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About Town summer2014
Insert Inside PipelinePUBLIC WORKS SUMMER•2014 Official Magazine of the City of Edina AboutTown AboutTown Volume 25, Number 3 Circulation 25,000 Summer 2014 Official Publication of the www.EdinaMN.gov City of Edina, Minnesota 4801 West 50th Street Edina, Minnesota 55424 952-826-0359 Editor: Jennifer Bennerotte Contributing Writers: Krystal Caron, Jordan Gilgenbach, Lauren Hardy, David Katz, Kaylin Martin, Marci Matson and Michael McGivern. Photographer: Michael Braun Layout Editor: Kaylin Martin Publisher: City of Edina About Town is produced by the City of Edina. To advertise in About Town, call Barb Pederson, 612-998-7412 . Copyright 2014 by City of Edina, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424. About Town is published quarterly by the City of Edina. The purpose of the magazine is to keep Edina residents informed of news, activities and programs that are important to them. We include articles of interest about our residents and community history as well. About Town is printed on recycled paper to conform to City conservation guidelines. Cover photo by Rebecca Schmoll Table Of Contents Calendar Of Events ..........................................................................1 Summer Calendar Highlights .........................................................4 A Word From The Mayor ...............................................................5 Grandview Has Long History Of Being A Community Hub ..............................................................................6 It’s Not Only Neighborly ... It’s The Law ...................................12 Fourth Of July Parade To Honor The Volunteer Spirit Of Edina .............................................................14 Building Edina Neighborhood Associations From The Ground Up ....................................................................18 Making The Last Mile Count ........................................................22 Six Steps In The Right Direction For Braemar Golf Course .....24 PACS Fund Improves Pedestrian And Bicyclist Safety ............28 City’s Newest Assistant Director Will Help Engineer The Next Stage Of Edina’s Growth ............................32 Find Your Place In History With ‘Edina on the Map’ Exhibit ...........................................................34 Lutz Receives Officer of the Year Award .....................................................................................36 Fischer Wins Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation ......38 Chamber Lays Groundwork For Convention And Visitors’ Bureau .....................................................................40 Edina Community Foundation: Honoring Our Veterans ........42 Historic Arthur Erickson House Receives Edina Heritage Award ..............................................................................52 Developer To Make $500M Investment In Pentagon Park.......44 VEAP Serves More Families Than Ever Before At New Location ............................................................................46 Edina Will Conduct Fall Hydrant Flushing ...............................48 Business Notes ................................................................................50 Planning Matters ............................................................................56 The Last Word ................................................................................58 Te a r H e r e The Waters Senior Living is pleased to support Edina with two premier Senior Living Communities. ™ (952) 467-8344 TheWatersofEdina.com ON 50 TH (612) 200-9552 TheWaterson50th.com Senior Living | Memory Care | Enhanced Care Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 6:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 2 7 p.m. Star of the North Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 3 Noon, Brodini Magic and Comedy Show, Centennial Lakes Park. 4 p.m., Public Art Working Group, Edina City Hall. 4 Independence Day. Most City offices closed. 10 a.m., Parade, Edina City Hall to downtown Edina. 5 6 2 p.m., Shakespeare in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., CC Septet, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 7 p.m., Jazz on the Prairie, Centennial Lakes Park. 8 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 9 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Bend in the River Big Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 10 Noon, Kid Power with Rachael, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 11 12 13 7 p.m., Northern Winds Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 14 7 p.m., Zuhrah Shrine Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 15 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. 16 7 p.m., Medalist Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 18 6 p.m., Music in the Park, Patty Peterson, Rosland Park. 19 20 2 p.m., Continental Ballet, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 21 7 p.m., Flute Cocktail, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., School Board, Edina Community Center. 22 Noon, The Zinghoppers, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 23 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Bavarian Musikmeisters, Centennial Lakes Park. 24 Noon, Mary Hall’s Show for Pipsqueeks, Centennial Lakes Park. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 25 26 29 Noon, The AlphaBits, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. 