History
Construction of the building began in 1928, but it was delayed for approximately 18 years due to the Great Depression. After World War II, construction was completed, and it became a lively social club. Financial hard times in the early 1950s forced the club into bankruptcy. The building was converted to a hotel in 1954 and was marketed as a place for social events such as proms, parties, luncheons, banquets, and wedding receptions. The upper floors were converted into fashionable apartments. WTCN (now KARE television and WWTC radio) moved its radio and TV studios to the second and third floors around that time. Staples of WTCN programming, such as the children's program "Lunch with Casey" and All Star Wrestling with Verne Gagne, aired live in the building. From 1963 to 1972, the property was renamed Calhoun Beach Manor, operating as a home for the elderly.
In 1977, the building was restored to its intended use as a sports and social club. The handball and squash courts and the swimming pool were restored, and the club installed tennis courts, steam rooms, saunas, sunrooms, and a jogging track. At that time, the lobby was restored in an Art Deco style. Later, in the 1980s, the club added more facilities, such as an aerobics studio, volleyball and basketball courts, and additional exercise equipment.
In 1997 a tower addition was designed by KKE architects and subsequently constructed.
In 2001 the property was renovated and converted to luxury apartment homes.
The original building – the oldest high-rise residential building outside of downtown Minneapolis' core – was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 23, 2003.
Read more about this topic: Calhoun Beach Club
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