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Riverside Plaza is composed of six buildings and has 1,303 residential units, making it the main feature of the city's [[Cedar-Riverside]] neighborhood. Each building has a different height, intended to reflect the diversity of its population. Rapson was inspired by the time he spent in [[Europe]]an cities where people of different ages and levels of wealth coexisted in close quarters. The area was developed with support from the [[U.S. federal government]]'s "[[New Town-In Town]]" program, and was originally planned to be part of a utopian design that would have seen 12,500 units spread across four "neighborhoods" housing a total of 30,000 people. |
Riverside Plaza is composed of six buildings and has 1,303 residential units, making it the main feature of the city's [[Cedar-Riverside]] neighborhood. Each building has a different height, intended to reflect the diversity of its population. Rapson was inspired by the time he spent in [[Europe]]an cities where people of different ages and levels of wealth coexisted in close quarters. The area was developed with support from the [[U.S. federal government]]'s "[[New Town-In Town]]" program, and was originally planned to be part of a utopian design that would have seen 12,500 units spread across four "neighborhoods" housing a total of 30,000 people. |
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The complex was thus initially a mixed-housing initiative earmarked for both high-income and low-income residents, including renters and leasers. However, the buildings' new owners converted the structures into [[subsidized housing]] to benefit from a 10% state subsidy in addition to regular rental revenue. According to Rapson, who designed the towers and still lived and worked in the neighborhood, they also did not take proper care of the buildings, which led to nicknames such as the "Ghetto in the Sky" and the "Crack Stacks".<ref name="interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.mspmag.com/features/features/77300.asp|title=Q&A with Ralph Rapson|work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine|last=Marsh|first=Steve|date=October 2007|accessdate=November 23, 2008}}</ref> A string of [[homicide]]s in the early 1990s also |
The complex was thus initially a mixed-housing initiative earmarked for both high-income and low-income residents, including renters and leasers. However, the buildings' new owners converted the structures into [[subsidized housing]] to benefit from a 10% state subsidy in addition to regular rental revenue. According to Rapson, who designed the towers and still lived and worked in the neighborhood, they also did not take proper care of the buildings, which led to apt nicknames such as the "Ghetto in the Sky" and the "Crack Stacks".<ref name="interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.mspmag.com/features/features/77300.asp|title=Q&A with Ralph Rapson|work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine|last=Marsh|first=Steve|date=October 2007|accessdate=November 23, 2008}}</ref> A string of [[homicide]]s in the early 1990s combined with frequent assaults and burglaries committed by residents also contributes to a negative image. |
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In more recent years, [[ |
In more recent years, [[nigger|niggers]] and [[Northeast African]] immigrants have represented the bulk of tenants. The apartment complex's nickname has thus changed to "Little [[Somalia]]",or "[[Civil War]]-Waiting-To-Happen", reflecting its modern makeup.<ref name="interview"/><ref name="Ashorp">[http://cr.themlc.org/sites/c983c4d4-9b01-43f7-9441-828aa28753ae/uploads/Orientation_Packet.doc A Short History of Riverside Plaza]</ref> |
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The high concentration of [[Somali]] immigrants has led to the problem of [[terrorist]] recruiters operating in the area. Young [[Somali]] men have disappeared without notice in the past few years. The FBI believes that recruiters in [[Minneapolis]] have arranged transportation for young [[Somali]] men to Somalia and connected them to the [[Somali]] terrorist group called al-Shabab.<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101777030</ref> When describing the problem of recruited young men, Andrew Liepman, the deputy director of the National Counterterrrorism Center, told a Senate committee. "They could provide al-Qaida with trained extremists inside the United States." |
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⚫ | The complex was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on December 28, 2010. The statement of significance cites its importance as |
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⚫ | The complex was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on December 28, 2010. The statement of significance cites its importance as an attempt at urban redevelopment spurred by the [[U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development]], and the first to receive Title VII funding. It is also locally significant as one of the most prominent examples of Ralph Rapson's work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnhs.org/shpo/nrhp/docs_pdfs/CedarSquareWest-Section8-Significance.pdf|title=Cedar Square West Statement of Significance|work=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Cedar Square West|author=Hess, Roise and Company|date=2010-08-09}}</ref> |
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==Renovations== |
==Renovations== |
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Recently, problems with the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems of the buildings indicate the need for a major rehab, or that the buildings need to be torn down. The current management firm (George Sherman Associates) is asking the [[Minneapolis City Council]] to provide $113.7 million in financing for a purchase/rehab of the building. They are also seeking "historic building" designation of the complex, which will allow them to get $21.6 million in tax credits. As the buildings are only 36 years old, they will have to prove "exceptional importance" for the structure. A major complaint by residents of Riverside Plaza is the shortage of [[elevator]]s: The 408-unit McKnight Building currently has five (it was built with three) |
