The citizens have a right to decide these things. The city councils is supposed to represent and work for the people, not developers. This variance for a price crap needs to stop.

there used to be a gas station on the site? Wow, how about reviving the gas station, along with a grocery store and a pharmacy, along with other retail entities that the neighborhood peeps could actually use. as it stands now, more and more coffee shops, restaurants, and boutique stores are becoming the norm.

Sounds like it's the place where the elite meet and buy their meet. Classic Minneapolis. I hope he builds it 10 stories.

My experience after working in Linden Hills several years ago is that many of the folks who live there would be very much for creating a much higher level of urban density. It amuses me that they are pulling the "not in my backyard" card. I also think these protestations have not much validity. There is a four or five-story apartment-type condo literally a block south from this developers planned site. While I am sure it has been there since the 70s it hardly destroys the continuity of the neighborhood. I have seen many more oversized homes being built in Linden Hills over the last several years. I personally find that trend to be more distressing. I should say I have never understood the draw of Linden Hills. 400k for a house with a bad roof and wet basement on a small lot, all with MSP flights every five minutes. The residents want to keep their neighborhood insulated, I get that. But sometimes change is good!

Linden Hills has a small town feel to it. Would be awful to put a five story building on that corner.

The article fails to mention the SIX story condo at the TOP OF THE HILL that already exists -- is that not a problem? This one would approach half the height of that existing structure, since it's at the BOTTOM OF THE HILL. The residents want all the amenities of a perfect location except the demand that comes with it, and I could not feel less sorry for these NIMBY whiners! They want Mayberry in Minneapolis. Maybe Linden Hills has that but this development will hardly change a thing, except add more space for OTHER people who would love to share part of this "amazing, quaint little neighborhood" that the existing neighbors covet so much.

"'I think he's a very nice person," said Sara Schumacher, a 30-year resident. "But he also wants to make money...'". But? What could she possibly mean by "but."

Aside from changing the character of the neighborhood a bit (be for better or worse), it would have a depressing effect on surrounding property values in an already weak RE market. One thing to look out for in this type of thing is insider dealing between the developer and certain city council members. Front-running has been known to happen in this town.

This is in the center of a commercial intersection - believe me, it would look a lot better than what's there now. These protesters are silly.

Re: "Another example of greed in society". Definition of Selfish "concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others". So it is OK to be selfish and allow no one else in, but being "greedy", and chase the American Dream is bad. There are planning commissions and council meetings, let the process work it out. Heck, the only surprising thing about this article to me is that someone wanted to do business in Mpls in the first place.