In a spot previously known as "Block E" for no other reason than its place on a city grid, a massive new hotel and entertainment complex is infusing the area with some purpose.

Slated to open in fall 2002, the as-yet-unnamed development will have a 255-room Renaissance Hotel by Marriott; a 17-screen Crown Theatres cinema with stadium seating; and GameWorks, a Steven Spielberg-created concept — already available in 15 destinations worldwide — offering a full-service restaurant, interactive games and attractions.

Several dozen other retail tenants, to be announced, will be part of the complex.

The Renaissance is slated to house 25,000 square feet of meeting space, and the theater space is expected to be available for auditorium-style meetings.

Block E has been notorious locally, both for its former tenants, which included adult bookstores, movie theaters and Moby Dick's bar, and for sitting empty with the promise of new construction that repeatedly ran into obstacles for about 12 years. "Block E now stands for entertainment and excitement," said Daniel McCaffery, president of developer McCaffery Interests. "This complex is going to rock downtown Minneapolis."