28 7 p.m., Dancing in the Park: Ballroom, Centennial Lakes Park. 27 7 p.m., Minneapolis Police Band, Centennial Lakes Park. July 2014 30 7 p.m., Prior Lake Wind Jammers, Centennial Lakes Park. 31 Sunset, Movie in the Park, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” Centennial Lakes Park. 17 Noon, Paul Spring Family Show, Centennial Lakes Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 2014 SUMMER • 1 Te a r H e r e Key: 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. 2 • SUMMER 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 6 p.m., Edina All Star Music in the Park, Rosland Park. 2 3 7 p.m., Somewhat Dixieland Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 4 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Minneapolis Commodores Barbershop Chorus, Centennial Lakes Park. 5 Noon, The Bazillions, Centennial Lakes Park. Night to Unite. 7 p.m., Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Centennial Lakes 6 7 p.m., Execs Big Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 Noon, Mister Jim, Centennial Lakes Park. Sunset, Movie in the Park, “Tad, The Lost Explorer,” Centennial Lakes Park. 8 9 10 6 p.m., Torchlight Concert Promenade, Centennial Lakes Park. 7:45 p.m., Fife & Drums, Centennial Lakes Park. 11 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 12 Primary Election Day. Noon, The Teddy Bear Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. 13 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Armenian Dance Ensemble, Centennial Lakes Park. 15 16 17 7 p.m., The Medicine Show Company, Centennial Lakes Park. 18 7 p.m., Celebration Brass Quintet, Centennial Lakes Park. 8 p.m., School Board, Edina Community Center. 19 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Centennial Lakes Park. 20 7 p.m., Moonlight Serenaders, Centennial Lakes Park. 21 Noon, Jack Pearson Music & Storytelling, Centennial Lakes Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 22 23 26 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Sidewalk Café Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. 25 First day of school for Grades 1-12 in Edina Public Schools. 7 p.m., Dancing in the Park: Swing Lessons, Centennial Lakes Park. 24 7 p.m., Inver Hills Community Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 31 7 p.m., The Percolaters, Centennial Lakes Park. August 2014 27 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Amy & Adams, Centennial Lakes Park. 28 Noon, Brodini Magic and Comedy Show, Centennial Lakes Park. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 29 14 Noon, Choo Choo Bob, Centennial Lakes Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 30 About Town Calendar Key: 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. 3 • SUMMER 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 6:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 3 4 5 6 1 Labor Day. Most City offices closed. 7 8 9 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 10 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 11 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 12 Edina High School Homecoming. 13 14 15 16 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 17 19 20 21 22 7 p.m., School Board, Edina Community Center. 23 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 24 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 25 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 26 27 30 2928 September 2014 18 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar Key: 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park. 4 • SUMMER 2014 Summer Calendar Highlights Other Dates To Remember July 1 Noon, Carol McCormick Storytelling, Centennial Lakes Park. July 1 7 p.m., Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Centennial Lakes Park. July 3 Sunset, Movie in the Park, “The Lorax,” Centennial Lakes Park. July 8 Noon, Wiggle, Jiggle, Jam, Centennial Lakes Park. July 10 Sunset, Movie in the Park, “Gravity,” Centennial Lakes Park. July 15 Noon, Jack Pearson Music & Storytelling, Centennial Lakes Park. July 22 7 p.m., Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Centennial Lakes Park. July 31 Noon, Mrs. Catherine and Friends, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 4 6:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. Aug. 10 8:30 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 11 7 p.m., Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 14 Sunset, Movie in the Park, “The Hobbit 2,” Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 19 Noon, Will Hale and the Tadpole Parade, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 21 Sunset, Movie in the Park, “Planes,” Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 26 Noon, Wonderful World of Woody, Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 28 Sunset, Movie in the Park, “Captain Phillips,” Centennial Lakes Park. Lighthouse Night What: Enjoy 25-cent ice cream cones, 5-cent balloons, Model T Fords, tricks by a sleight- of-hand magician, an Italian organ grinder, a Mechanical Man, “pennyfarthing” bicycles and more at the Centennial Lakes Torchlight Concert. More than 100 Tiki Torches will burn behind the Hughes Pavilion and the park’s special lighting will be highlighted. Fife & Drums will perform at 7:45 p.m. At 8 p.m., there will be open boating in the Central Pond for model yachts organized by the Edina Model Yacht Club. The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band will perform in the amphitheater at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks will cap off the night. When: Sunday, Aug. 10 Where: Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. Info: 952-833-9580 Fall into the Arts Festival What: More than 225 talented artists from around the Midwest will display and sell their work at the annual Fall into the Arts Festival at Centennial Lakes Park. The arts festival will also feature favorite fall foods and entertainment, children’s activities and artist demonstrations. