What's happening?

Ground was broken Wednesday on a groundbreaking new downtown apartment complex, called City Club – CBD Minneapolis.

It's described as "disruptive mixed-use apartment, penthouse and furnished short-term community" on 10th Street between Marquette and Nicollet.

The 17-story tower is being pitched at young professionals looking for an affordable place to live downtown.

And by affordable, we mean young professional affordable, with the Detroit-based developers City Club Apartments saying most of the units will be aimed at those earning $45,000-$65,000.

It wouldn't tell BMTN how much that translates to, however.

Sexy bathrooms?

One of the attractions of the apartment complex is "sexy bathrooms," according to a press release.

BMTN reached out to City Club for further clarification on what constitutes a sexy bathroom, and it's apparently "aesthetically pleasing with high-quality fixtures and amenities."

Bathrooms aside, the 307-unit apartment and penthouse building will be split between studio, convertible, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses, complete with "oversized windows," balconies and custom closets.

It also features numerous amenities tailored for its yuppie residents.

This includes a "Sky Club" with a gourmet kitchen, club style seating, big screen TVs and a fireplace – which residents can use to host private dinners.

Outside, a Sky Park will include an outdoor pool, spa, movie theater and a dog area.

It'll also come complete with 24/7 concierge, a business conference center, wellness and exercise rooms and high-speed fiber internet.

As well as the apartment tower, City Club has also agreed to preserve the adjacent Handicraft Building, and will convert the Guild Assembly Hall into a 3,500 square-foot, two story restaurant/bar and event space.

Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey was among those at the launch, and commented: "We are responding to the demand of young professionals for uncompromising quality and market leading amenities and services at affordable rental rates in the CBD.

"This simply does not exist in the market today and we are thrilled to be delivering it."

Downtown continues to change

The complex aims to mix it up in an area of Minneapolis that has struggled to create a sense of community in past decades, but after much effort is starting to see a significant increase in residents.

It was reported last month that downtown's population has grown by 36.2 percent over the past 11 years, after much effort to encourage development, cut down crime and entice young renters by groups including the Minneapolis Downtown Council.

Along with City Club, plans were released a few weeks ago of a huge condo tower at the Mississippi River end of downtown, which will provide more than 100 units distributed between 39 stories.

City Club's development is expected to be completed in summer 2019, with pre-leasing opportunities starting this September, and the first residents able to move in next spring.

Read full article written by Adam Uren for Bring Me The News here.