban Growler did the rest.

FINALLY !!   We just finished tearing down the last of the little garage that was left on the property.  Now we are ready to begin work on our new project !!   I think the neighborhood is ready for a new office building.

Looking east Why is it so fun to watch the big excavators?  I like this photo of one taking a big "bite" out of the last bit of the building that is still standing.   The operators can smash the wall of a building or pick up a small item - It is a real skill.   Bolander and Sons is doing the demoiltion for us and I can't believe how fast the building came down .  Now we can really stat working on putting together plans for our new building.  

Check out this great video the Midway Monitor did of Update Company. It's fun to share our history and I think they did a great job of showing off our buildings. The Monitor Visits Update Company

Welcome to Minnesota Center for Psychology - our newest tenant at Midtown Commons - 2324 University Avenue.   Many different services are provided for adults, adolescents and children.  A beautiful suite painted in restful colors has both private therapy rooms and larger training/group rooms.  The clinic has been in the neighborhood already - they are moving from the US Bank building at Raymond/University. We think they will be a great addition to the Midtown Commons campus.

Update has been proud to work with WomenVenture for over 20 years!  WomenVenture has been an anchor tenant at Midtown Commons since we developed the site in 1990.  They have a long tradition of helping women to start their own business, transition to a new career or improve in their current job.  We would like to welcome new executive director Elaine Wyatt to the building and wish her success in leading WomenVenture to continued success.

BANG! BREWERY is making progress on their new building on Capp Road.  It looks too short right now, but I hear they put the roof part on, then it gets moved up and they add more to the sides.  Both the building and the beer will be made in a sustainable manner.  We're excited for our new neighbors.

Bang Brewery has broken ground on their microbrewery at 2320 Capp Road.  We are excited to have them as a neighbor.   Right now there's just empty ground, but soon there will be a unique round brewery that looks like a grain silo.  The Creative Enterprise Zone is really growing!

I decided to walk out to the Raymond Station rail platform.  It is really looking good.  Some of the signs are installed and wiring is there for the ticket machines etc.  I think that it will be pretty easy to get out to the platform. This is looking west from the platform. This is looking at 2314 University from the platform.

Creative Enterprise Zone - Raymond/University Area Update Company is excited to help host our creative "pop-up" happy hour this Thursday at the corner of Raymond and University Avenues.   It is really the center of our creative district that includes everything from software developers, artists, graphic design firms and nonprofits that support the arts.  This creative synergy has helped to keep this neighborhood strong while we waited out the poor economy and LRT construction.  Come mingle and hear what we're all about Thursday April 19, form 5:00 to 7:00 in the Miller Photography building at the southwest corner of Raymond/University.

WomenVenture has been a tenant at Midtown Commons for 23 years!  It's about time we put their name on the building. Looks great, don't you think?  WomenVenture does a great job helping entrepreneurial women grow their business. We like to think Update Company does too.  Check our WomenVenture at www.womenventure.org   They have great classes for business beginners and for seasoned professionals who may need an inspirational boost. Budget Sign, a local company did the sign for us.  www.budgetsignshop.com

Here's the view out the window at Midtown Commons 2324 University Avenue.  The Raymond Ave. station is really taking shape. We have a beautiful suite available overlooking the station - 3,000 sq. ft. with 5 private offices, a conference room, kitchen, store room, and lots of open work space.

Minnesota 2020, http://www.mn2020.org/   one of our tenants at Midtown Commons has put together a time lapse video of LRT progress on University Avenue from the  rooftop at 2324 University Avenue. This is pretty cool to watch.

Everyone who works in the Raymond/University area knows we have a good thing going..... cool renovated buildings, new business start-ups, nonprofit groups, and soon - an LRT station. Why is our neighborhood thriving even in this down economy? It is because we are a "Creative Enterprise Zone". Our success has been due to the many artists and creative businesses that have chosen to work in the Raymond/University area. We also have tireless supporters in the St. Anthony Park Community Council and the St. Anthony Park Community Foundation. So we know we have a good thing, how do we foster the creative businesses and arts groups in our area? And how do we spread the word about the great things happening here? Catherine Reid Day and I met at the Edge Coffe Shop and had a great conversation about the creative enterprise zone plan that has been developed.  www.SAPCC.org/cezplan I look forward to helping the many collaborators with sharing our vision for the neighborhood and work...

Nice Ride, the non-profit public bike share system began installing stations in St. Paul today. Four stations will include - University and Snelling University and Fairview Raymond and Ellis Westgate and Territorial Check out the program at www.niceridemn.org

Another new development is coming to the neighborhood! Avalon Charter School will be the anchor tenant at 705 Raymond, across the street from the Foundry building. Construction has already started and the school plans to hold classes at the new site this fall. With the Port Authority project down the block on Pelham, our neighborhood continues to grow. The building used to house the Sewall Gear Company, which moved out in 2009.

Construction has started along University Avenue in our neighborhood. This is the time to make sure you continue to support the local restaurants and shops along the Avenue while they deal with the construction. Let's all support each other and get through this next 3-4 months!!