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, Edina Art Center and Centennial Lakes Park. When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7 Where: Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. Info: www.FallintotheArtsFestival.com Te a r H e r e A Word From The Mayor We have been working for years to make Edina easier and safer to navigate by foot and bike. Now, we have received some recognition affirming our efforts to be a “Bicycle Friendly Community.” In May, the City was named a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Edina is one of only 11 cities in the state to have any level designation from the League. Other cities include Bemidji, Duluth, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, greater Mankato, Minneapolis, Richfield, Rochester, St. Paul and Winona. A Bicycle Friendly Community encourages people to bike for transportation and recreation to improve public health, reduce traffic demands, improve air quality and better an individual’s physical fitness. According to the League, such communities are more connected, active and environmentally sustainable, and see increased property values, business growth and tourism. Minneapolis holds a “gold” ranking from the League of American Bicyclists. All other Minnesota cities have a bronze rating. The City has made significant progress in just a few shorts years in making biking through and around Edina easier and more convenient. The City has about 16 miles of on-street bicycle facilities and 3 miles of off-road bike facilities– figures that will continue to grow. The Engineering Department’s goal is to add 2.5 miles of new bike facilities each year. In the last two years, more than 9 miles of bike facilities were added around the community. This summer, we hope to complete bike routes on Olinger Boulevard and Ohms Lane. In May, the City Council approved a dedicated bike lane on Olinger Boulevard for the entire length in the south/ eastbound direction, and also from Olinger Road to Vernon Avenue in the north/westbound direction. The remainder of the north/westbound direction (from Tracy to Olinger Road) will be marked with sharrows due to the lack of necessary roadway width to accommodate dedicated bike lanes and on-street parking in that section. This is part of a mill-and-overlay project, with construction anticipated between July and September. Ohms Lane is also a primary bike route. While Public Works resurfaced this street last year, the City has held off striping bike lanes on the street until Three Rivers Park District determines a final alignment for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. When that is approved later this month, we will schedule dedicated bike lane striping either on Ohms Lane/West 72nd Street or Metro Boulevard, depending on the Three Rivers-selected alignment. The award validates our Living Streets Policy, use of the Pedestrian and Cycling Safety Fund (which you can read more about on Page 28 of this magazine) and inspires us to continue to look for opportunities to enhance our bicycle system and focus on education. It also represents a great deal of hard work and persistence of City officials, residents and staff. Thank you to everyone who helped Edina earn the designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community! I look forward to seeing cyclists traverse our town through the summer months and beyond! James B. Hovland Mayor 2014 SUMMER • 5 Te a r H e r e Grandview Has Long History Of Being A Community Hub 6 • SUMMER 2014 By Marci Matson Contributing Writer More than a century ago, Grandview looked vastly different than it does today, with berry fields instead of businesses and dirt roads instead of highways. But throughout the decades, the area at 50th Street and Minnesota Highway 100 has served as an important hub in Edina. Edina’s First School Grandview’s status was sealed in February 1873, when entrepreneurial Andrew Craik donated land for a school to help attract young families and customers to his new store, built near his flour mill on Minnehaha Creek. The District 17 one-room school was pulled over frozen roads by oxen from its original site at “Code’s Corner,” located on what is now Highway 100 and Valley View Road. In 1888, the one-room school was replaced by a “modern” brick school and remodeled several times to accommodate the ever-growing student body. Overcrowding forced the District to build two new schools in 1926, one in the Country Club District and one in Morningside. However, the abandoned school site would remain key to Grandview’s growth. Yancey Berry Farm Long before Grandview attracted retail and industry, Ellen and Beverly (B.C.) Yancey operated a thriving berry farm. Far from being a simple truck farm, the Yancey farm was a successful commercial enterprise. A visitor from Wilberforce, Ohio, described the extensive operation in 1891: “I enjoyed my visit to Oak Vale at Edina Mills, home of the noted fruit grower B. C. Yancey. ... To me, it was a beautiful sight, almost daily 75 or 100 men, women and children picking berries while Master Charlie Yancey (B.C. Yancey’s son) bossed the patch keeping harmony throughout. The yield of berries per week averages 2,400 quarts ... Mr. Yancey intends on making his fruit farm equal to any in the country.” In addition to their business, the black pioneer couple was prominent among Edina citizens. Ellen Yancey founded the first PTA for Edina’s School District No. 17 in the late 1880s and served as its first president. B.C. Yancey was among Co u r t e s y o f t h e E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y Edina’s first school was pulled by oxen from its original site at Code’s Corner to the Grandview area. It was later replaced by this modern brick school in 1888, the same year Edina incorporated as a village. 