Sharon Sayles Belton: Time to rally behind Block E

Published Aug 2, 2002

That bustle of construction on Hennepin Avenue is the sign of a bright new era for downtown Minneapolis. In just a month or two, the tenants of Block E, the $134 million dining, shopping and entertainment complex, will begin to open their doors.

When it's time to turn on the lights, let's not be caught sleeping at the switch. Block E deserves to shine.

Like many a downtown, Minneapolis' entertainment core has had its peaks and valleys. Block E, the area bounded by Hennepin Av. and 1st Av. N. between 6th and 7th Sts., is no exception.

As early as the 1880s, Minneapolis' West Hotel promised luxury to downtown visitors when it opened on Hennepin and 5th St., only to be replaced by pool halls and small shops after the turn of the century.

The Shubert Theater was built as a playhouse on N. 7th Street in 1910. Decades later, it evolved to become the Academy movie theater.

In the decades that followed, Block E became Minneapolis' most notorious block, home to Moby Dick's, considered one of the most infamous bars in the Upper Midwest. Other area businesses came and went, from the Rand Hotel to Brady's Pub to the Best Steak House.

In 1988, the buildings on Block E were torn down to make way for yet another new development, but the block remained dormant for 14 long years. During that time, civic and business leaders agonized over what to put in the space as they searched for investors with the financial horsepower to make it a reality.

Then, in 2000, thanks to the vision of the Minneapolis City Council, the Downtown Council, farsighted city leaders and a developer backed by the hard-earned money of supportive union workers, a proposal was approved to transform Block E into an exciting entertainment complex.

The bold proposal sought to revitalize Block E, much as New York revitalized Times Square after it descended into an area known for porn shops and sleaze. Today, thanks to New York's courageous determination, Times Square stands proudly as host to the Walt Disney Theater, ABC Television and a vibrant entertainment district.

Minneapolis could learn a thing or two from New York's example. After years of talking, waiting, deciding and backtracking, our city is on the verge of another opportunity to revitalize its downtown core.

This is not the time to quibble about the location of Block E's bathrooms, as long as they remain safe, clean and accessible. Plans evolve, folks. Tenants have needs. People move on. If we don't support efforts to transform a once-troubled city block into a point of civic pride, we face the risk that thousands of potential Block E patrons -- families, downtown workers, travelers and conventioneers -- may choose to take their dining, entertainment, shopping and lodging dollars elsewhere.

We can keep those dollars in downtown Minneapolis if we give Block E a chance to succeed.

The developers have brought in high-profile national tenants like Hard Rock Cafe, Improv Comedy Club, Borders Books and Music, GameWorks and a Crown Theatres multiplex, all set to open before year's end. These venues will add to Minneapolis' lively variety of entertainment choices, from movies and books to comedy, live concerts, dining and more.

When Le Meridien's luxury hotel opens at Block E, Minneapolis will boast its first five-star hotel, the first of its kind in the United States. With amenities worthy of kings and queens -- not to mention our very own Prince -- the hotel has the potential to draw additional conventions and tourism to the city, as well as to attract outstate Minnesotans to downtown.

Soon, Block E's two skyways will open, spanning Hennepin Avenue and 1st Avenue. They will provide a vital link between the Target Center and Warehouse District and downtown's retail and financial center.

In addition, several street-level improvements -- including trees, open park space and bold outdoor lighting -- will top off a series of much-needed enhancements to the downtown environment. The end result will far outweigh the few details that may or may not be perfect about Block E.

It's time to look forward, Minneapolis. There's light at the end of the tunnel, and it's coming directly from Block E. Let it shine.

-- Sharon Sayles Belton, mayor of Minneapolis from 1994 through last year, is a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

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