Thoughts about Miller Hill Mall (Duluth, Victoria: rent, condo, crime)

[Dangerous Dave]

Been a while since I've been to Duluth. For restaurants, is the Chi Chi's still there at Fitgers? How about national chains like Red Robin, Cheddars (clone of Applebees, likely the same company but the food is much better), Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesdays, TGIFridays, Chili's, Buffalo Wild Wings?

I'm actually leaving Oregon soon without visiting Newport Bay (seafood chain that puts Red Lobster to complete and utter shame, at about the same price) since I've been an actual resident.

[duluthian2008]

Lets see. ChiChis closed a few years ago at Fitgers. Red Robin has not made it up here yet along with Rub Tuesdays, Chili's and TGIFridays. Cheddars is not yet in Minnesota so once its in the cities in about ten to twenty years it will be in Duluth, that early. Texas Roadhouse is building a location in Duluth soon. Olive Garden opened a location in Duluth about three years ago. TGIFridays and Chilis are looking at space in Duluth, once they find the correct one they will open up. Buffalo Wild Wings is looking at six spaces in Duluth and hoping to select one or two to open in. We will see. A lot is changing in Duluth at the moment. Monday they will be voting on a extended stay hotel and new restaurant to be built. They said the restaurant they are talking about is not a Duluth restaurant or in our market yet, so hopefully one of the ones you have mentioned.

[aluminumpork]

From the responses I had gotten from an email I sent to the city councilors, I'd say there's a good chance that it'll pass. I think if it does and the hotel/restaurant go through, it'll really spur more development in the area.

[duluthian2008]

What did your email say to the city councilors? What did they reply with? Are they voting on Monday? Have you heard anything on what the hotel and restaurant may be?

[nateduluthnative]

Originally Posted by newcastle

Hey, does anyone know if Vanjaro is still planning on building that 9 story office building downtown? If they do, I hope they make the exterior look more modern. The drawing in the paper looked somewhat like a 1970's throwback.

I agree. The top looks like an 80's throwback. The Vonjaro website only has
the condo conversion on Lake and Superior St., but nothing about the office
building. The architectural firm doesn't have a website yet. I think the recent
economic news is affecting proposed developments. Do you know any-
thing about the proposed office building on Central Entrance, the proposed
redevelopment of the former KDLH Building or the proposed building in
Hermantown by the Doppler tower? I wish Duluth could get a building that
could break a height record. The Alworth Building is a neat old building,
but i wish something could surpass it in height(a windowless telephone
tower doesn't count). Did you also know there is a proposed 9 to 11-story
condo tower dubbed "Mesaba Terraces" above Mesaba Ave. on 4th St?

[duluthian2008]

Did you also know there is a proposed 9 to 11-story
condo tower dubbed "Mesaba Terraces" above Mesaba Ave. on 4th St?

I did not know anything about that. Give us some info please, as much as you know.

[newcastle]

No, I didn't know anything about Mesaba Terraces or the office building by the Doppler Tower. The only thing I know about the Central Entrance building is the obvious;that there is nothing there but a big sign.

[nateduluthnative]

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

I did not know anything about that. Give us some info please, as much as you know.

I found it on a real estate website, Weichert.com: Realtors, Real Estate Listings, Homes For Sale & Financial Services. I think it is a
concept to sell the land. The drawings are from Stanius Johnson Archi-
tects. The site by the Doppler tower had a sign that showed a 3-
story office/retail building about a year ago, but I don't know if it's
still there. I'll be up there this weekend and do my usual drive around
to see new developments.

[Dangerous Dave]

Unless things have changed drastically, downtown Duluth isn't such a great place to build condos. The reason they're popular in big cities is the location and ease of commute - an alternative to driving 30 miles one way to work in brutal traffic.

What's bad traffic in Duluth? Getting off-time for the green lights on 3rd St.?

Any downtown revitalization needs to be accompanied by stiff crackdowns on criminal activity in the core of the city. I don't see that as something Duluth has the stomach for.

With respect, your new mayor sounds like Barack Obama, and thinks lofty talk will run the city (I went to school with Donny starting in the fourth grade at Grant, and it does pain me to say anything bad about him) when law and order is what needs to happen first.

My mother is the most liberal person I know, and her summary of the race was that the other candidate told the truth about what is happening and had a genuine interest in solving problems. No, his way wasn't the "PC" way and he was cast as a racist tool of fascism, so it appears that things will need to get worse before they can get better.

[duluthian2008]

Yeah I highly doubt that another Condo tower will be built in Duluth until the market changes. Also the Central Entrance building by the towers is offices. It will not start construction until a good amount of the building has been leased, and so far it isnt looking very good.