2014 SUMMER • 7 (continued on next page) the Edina Mills pioneers rallying for the incorporation of the Village of Edina in 1888 and also served in leadership positions for the new village. More importantly for Grandview, the Yanceys were early and active members of Edina’s Minnehaha Grange No. 398, a national fraternal organization for farmers that advocated for agricultural interests. When the new Country Club development forced the Grange to move its building, the Yanceys provided land for the new site near what is now Highway 100 and Eden Avenue. A Transportation Hub Grandview lies in a crescent created by Vernon Avenue and Eden Avenue and is bisected by Highway 100. The busy network of roads lies essentially on the same path as dirt roads carrying farmers with their wagon loads of grain to and from Andrew Craik’s Edina Mill, at today’s 50th Street and Browndale. Farmers from surrounding communities travelling home on Edina Mills Road (today’s 50th Street) could choose one of three branches near the Yancey farm: north to Hopkins, west to Eden Prairie or south to Bloomington. Eden Prairie Road became Eden Avenue and the road south to Bloomington developed into what is now Highway 100. Although a section of Hopkins Road through the crescent was vacated, the original route north of Vernon Avenue still remains as Interlachen Boulevard. From 1925 to 1940, various roadway improvements created the curving north border of the Grandview crescent. In 1925, Edina Mills Road (aka 50th Street) was widened and paved. Normandale Road transformed from a dirt road to Highway 100 as a federal relief project during the Depression. In the 1930s, the State improved old Highway 5 into Highway 169/212 (later renamed Vernon Avenue) to Shakopee and Chanhassen. Grand View Heights When the Como-Harriet streetcar line extended to Edina along 44th Street in 1905, the north end of the village was ripe for development. Otto J. Morawetz, a salesman at a Minneapolis furniture company, decided to try his luck with developing Grand View Heights, conveniently located near a streetcar stop at 44th and Brookside. His May 1910 ad touted the location as “just four blocks up the hill” from the Brookside streetcar stop and with the “most beautiful heights surrounding Minneapolis.” When the Dan Patch passenger train line was extended through Edina in 1913, Morawetz was still trying to sell Co u r t e s y o f t h e E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y An ad in the May 18, 1913, Minneapolis Morning Tribune promoted Grand View Heights’ proximity to both the Como- Harriet streetcar and the Dan Patch railroad lines. 8 • SUMMER 2014 Grand View. He no doubt hoped that the new service would boost his lagging sales just as it had for other developments (Normandale, Warden Acres and Brookside in Edina) along the line. The passenger train allowed homeowners to commute to their city jobs while living in the fresh country air of Edina. Typical one- and two-acre lots were large enough for gardens, orchards and chickens. Plats were laid out so that buyers could divide their lots and sell at a profit when urban growth expanded to Edina. Morawetz promoted the Dan Patch Depot in his addition, but didn’t mention its proximity to the railroad’s coal yard at Brookside and Eden Prairie Road. While convenient for homeowners buying coal for heating, the site gave the neighborhood a more industrial feel. Even though he had promised clean electric powered trains, Savage never had the capital to change from coal-powered steam to electric. Residents along the line complained of smoky deposits on their clean laundry hanging out on clotheslines. After Savage and his famous horse died suddenly in 1916, the railway reorganized as the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern. Limited passenger service continued until 1942, with some Edina students even taking the train to St. Louis Park High School. (Edina didn’t have a high school until 1949.) A 1937 aerial photo of the area shows only about a half dozen homes in the district. Regardless of its failure as a housing addition, the combination of easy access to major roads and freight service would lead to Grandview’s development as a major commercial and industrial hub in Edina. First Public Works and Village Hall Even before Edina had its own Village Hall, it built its first Public Works garage in the Grandview District. What now houses a fleet of school buses at Eden Avenue and Brookside was built circa 1940 to provide covered storage for the Village’s dump trucks and snow plows. In 1941, the Village started its first all-volunteer fire department and the garage also became the fire station. When the siren at the top of the building blew, the Public Works employees dropped what they were doing and headed to the fire, often ahead of volunteer firefighters. In 1942, after renting meeting space at the Minnehaha Grange Hall No. 398 since incorporating in 1888, the Village finally had its first Village Hall. Co u r t e s y o f t h e E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y The Village’s first Public Works garage housed the volunteer fire department as well as snow plows and dump trucks. The building at 5220 Eden Ave. now serves as the bus garage for Edina Public Schools. 