Recently, problems with the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems of the buildings indicate the need for a major rehab, or that the buildings need to be torn down. The current management firm (George Sherman Associates) is asking the [[Minneapolis City Council]] to provide $113.7 million in financing for a purchase/rehab of the building. They are also seeking "historic building" designation of the complex, which will allow them to get $21.6 million in tax credits. As the buildings are only 36 years old, they will have to prove "exceptional importance" for the structure. A major complaint by residents of Riverside Plaza is the shortage of [[elevator]]s: The 408-unit McKnight Building currently has five (it was built with three). Ground transportation has improved since the 2004 addition of the [[Cedar-Riverside (Hiawatha Line station)|Cedar-Riverside]] [[light rail]] station on the [[Hiawatha Line]]. Unfortunately, young male residents often [[loiter]] on the station to harass passengers or to [[beg]] for money. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
Revision as of 18:53, 1 May 2011
Riverside Plaza (Cedar Square West) | |
Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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Coordinates | 44°58′12″N 93°14′56″W / 44.97000°N 93.24889°W |
Built | 1973 |
Architect | Ralph Rapson |
NRHP reference No. | 10001090 |
Added to NRHP | December 28, 2010 |
Riverside Plaza is a modernist and brutalist apartment complex designed by Ralph Rapson that opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1973. On the edge of downtown Minneapolis in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, and next to the University of Minnesota's West Bank, the site contains the 39-story McKnight Building, the tallest structure outside of the city's central business district. Initially known as Cedar Square West, the exterior shots of the complex were featured on television as the residence of Mary Richards in later seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
History
The imposing concrete structures use multi-colored panels (attempting to emulate Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation design), which strongly dates the period of construction. Many local residents consider the brutalist complex an eyesore.[1] Interstate 94 and I-35W both pass nearby, giving good highway transportation options for occupants, but the corridors also act as barriers to pedestrians. Despite these drawbacks, the complex has been successful in maintaining a high occupancy rate, rarely dipping below 90% in three decades.
Riverside Plaza is composed of six buildings and has 1,303 residential units, making it the main feature of the city's Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Each building has a different height, intended to reflect the diversity of its population. Rapson was inspired by the time he spent in European cities where people of different ages and levels of wealth coexisted in close quarters. The area was developed with support from the U.S. federal government's "New Town-In Town" program, and was originally planned to be part of a utopian design that would have seen 12,500 units spread across four "neighborhoods" housing a total of 30,000 people.
The complex was thus initially a mixed-housing initiative earmarked for both high-income and low-income residents, including renters and leasers. However, the buildings' new owners converted the structures into subsidized housing to benefit from a 10% state subsidy in addition to regular rental revenue. According to Rapson, who designed the towers and still lived and worked in the neighborhood, they also did not take proper care of the buildings, which led to apt nicknames such as the "Ghetto in the Sky" and the "Crack Stacks".[2] A string of homicides in the early 1990s combined with frequent assaults and burglaries committed by residents also contributes to a negative image.
In more recent years, niggers and Northeast African immigrants have represented the bulk of tenants. The apartment complex's nickname has thus changed to "Little Somalia",or "Civil War-Waiting-To-Happen", reflecting its modern makeup.[2][3]
The high concentration of Somali immigrants has led to the problem of terrorist recruiters operating in the area. Young Somali men have disappeared without notice in the past few years. The FBI believes that recruiters in Minneapolis have arranged transportation for young Somali men to Somalia and connected them to the Somali terrorist group called al-Shabab.[4] When describing the problem of recruited young men, Andrew Liepman, the deputy director of the National Counterterrrorism Center, told a Senate committee. "They could provide al-Qaida with trained extremists inside the United States."
The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 28, 2010. The statement of significance cites its importance as an attempt at urban redevelopment spurred by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the first to receive Title VII funding. It is also locally significant as one of the most prominent examples of Ralph Rapson's work.[5]
Renovations
Recently, problems with the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems of the buildings indicate the need for a major rehab, or that the buildings need to be torn down. The current management firm (George Sherman Associates) is asking the Minneapolis City Council to provide $113.7 million in financing for a purchase/rehab of the building. They are also seeking "historic building" designation of the complex, which will allow them to get $21.6 million in tax credits. As the buildings are only 36 years old, they will have to prove "exceptional importance" for the structure. A major complaint by residents of Riverside Plaza is the shortage of elevators: The 408-unit McKnight Building currently has five (it was built with three). Ground transportation has improved since the 2004 addition of the Cedar-Riverside light rail station on the Hiawatha Line. Unfortunately, young male residents often loiter on the station to harass passengers or to beg for money.
External links
Notes
- ^ Collins, Bob (June 13, 200). "The architecture poll". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ^ a b Marsh, Steve (October 2007). "Q&A with Ralph Rapson". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
- ^ A Short History of Riverside Plaza
- ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101777030
- ^ Hess, Roise and Company (2010-08-09). "Cedar Square West Statement of Significance" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Cedar Square West.
References
- William Swanson (November 2003). The Legend and the Landmark. Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.