Historic Designation

Midtown Exchange received histroic designation in August of 2005. Because the project used federal funds, historic designation triggered a review of the project under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Historic designation also enabled the project to qualify for a 20-percent rehabilitation tax credit.

Area of Potential Effects Study area for 1928 building historic designation

Sears building seen from Chicago-Lake

1929 photo of main (west) entry

Sears west side, looking north, 1936 Photo: Minnesota Historical Society

Property lines for original Sears site

Section 106 Review

When a federal agency proposes to fund a project involving historic properties, the agency must consider how the project might affect these properties. The review process is:

• Administered by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency
• Overseen at state level by State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Major Steps to Designation

• Establish the Area of Potential Effects (APE)
• Identify historic properties in the APE
• Determine the effect of the project on any historic properties in the APE
• Develop a programmatic agreement
  

Major Stipulations of the Programmatic Agreement

• Agreeing to do inventory to identify historic properties in APE and assess effects
• Adopt Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
• Coordinate with other historic preservation initiates in vicinity
• Consider the concerns of the public
  

Parties to the Programmatic Agreement

Signatories

• US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  - Maria Paulson, (612) 370-3019 x2104, Maria_Elena_Paulson@hud.gov

• Federal Transit Administration
• Minnesota Historical Society (SHPO)
  - Dennis Gimmestad, (651) 296-5462, dennis.gimmestad@mnhs.org

Invited Signatures

• City of Minneapolis
• Ryan Companies US, Inc.
• Metropolitan Council

Concurring Parties

• Hennepin County
• Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority
• Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission

 

20% Historic Tax Credits More

• Exterior work:
  -Brick cleaning
  -Window replacement and restoration
  -Some new window openings
  -Awnings on Lake Street windows
  -Entryways renovated
  -Some parapets lowered
  -North annex over Greenway removed, facade reconstructed

• Interior work:
  -Selective demolition
  -Lobby renovation
  -Two new atriums
  

• Additions to site:
  -Hotel building to west
  -Covered walkway over Elliot Bridge
  -Parking ramp and housing to east
  

 

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