The Shale

The Shale is a six-story mixed use building with one-story of underground parking located on Nawadaha Boulevard adjacent to the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway. The residential component, on floors two through six, provides for 80 market rate units ranging in type from studio to two-bedroom units. A significant portion of the first floor is utilized for tenant amenities and commercial purposes. There is also a tenant amenity room and rooftop deck that overlooks Minnehaha Falls Regional Park to the southeast.

The Shale worked extensively with the Hiawatha Neighborhood and the Minneapolis Planning Department during the entitlement phase of the project to address height and bulk concerns. By cutting back the façade on level six, the project was able to preserve views from the river and demonstrate a compromise and desired elegance by the community.

The Shale makes the highest and best use of a very difficult site boundary, shape, and topography through the mix of uses, public realm improvements and thoughtful location of parking needs. Due to the site constraints and strict setback requirements, the design welcomed a unique “H” shaped building which steps back on level six. This step back provides for extensive patio space on this top floor for resident use.

The previous site housed a large parking lot with a vacant boarded up restaurant. The Shale provides catalytic value to the surrounding area by enhancing the adjoining properties with a cornerstone project at the corner of Nawadaha Boulevard directly across from Minnehaha Park. The mixed-use aspect of this project is also consistent with other building uses north of the site and the on-going development in this region. This has the effect of providing more critical mass through the residential and commercial uses, which will strengthen the Hiawatha district.