2014 SUMMER • 9 Despite the Great Depression in the 1930s, Edina’s population was growing, up to 5,855 in 1940 from 3,138 in 1930. The Village bought the old District 17 schoolhouse site on Eden Avenue for $1,000 and built a capped basement that housed village offices and the police station. After World War II ended, the Village built a structure that looked very similar to the new American Legion Hall next door to the southwest. As the Village grew, so did its fleet of vehicles, forcing most park maintenance vehicles to be stored outside. When retired Public Works Superintendent Gene Bartz started as a Parks Maintenance Worker in 1957, he parked vehicles in the woods west of the Village Hall, where Tupa Park is today. Every morning in the winter, Village staff fired up a huge reliable dump truck, “319,” and pulled the other vehicles around the Village Hall to get the motors started. Park employees also headed to the woods to chop firewood for stoves that heated skating rink warming houses. Second Public Works And Village Hall In 1954 as construction of Southdale was underway and population rose to 9,744, a new Village Hall was built next to the first Village Hall, which was torn down. The Village’s first equipment was “guys and a truck,” Bartz recalled. To sand icy roads, two men shoveled sand from the back of a dump truck. The Department later fashioned a motorized spreader, but workers still had to shovel the sand into the machinery. Two men were needed to run the first snowplows; one to drive and one to manually pump a handle to lift and lower the blade. Soon, the Village of Edina had more modern equipment but a lack of garage facilities. In 1963, the Village opened a new Public Works garage on Eden Avenue, on the coal yard site for the Dan Patch Railroad, and sold the first garage next door to the Edina school district for its bus garage. The new $300,000 building offered more than six times the storage, at 45,000 square feet compared to the 6,500 square feet in the first garage. In addition, the Village also purchased the J.A. Danens and Sons Excavating company site across the tracks on the west side of Brookside, which eventually became a municipal parking ramp. As Public Works outgrew its building once again, the City had few options for expansion in Grandview. When the (continued on next page) Co u r t e s y o f t h e E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y In 1963, the Village opened a new Public Works garage at 5146 Eden Avenue, once the coal yard site for the Dan Patch railroad. After Public Works moved to its current building at 7450 Metro Boulevard, the building was demolished. 10 • SUMMER 2014 department moved to a renovated building at 7450 Metro Boulevard in 2010, it ended an almost 75-year history in Grandview. Suburban Shopping With its easy access to roads, the Grandview District attracted several small businesses after World War II. The mix reflected a rural community growing into a suburban village. Where Perkins restaurant now stands, Halla Nursery sold bedding plants. From selling produce out of the trunk of their car in 1942, Selmer and LaVina Halla established what would become one of the largest garden centers in the Midwest by the 1950s. On the west side of Highway 100, popular WCCO broadcaster Cedric Adams opened a white tablecloth restaurant in the late 1950s in the same building that houses Washburn-McCreavy Funeral Chapel today. Gus Young ran a bowling alley next door. A 14-acre Greguson’s Nursery stood next to a Mr. Steak across Vernon Avenue from the Biltmore Hotel, considered one of the best hotels outside of downtown Minneapolis. Just out of the District on the south side of Eden Avenue were several industries, including Wanner Engineering, SICO and other manufacturers. After working as a butcher at the tiny Grandview Market on Vernon Avenue since 1947, Jerry Paulsen purchased the business in 1950 and expanded to a new store across the street. He took on the national chain Kroger’s and won, taking over its store in 1967 and renaming it Jerry’s Foods. The Jerry’s empire grew to include Jerry’s Printing, Jerry’s Hardware and Lucille’s clothing store, all located in Grandview. By the late 1960s, traffic had grown so much that a cloverleaf interchange replaced the lone traffic signal at Highway 100 and Vernon Avenue and a new chapter in Edina’s history had begun. Tupa Park Carved from the green space inside one of the “clover leafs,” Tupa Park was created to preserve two of Edina’s most historically significant buildings: Minnehaha Grange Hall No. 398 and Cahill School. The Grange was moved 200 feet into the park to make room for highway expansion. The hall – which served the community since 1873 as a Village Hall, traffic court, polling place and social center – was rarely used by the 1960s with the suburb’s few remaining farmers gathering mainly for monthly socializing. Co u r t e s y o f t h e E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y Jerry Paulsen bought a small grocery store, the Grandview Market, in 1950. His business would grow to become one of the largest employers in Edina and include Jerry’s Foods, Jerry’s Hardware and Jerry’s Printing in the Grandview area. 2014 SUMMER • 11 Historic Cahill School, built in 1864 and used continuously until 1958 by District 16, was also moved to the park when its original site at Cahill Road and 70th Street was slated for redevelopment. The City of Edina restored both buildings and put a call out to the community to create a historical society to interpret the buildings from Edina’s agricultural past. In 1969, the Edina Historical Society formed and began a living history field trip program that attracts more than 5,000 school children every year. The Latest Chapter On the industrial Wanner Engineering site, the City proposed a mixed use project in 1998 that would better fit the changing district. The result was one of the city’s largest redevelopment projects: “Grandview Square, a 13.8-acre public-private venture that gives Edina a new library, a new senior center, a new office building, condos and a taxable value of more than $75 million compared with less than $4 million when the land was occupied by industrial