November 14, 2013

Mr. Chad Larsen, Chair Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Public Service Center 250 S. 4th St., Room 300 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Dear Mr. Larsen, We are writing regarding the Ryan Companies application to authorize demolition of the Star Tribune Building, at 425 Portland Avenue. We strongly oppose this application and encourage the Heritage Preservation Commission to deny demolition and require a designation study to be conducted. We believe that the Star Tribune building can and should be preserved and reused, not as an impediment to the proposed Downtown East development but as an integral part of it. Were disappointed that reuse has evidently not been more strongly considered as an option for this landmark structure. The Minneapolis Star Tribune building is historic. It is worthy of local designation as a Minneapolis Landmark and it is probably eligible for listing in the National Register. We agree with the State Historic Preservation Offices statement in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The CPED Staff Report is also in agreement that The property appears to meet two of the significance criteria listed in section 599.210, thus the property appears to meet the definition of a historic resource. The building type and location make it a rarity. It is an excellent example of Art Moderne architecture and one of the few surviving historic buildings in the neighborhood. In a neighborhood full of parking lots, it seems hasty to tear down one of the only existing buildings to create more open space. There are other options for building a large park in this neighborhood without necessitating demolition of the building. The CPED Staff Reports findings note that the building is in sound condition and that reasonable alternatives to demolition exist, but the applicant wishes to use the entire block as a park. The proposed park, however, encompasses multiple blocks, and potentially could proceed even without demolition of this buildingthe park could flow around the structure, and with proper rehabilitation and reuse, the two could have a highly symbiotic relationship. It would require a bit of creative design, to be sure, but such challenges are common in any confined urban landscape. Indeed, it is the imaginative integration of the existing contextrather than simply tearing it down and starting anewthat truly elevates the best public spaces, giving them a singular sense of place.

The Star Tribune Building could be used as an asset within the park, a key focal point to anchor this revitalized neighborhood, providing a visual and historic connection between new development and the more historic part of the downtown core. Many of the citys most cherished structures were once written off as cumbersome relics of the past, but have become points of civic pride. A very short list includes the Mill City Museum, the Stone Arch Bridge, the Foshay Tower, the Midtown Exchange, the Westin in the former Farmers & Merchants Bank, and numerous buildings in the Warehouse District and along the riverfront. Preservation and redevelopment are teammates, not rivalsagain, the best new design often comes from a creative incorporation of the past. Not all of the Star Tribune complex on Portland Avenue has to be preserved. Parts of the complex could be removed to allow for redevelopment of the area. For example, the additions made to the rear of the building at 425 Portland Avenue could be removed, and the entire building at 329 Portland Avenue could be demolished. The building is in excellent shape for reuse, and preserving the building is in keeping with the citys green identity and goals. The greenest building is the one already standing, given the embodied energy of the existing structure. Sustainability starts with making use of what you already have. Thank you for your consideration of the above points. We are excited about the possibilities for historic preservation to be a key, value-added component of the proposed Downtown East development. Sincerely, The Board of Preserve Minneapolis