Pillsbury Mansion: ghosts, garages, and off-the-run limestone

After spending years at cross purposes with it's original intent - as an office, then boarding house - the Pillsbury Mansion, built by the son of Pillsbury founder John Pillsbury, is once again a private residence (and more.)

Star-Tribune's Kim Palmer Elaborates:

When they bought the house in 2002, the original mahogany woodwork was intact, but the structure itself needed major repairs. The roof leaked, the plaster ceilings were damaged and the antiquated electrical system was due for an update. The Camarenas, who have restored several older houses, decided to tackle this one.

"It's our hobby," Melissa said. "Some people go boating and have cabins. We renovate houses."

There's a photo gallery we wish was three times bigger, and we learned:

• That the new garage was built using no-longer-quarried Platteville Limestone recovered from an old church.
• There are friendly ghosts that brush into guests and appear in mirrors.
• The lower level library was shipped from England.
• What a Porte Cochere is, and how it was made into a kitchen.

Pillsbury Mansion Reborn, Repurposed [Strib]

10/22/08 at 01:15 PM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Remodel & Renovate

McMansions Are Forever! Edina City Council to Vote on Construction Moratorium

"The builders can come in and change our neigborhood from an old, charming, quaint neighborhood to something that looks like Blaine or Eagan"
                                   ~Edina Homeowner on YouTube Video
Heaven forbid.

If you are into emotionally overwrought Edina home owners acting as if they are defending the one true faith and bureaucratic procedural debates over zoning minutiae, all set against the backdrop of developers protecting their grubstake, you are in all kinds of luck.  That's because tonight, the Edina City Council puts to a vote new anti-massing/monster house ordinances, and you can watch it online here. Live! at 7PM.

For the uninitiated, Edina (one of the priciest locales in the metro area) is what passes for a posh zipcode in the Twin Cities.  They also have a problem - aging housing stock sitting on coveted dirt.

You know how it goes from here:  Many Edina homebuyers don't necessarily want shell out $700,000 for an 1800 square foot rambler with shag carpet, mirrored walls, and handrails in the bathroom, so they simply hire a builder, scrape the original home and build a new one.  Sometimes these builders are doing the buying, and building massive "spec" homes they plan to sell.

Many existing Edina residents don't like the new vision their neighbors and builders create.  Some go so far as to post videos about it.  The City Council wouldn't watch it.  Builders and new residents are all like, "it's a free country, and we are compliant with zoning ordinances."  Residents are all: "Well, we'll change those ordinances, and raise you a moratorium on all new construction. So there."

That Edina needs, and will get, ordinances that limit the size and scope of new construction is clear and reasonable.  The moratorium, on the other hand, has really ruffled some feathers and may have a direct impact on the marketability of for-sale homes.  Like the real estate market needs more drag.

Resident Tony Giannakakis said a moratorium would hurt senior citizens like his parents, who, if they wanted to sell their house, would profit if a developer wanted their land.

"You're handcuffing people. ... That little Cape Cod you could have gotten $700,000 for, it's worth about $400,000 with a moratorium in place," he said.

Thats great - if this passes, grandma will have to move to one of those crooked nursing homes you see on 60 minutes.

Update: The Moratorium Failed, and was not put to a vote.  Grandma is safe. Nearly four hour Video Here.
Edina May Halt Home Demolitions for Further Study [Strib]

12/04/07 at 12:02 PM Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Design & Shelter, Edina, Monster Houses, Twin Cities, Western Burb's

On the Market: Ralph Rapson Designed "Meech Residence"

Architectural history nerds may be able to identify the property pictured above as the Ralph Rapson designed Meech Residence, which was a 1959 AIA (American Institute of Architects) Honor Award Winner.  The Meech residence, located just west of Gleason Lake off of HWY 101, is on the market for the first time in 30 years. *Update: List Price is $715,000.00

If you are even more nerdy (or can type "Ralph Rapson" into google) you will also know that Mr. Rapson is a notable area architect; Minnesota's most important 20th century architect, in fact, who was also dean of the U of M school of architecture, and designed the now demolished Guthrie Theater.  Other notable works include the Cedar Square West (Riverside Plaza), and US Embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen. A little more on Mr. Rapson from the property listing:

In the mid 1950s Rapson designed a number of small, affordable homes for university professors in St. Paul, in addition to a notable residence for Philip and Eleanor Pillsbury in Wayzata.  In 1959, the Meech Residence was recognized by AIA Minnesota, a Society of the American Institute of Architects, as one of only three residences given the honor award that year.

So, very cool, notable, and architecturally significant property on the market.  Just thought we'd share.
[thanks to listing agent, and friend of Behind the Mortgage, Linda Heubach, for sharing.]
· View the Online Listing [630holly.com]
· Architect Ralph Rapson at 91 [mpr.org]

04/11/07 at 11:40 AM Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, For Sale, Twin Cities, Western Burb's

The Whitney Tour: From the Standard Mill to Condos

Before wading into the open house picks for this week (which you'll find below), head over to MNStories for a great piece on the Whitney conversion. Most of you know that the former Whitney hotel is going condo, and yesterday the developer of the project, Michael Roess [imetroproperty.com] gave us a great tour of the in-progress conversion, and also will be joining us on The Home and Wealth show this Sunday [10AM-12Noon, 100.3 FM KTLK] to talk about the Twin Cities condo market.
· The Whitney [MNstories.com]
· Whitney Landmark Residences [historicwhitney.com]

02/03/06 at 09:01 AM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Condos & New Developments, Downtown

Trailer Fabulous: High Design + Manufactured Homes

[We'd posted a link to this exhibit a while back, and then promptly forgot about the opening until the fine folks over at MNSpeak alerted us.]