buildings and a few small businesses,” according to a Feb. 21, 2002 Star-Tribune article. The library’s move from the east side of the 1954 Village Hall opened up space for a new City Hall. By 2000, Edina had grown to more than 45,000, with a city hall built to serve a village of less than 10,000. Construction began on the old library site, and the 1954 Village Hall was torn down when the new City Hall opened in 2004. In 2010, the soon-to-be vacated Public Works site launched a discussion of potentially the biggest municipal redevelopment project since Grandview Square. Rather than looking at just the Public Works parcel, the Edina City Council charged a steering committee to create a broad vision for the 38-acre district. Whatever the decision on Grandview’s future development, the area has a long history as an important hub in Edina. As the community has grown and changed, so has Grandview. Marci Matson is Executive Director of the Edina Historical Society. Co u r t e s y o f t h e E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y The Edina Historical Society was formed in 1969, in part, to provide historic programming at Cahill School and Minnehaha Grange Hall. More than 5,000 school children attend the Society’s living history field trip programs each year. 12 • SUMMER 2014 It’s Not Only Neighborly … It’s The Law The Law: Edina City Code Sec. 10-111 (b). [For house demolitions/rebuilds,] deliveries of equipment and material to the site, work crews on site and construction and demolition activity are prohibited except between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday. What It Means: If your construction project is classified as a house demolition/rebuild, the hours during which construction noise is permitted vary from other types of construction projects. The hours for house demolitions and residential redevelopment are limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. No work is allowed on Sunday. The Law: MN State Code Sec. 23-124 (b). No person shall engage in or permit construction and repair activities involving the use of any kind of electric, diesel or gas- powered motor vehicles or machine or other power equipment, audible beyond the property line of the property where activity is occurring, except between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas). What It Means: The hours for construction and activities using electric, diesel or gas-powered motor vehicles or machines or other power equipment – such as a lawnmower – are limited to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and some holidays. For more information, contact the Planning Division at 952-826-0369. The Law: Minnesota State Statute 169.222, Sub. 1. Operation of Bicycle. Traffic laws apply. Every person operating a bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle. What It Means: Like any other driver, bicyclists must follow all of the rules of the road. Specifically: • Bicyclists may ride on all Minnesota roads, except where restricted. • Bicyclists must obey all traffic control signs and signals, just as motorists. • Motorists and bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to each other. • Bicyclists must signal their turns and should ride in a predictable manner. • Bicyclists must use a headlight and rear reflectors when it’s dark. To increase visibility, add a rear flashing light. • Bicyclists should always wear helmets. For more information, contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610. Construction Noise Bicycling 2014 SUMMER • 13 44th & France (952) 920-2010 www.erskineinteriors.com BRING IN About Town FOR 10% OFF ANY SERVICE!* CARPET l HARDWOOD COUNTERTOPS l CABINETS * If a current in-store promotion is better than 10% off for your project, you can choose that promotion (but not both). TO ACTIVATE CALL KARL WILBUR 952 897 5476 SOUTHDALE Y FREE WEEK PASS $0 ENROLLMENT, $150 SAVINGS *OFFER EXPIRES 8/11/2014 190+ GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES FULLY EQUIPPED FITNESS CENTER SWIMMING & FAMILY POOL ALL AGES & FITNESS LEVELS FREE DROP OFF CHILD CARE 14 • SUMMER 2014 By David Katz Each year, the show runners behind Edina’s Independence Day parade give the event a theme in keeping with the tone of the holiday. This year’s procession will be “A Salute to Edina’s Volunteers.” That focus is fitting, given Edina’s strong volunteer ethic – and doubly so for the fact that the parade itself represents the community’s single largest showcase for volunteerism. John Swon, Chair of the Parade Planning Committee, says that the 2014 theme stemmed from a desire to expand the roster of grand marshals to more deserving people. “The grand marshal sits in a place of honor toward the head of the parade. It’s a great way to recognize outstanding achievement, but it only goes to one or two people a year.” Someone suggested shining the spotlight on Edina’s many active civic organizations, and the idea stuck. “As a change, we are pleased to extend the honor to not one, but four grand marshals representing a variety of civic groups and nonprofits,” said Swon. The Edina Chamber of Commerce, Edina Federated Women’s Club, Edina Lion’s Club and Rotary Club of Edina will all nominate a grand marshal from their ranks. Entrants are always encouraged to integrate the annual theme into their parade floats or costumes, and this year is certainly no exception. However, Swon hopes that participants and attendees alike appreciate that the salute to volunteers runs much deeper, to the very fabric of the event. “Without volunteers, an event like this would never have gotten off the ground in the first place,” he said. Edina has hosted parades with some regularity since the City’s Centennial celebration in 1988. After a soft start, the event grew into one of the west metro’s premier Fourth of July activities. Fourth Of July Parade To Honor The Volunteer Spirit Of Edina Fi l e P h o t o A participant walks along with the 30-vehicle convoy of veterans in last year’s Fourth of July Parade. 