Neighborhood concerns become an obstacle to Nye's redevelopment

Neighborhood support for a plan to build a high-rise on the Nyes Polonaise restaurant site has stalled amid growing concerns over its impact on nearby buildings.

Minneapolis-based developer Schafer Richardson, in partnership with Nyes owners Rob and Tony Jacobs, in December announced they would redevelop the popular restaurant and piano bar just north of downtown.

They quickly won support from the neighborhood association for its 30-story glassy residential and retail tower, including a spendy effort to salvage two of the Nyes structures. But some neighbors, including members of a landmark church, thought the group acted too quickly.

The pause button has essentially been hit, Barry Clegg, vice president of the Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood Association, said Thursday.

About 85 neighborhood residents appeared at the associations board meeting Wednesday night to discuss two grievances filed against the organization.

Opponents have also petitioned the City of Minneapolis to conduct an environmental review of the site before the project moves forward. The association agreed to table its approval until that review is conducted, which could last four to five months.

Maureen Michalski, senior project manager for Schafer Richardson, said the company has a reputation of engaging with communities to work through challenges.

Its a complex project and we want to carefully consider the stakeholder interest, she said. There are so many different groups that are involved that have opinions that we really have to work through that process to come to some consensus.

The grievances were filed in tandem with efforts by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, which is next door to Nyes, to slow down the process and conduct more due diligence.

Read the original post:
Neighborhood concerns become an obstacle to Nye's redevelopment