Opening tonight at the Walker, Some Assembly Required is an exhibit featuring the super-niche market of contemporary, pre-fabricated homes.  Though the styles vary widely, and the jury is out on whether these designs will stand the test of time (See: 1970's contemporary homes) the "movement" points to the following as the major advantages of their method:

1. Time Saved: Built off-site at a single, controlled location.
2. $$ Saved: Production line, controlled environment, cheap labor.
3. Waste Reduced: No exposure to elements, theft reduced/eliminated.
4. Bomb-Proof: Built to withstand OTR shipping and crane stress.

· Some Assembly Required: Contemporary Prefabricated Houses [walker]
Dec 8-March 26th 2006 | Medtronic Gallery

Also, The FlatPak House (pictured above), is in Minneapolis.  After the jump (click link below), this week's edition of HomeStalker™: Where our loyal readers find out where exactly this place is.  Been there? Have pictures? Comment below, and we'll add them to the post.

*but we have no idea where - has anyone out there seen this home or know where it is located?  Comment below if so.

*Update: Commenter Steve has sniffed this location out - Lake of the Isles, points out this article on FlatPak house in the Strib.
*Update2: Derusha (showing off his "stalker" chops) informs that Rake says it's "near" Cedar Lake and may be on Dupont Ave., Anyone else?

12/08/05 at 08:59 AM Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Design & Shelter, Minneapolis

City Council Sinks Lagoon Development

Image Courtesy of the Star-Tribune

Don't you just love our graphics department? The lofty ambitions of the developers of the 12-story Condo/retail/theater complex planned for the Lagoon area were dealt a blow Thursday as the City Council Planning and Zoning Committee failed to endorse the project, citing concerns about its height, and impact on the character of Uptown. From the Strib:

"The building is too tall and doesn't match the character of the area," [committee member] Schiff said, adding that he's worried that approving such a tall project in Uptown would set a precedent for future developments.

The project still has a shot - it goes before the full city council for a vote on July 1st - but given the committee's non-endorsement, and vocal opposition from Mayor RT Ryback, it seems likely that the development site will remain a surface parking lot where patrons go to puke after a night at Williams Pub.
· Uptown is Not Downtown [mnspeak.com]
· Panel Levels Plans For Uptown Development [strib]
· Committee Deals Blow to Lagoon Project [mpls observer]

06/24/05 at 06:49 AM Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Condos & New Developments, Minneapolis, Uptown

This Ain't Your Retro Brownstone

The Strib today runs a piece on a couple of downtown condo projects bucking the retro-brownstone/gutted warehouse trend, instead going for the angles, glass, and sleek metals that make modern architecture fetishists swoon.

But architectural 'street cred' comes at a price, with high-end units at "The Nine," one of several projects designed by James Dayton Designs (and yes, he is one of those Dayton's), topping 1 Million Per.

"It's an interesting test of how the market values design," said Peggy Lucas of the developer, Brighton Development. "There are so many condo units on the market that people are confused. We hope that this will 'unconfuse' them."

Yep - nothing clears the head better than a million dollar price tag.
· Glitzy, Ritzy Condo's Planned For Minneapolis Riverfront [strib]

06/16/05 at 10:48 AM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Downtown, Minneapolis

The Walker in Newsweek

Minneapolis' newly re-designed Walker Art Center, which re-opens April 17th, is featured in the latest issue of Newsweek, which thinks quite a lot of the new Walker and the "Swiss Masters" who redesigned it.

"What makes this a very big deal is not just that the building is so cool but that we've been waiting so long for these Swiss masters to build something major in the United States."

The whole piece is available online, complete with audio and video tours.
·Take a Walk on The Wild Side [Newsweek via MSNBC.com]

03/18/05 at 09:47 AM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Minneapolis, Twin Cities

Bungalow Redux

We here at Behind The Mortgage love a classic Twin Cities bungalow, and we are not alone. The Arts & Crafts architectural details, great curb appeal, and mostly rock-solid construction make a classic bungalow one of the more sought after properties in our market. But they often leave a lot to be desired when it comes to modern appetites for closet space, open floor plans, and master "suites."

So what's a bungalow-lover with a wardrobe and a jacuzzi habit to do?

Head over to The Bungalow Company, whose architects have re-imagined the classic Arts & Crafts bungalow for modern tastes and construction methods.  Credit for this find goes to our friends over at Hewn and Hammered, who gush:

"they're not just a reseller of classic but not necessarily practical plans ...their plans specifically take into account modern building materials and techniques, the less-compartmentalized style favored today, and other features that were not possible or useful at the beginning of the 20th century."

All the plans are available to view online, with an FAQ section and building/planning guide - a good place to start if you've ever thought about building a "new-old" bungalow.

Related Linklube: The Twin Cities Bungalow Club

02/17/05 at 07:30 AM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under: Architecture, Condos & New Developments, Remodel & Renovate