2014 SUMMER • 15 (continued on next page) In part, that success is attributable to conditions of location and time. “Edina is convenient to get to for a lot of people, and our early start time – 10 a.m. – makes it a perfect way to kick off the Fourth.” More important is the continued participation of volunteers, whose ranks have swollen alongside those of the spectators. “They are really a presence … before, during and after,” Swon explained. When he assumed his role as Chair in 2013, he was impressed by this broad-based involvement. “Giving just one example, the local Cub Scouts stick around every year to clear trash from the parade path. They do a wonderful job. Everyone has and knows their role, so it’s a real joy to be involved.” John Currie, a member of the Parade Planning Committee, agrees wholeheartedly. Currie is active in Minnesota’s Red Bull Historic Military Vehicle Association and plays a leading role in the coordination of a crowd favorite: the parade’s 30-vehicle convoy of veterans. “Last year, we had about 70 veterans in the jeeps and trucks, plus another 10 or 20 marching,” Currie explained. Transporting them to and from the parade and hosting them the night before at the City’s annual Veterans’ Dinner at Braemar Golf Course takes a number of volunteers. Fortunately, they always turn out, he said. “It’s truly an honor to do this – to recognize and give a little something back to area men and women who’ve provided us with perhaps the most important service of all.” Fireworks Cap Off Celebration No Fourth of July celebration is complete without a fireworks display to cap it off, and fortunately, Edina residents do not need to travel far for theirs. For the 10th year running, Fairview Southdale Hospital will sponsor a free fireworks display at Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St. As Recreation Supervisor Kristin Aarsvold notes, this partnership is yet another indication of the community pride that fuels generous giving in Edina. “In 2003, the City faced a tight budgetary situation which nearly spelled an end for our fireworks. … Fairview stepped up and has been the sponsor ever since,” she said. “Without Fairview’s continued backing, and the support of the Edina Community Foundation, this event would not be happening.” It’s well worth your while to get there and snag a good spot early. Edina’s own First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band will perform beginning at 8:45 p.m., and are sure to get you in the patriotic spirit with a repertoire heavy in classic marches. 16 • SUMMER 2014 The Edina Police Department estimates that parade attendance hit 20,000 last July, noted Sgt. Timothy Olson. Weather permitting, Swon believes Edina may top that impressive figure this summer. As the event grows, “We’re always looking for extra help … and really, there’s no better way to pay tribute to volunteers in Edina than by volunteering yourself.” As an alternative for those out of town over the holiday weekend or unsure of their family’s plans, Swon recommends considering a donation to the Edina Community Foundation, which handles all the parade’s finances. For more information or to make a donation, visit edinaparade.org or email info@edinaparade.org. Thanks to a sponsorship from the Edina Chamber of Commerce, the parade will be broadcast live and played throughout the month of July on cable channels 16 and 813. Coverage for backups of sewers and basement drains is available, but not always included in a basic homeowner’s insurance policy. In addition, insurance companies that do offer the protection have varying amounts of coverage. 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(952) 920-9145 Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living and Memory Care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Unit www.heritageofedina.com Over 50 years of service to the community Minnesota Center, Suite 270 I 7760 France Avenue South l Minneapolis, MN 55435 Responsive.Accountable.Aligned with you.Independent Registered Investment Advisors do things differently. Learn why it is important at RIAstandsforyou.com. ISC FINANCIAL ADVISORS Tom Gartner TOM GARTNER, CFP® Wealth ManagerISCfinancialadvisors.com952-835-1560 Responsive.Accountable.Aligned with you.Independent Registered Investment Advisors do things differently. Learn why it is important at RIAstandsforyou.com. 18 • SUMMER 2014 By Krystal Caron The City’s new part-time Project Coordinator thrives on building new programs and overcoming growing pains. Before coming to the City, MJ Lamon served as Volunteer Services Program Specialist for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Lamon served in this role for several years and more than quadrupled the volunteer involvement at Children’s Hospitals. With the success of that program, she was recruited to develop a new program for Children’s Hospitals called Healthcare Career Exploration Program. In this role, Lamon developed a structure for students to observe or job-shadow healthcare professionals. In addition, Lamon served on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration. “When I was brought in to do the Community Career Exploration Program, I signed up to get the program going. As it came toward the end [of developing the initial program], I just wanted a new challenge. And I got it!,” explained Lamon. The challenge that Lamon signed up for was to grow the number of City-recognized Neighborhood Associations in Edina. To date, Edina has four neighborhoods that have completed the process to be recognized by the City. Those include Morningside, Concord, Countryside and Strachauer Park. With a total of 45 identified neighborhoods in Edina, Lamon has her work cut out for her. She explained that the plan is to increase community involvement within the neighborhoods and provide more direct channels for the City to communicate with residents. “Neighborhood associations can play a key role by communicating with residents about development, community engagement opportunities and crime,” explained Lamon. