Minneapolis' Downtown East renderings offer strong sign(age)

October 17, 2013 at 1:50AM

No deal has been signed, but it's pretty clear which company will dominate a big chunk of the Downtown East project.

Renderings submitted to the city of Minneapolis on Wednesday show Wells Fargo's name all over the proposed signage for the office portion of the project.

Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos. plans a new campus for a corporate client for five blocks on the eastern stretch of downtown now owned by the Star Tribune. The $400 million development also includes about 300 residential units, a two-block city park and retail offerings.

While Ryan and Wells Fargo have confirmed they're talking about the bank locating in the office portion of the project, no formal deal has been struck. Ryan's vice president of development Rick Collins reports, "[We're] all working hard together, but no signed agreements yet.

Documents submitted to the city in preparation for a Planning Commission meeting Thursday show several variations of Wells Fargo signage — from big signs on two office towers, to doors, ATMs and windows. A few of the renderings are marked: "Preliminary Plan — Subject to Change."

Janet Moore

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