The City Council gave the green light to transform the former Coina Delbario space into Americana, a new restaurant that city officials say will be a major draw for the 50th and France neighborhood. The approval included permission for a second-floor addition featuring a gabled glass conservatory that will add dining and bar space to the building.

Council members expressed enthusiasm about the project during the meeting. "We have been seeing a big moment for 50th in France with dining," one speaker said. "We're bringing in so many new restaurants and new offerings for our community. We are very honored to have Daniel Delpra and Ryan Bernett bringing us Americana. This is going to be such a huge draw to our district."

Chef Delpra, who operates several popular restaurants throughout the Twin Cities, is expected to bring his culinary reputation to the new venture. Another council member highlighted the project's design and dining experience, saying "between the design of the project, the dining that we know Daniel Delpra is known for, and the experiences that people can have in this new space, it's going to be unbelievable."

As part of the approval, the council granted a parking variance for the restaurant development. However, recognizing that growth in the district could strain parking availability, the council also requested a comprehensive parking study for the entire 50th and France area. The study is intended to help the city manage future business growth while maintaining a positive experience for visitors to the neighborhood's expanding restaurant scene.