The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-22
DETERMINING BUSINESS
CEV7ER,S OH THE CITY
A Process Which Has Been Gradual for Many Years
and Is Noe Nearing End-How "Centers'
Fzsctatate and FINALLY Become Fired ActiUity ii,
Real Estate and Building Continues Despite the Heat.

have no idea whether location will be
chosen in an entirely new part Of the
city from the point generally accepted
as central, or whether the commission
will choose block in the Hennepin-
Washington avenue district. They do
not know whether public policy is to
win out, or whether selfish land inter
ests will exercise such pull as to Sc
cure the federal building for some point
that may or may not meet general APP.
prevail. u
The Process Of "Settling.'
Minneapolis has been a turbulent sea
of speculation as to the future. Events
of the past four years, however, have
tended to produce feeling Of security
as to the downtown business district
boundaries. Business firms have been
going thru the process of development
rapidly and have been selecting sites
for new buildings in which they will
continue to do business for years.. The
city is assuming form as it acquires age
and solidity.
Natural conditions have made it in
evitable that certain firms of enter
time. The flour mills and factories
which use waterpower will always line
| the river. Railroads yards have been
| clearly defined since the city was
founded, and with the exception Of the
establishment Of additional yards out
side and an expansion Of the existing
trackage, the encroachment on city
property has been slight With these
fixed points to start FROM, the whole
from Hennepin as it's center. The loca-
ton was clinched when Wyman, Part
ridge & Co. built it's huge structure at
Fourth and First avenue N, among sew
eral already established houses, and by
the erection of many wholesale build.
ings by Major G. B. Heffelfnger, includ.
ing the North Star Shoe company fac.
tory. The addition Of the Winston,
Of the Cream of Wheat, building, pro.
duced feeling of final determination
Of the wholesale site.
The farm machinery and implement
district was one of the next to emerge
from the chaos. The Deere & Weber
company decided upon Eighth avenue
N and Washington, building an enorm-
time, several establishments choose loose
Third street S, where A. NJ Wright has
put up four big warehouses and where
the j. I: Case Threshing Machine com.
panv will build
The financial center was one of the
next to follow suit in an adjustment
to conditions. With the repurchase of
its former building by the National
Bank Of Commerce, the selection of q
First avenue S site by the Northwest.
ern National. the choice of Second ave.
nue. s and Fourth street by the Secu.
rlty bank and the lease of a big prop.
erty at First avenue S and Fifth street
by the First National it became pretty
clearly settled where the financial in.
situations would hover in the future.
Uncertainty as to Retailing.
In some minds the retail center will
mako change from what seems now
a definitely determined point. Experts
and investors disagree as to whether
the retail bushes will return to Hen
nepin, or continue south from First
avenue s, whether it will settle upor
Seventh street or move downward il
the direction of Washington avenue s
The selection Of new location a.
:, First avenue and above Seventh
street by w. L. Harris, president o.
the New England Furniture and Car
pet company, is a substantial. evidence
Of the opinion entertained by that BIZ
company. At the same time the United
| Cities Realty company, a large hold
| ing organization Of New York city, no
/ long ago bought the Nicollet hote
property in the opinion that it ha,
, chosen an investment in a dcfnitel,
, determined center of Minneapolis.
Whatever may be the outcome it j
clearly evident to the real estate oper
ators and to investors in realty tina
Minneapolis has made great strides to
ward a definite determination Of cen