The Edgewater

Sitting just across the street from the Lake Calhoun Refectory lies the site of this very controversial project. The three-story brick apartment building that resided on that corner since the early 1900s, originally going to be converted to condos, was found to be in poor structural condition. Having the opportunity to get to visit the building just days before its demolition, I must say, I found the building with slanting floors and mold (as a building recycler showed me). The building was coming down, no doubt.

The developer, Financial Freedom Realty, decided that a six-story (with step-downs) high-end condo development would act as a gateway to Uptown. Neighbors took concern to the height due to its location (within a zoning overlay that requires strict review of buildings near waterways) and after a long and bitter process, the building was ultimately approved by the City Council.

The building offers condo shells to its clients, allowing them to design the layout and elements of their units. The condo units will have views of both Downtown and Lake Calhoun. Financial Freedom Realty states that this building is the "Gateway to Uptown," as it sits right where Lake Street turns into Uptown. 

(Opens in New Window)

Property Address: 1609-1611 Lagoon Avenue; 2910 Irving Avenue
Prior Use: Low-density Residential
Proposed Use: Multi-Family Residential
Proposed Height: 74' (6-stories)
Approved Height: 69' (6-stories)
Prior Parking: ~24
Proposed Parking: 42
Parking Requirement: 28 (one per unit)
Proposed Housing Units/Type: 28 / Condo
Built Housing Units/Type: 23 / Condo
Conditional Use Permits Requested: 28-dwelling units, Increase Height from 35 feet (Shoreland Overlay) to 82 feet
Variances Requested: Reduce front yard setback along Knox Avenue, Reduce side yard setback along Lake Street, Reduce the rear yard setback
Other Requested: Alley vacation

• Geiger, Bob. "Ad Hails Edgewater as 'Uptown's Architectural Renaissance." Finance & Commerce 27 Oct. 2005.
• Repya, Robyn. "Updated East Calhoun Development Design Released." Southwest Journal 2 Mar. 2005.
• Repya, Robyn. "Calhoun Shoreline Development gets City OK." Southwest Journal 7 Oct. 2004.
• Repya, Robyn. "East Calhoun Group Votes Against Six-Story Lake-Area Development." Southwest Journal 22 Jul. 2004.
• Repya, Robyn. "Is High-End Condo Project Too Tall for Lake Calhoun?" Southwest Journal 24 Jun. 2004.