METRO CABLE NETWORK BUILDING1229 2ND ST. NE., MINNEAPOLIS
Type: Office/StudioTotal size: 9,489 square feetAddition size: 2,542 square feetCost: $1.25 million
Developer: Twin Cities Regional Cable Channel 6
Details
Metro Cable Network Channel 6, which airs a slate of local noncommercial television programming, has purchased a one-story building in the heart of northeast Minneapolis' booming arts district and is preparing a 2,500-square-foot addition to house a new studio and production space.
The nondescript, 6,000-square-foot existing structure at the corner of 2nd Street and 13th Avenue NE. was built in the late 1950s and for many years held a North Memorial medical clinic. Last year the clinic moved to new space in the Cobalt Condominiums building on Central Avenue SE., leaving its former home vacant for about a year.
Michael Rainville, chairman of Metro Cable Network's board of directors, said the nonprofit cablecaster saw an opportunity to accomplish several goals by buying, renovating and adding onto the building at a total cost of $1.25 million.
"For the 21 years we've been in existence, we've always rented, such as we've been doing for the past several years at the Crown Roller Mill building," he said. "By buying a home, we're getting cost certainty."
The main goal, however, was to construct a new television production studio that will enable MCN to upgrade and vary its services. On the air since 1987, the service -- which is mainly supported by local cable TV commissions and fees charged to program producers -- is available to 600,000 viewers on Channel 6 across all of the Twin Cities region's providers. It's probably best known as the TV home of the Hennepin County Board meetings, but also airs a variety of local interest, religious and entertainment shows, some of which are produced by local cablers and given a metro-wide audience on Channel 6.