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 60 percent of people only know a few of their neighbors or don’t know any at all, so her first task will be encouraging residents to get involved. “[All it takes is] a group of residents who are motivated and have the energy to start getting their community engaged,” she explained. Jennifer Janovy, a resident of Morningside Neighborhood, was vital in the process of establishing Morningside as a City-recognized neighborhood. “I was part of the Name Your Neighborhood group [that helped identify the 45 neighborhoods in Edina], so I was very committed to the thinking that went into the [City- recognition] policy,” explained Janovy. She realizes each neighborhood will have a slightly different process to becoming City-recognized and recommends taking it in baby-steps. “[Morningside] had a neighborhood association formed in 2003, so we already had an existing neighborhood. A neighborhood association is an independent association that is most often run by volunteers and it is independent from the City. Forming an association is step one and step two is deciding if you want to become a City-recognized neighborhood association.” Building Edina Neighborhood Associations From The Ground Up 2014 SUMMER • 19 (continued on next page) Lamon thinks most neighborhoods will see the value of becoming City-recognized. “They get to be on the front end of projects and initiatives that are happening. So, when we do small area plans, they can get involved earlier. [For example], if we’re looking for an advisory [group to weigh in on something proposed] in a neighborhood, [we can ask if they] have some players who might want to get involved,” said Lamon. “One of the main benefits that happens over time is that people who participate in the leadership [of a neighborhood] learn how City Hall works and develop a body of knowledge. Then they become better able to help keep the neighborhood informed and provide context,” explained Janovy. She expects the partnerships between the City and the neighborhoods will lead to timelier project updates and more two-way communication. Like her work with Children’s Hospitals, Lamon plans to build a strong and sustainable program, which takes time and work. “We’ll need to create some structure and oversight in the process … but it is fun to see what different neighborhoods are already starting to do. They are starting to plan some events and get neighbors together.” Another part of Lamon’s role with the City is providing oversight to the City Council’s advisory boards and commissions. “My two main projects allow me to work with the community and with volunteers in the community,” said Lamon, who began work in January. “I’ve started to meet some people in the City of Edina and that has been the best part.” Lamon clearly thrives at meeting new people and harnessing the excitement and interest of volunteers. After her success at Children’s Hospitals, Edina looks forward to seeing where she takes this new Neighborhood Association program. “We are excited to have MJ as part of the team. She has extensive experience working with volunteers and her energy and enthusiasm will be a great asset for both the City and Neighborhood Associations,” said Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt. If you’re not impressed by Lamon’s enthusiasm and energy yet, you will be. Not only does Lamon work part-time for the City of Edina and on-call for Children’s Hospital, but she is also mom to two sets of twins, or “pair squared” as she likes to say. She and her husband Ph o t o b y M i c h a e l B r a u n Project Manager MJ Lamon began work in January and has big plans for City-recognized Neighborhood Associations. 20 • SUMMER 2014 Exceptional 24 Hour Personal At-homeAdultAssistance&Care NURSING HHA’S COMPANIONS 612-708-1079 www.adulthelpcare.com Assisting throughout the Twin Cities. 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But amid all this excitement, in the moments leading up to the grand cap throw, you begin to feel unnerved. Though your future plans seemed solid before, you’re unsure what the roadmap should look like in the months leading up to college welcome week. What now? As the summer begins and your connections to high school support staff wanes, that critical question remains unanswered. Slowly, your hopes and dreams melt in the summer heat. You get distracted. And without a roadmap to get you there, you never show up for your college’s welcome week. This “melting effect,” as described by National Public Radio (NPR) Social Sciences Correspondent Shankar Vendatam, is the “last mile,” or hurdle, that keeps one in five first-generation or low-income high school graduates from making it to college. Vendatam explained this summer melt phenomenon in a July 16, 2013 NPR Morning Edition radio segment in which he identified a lack of resources, mentors or ample guidance and information as the most influential factors. “High schools often don’t see [these] kids as being their responsibility,” Vendatam says. “… [But in] Fulton County, Georgia, researchers actually ran an experiment one summer. High school counselors typically work, you know, a nine- or 10-month schedule. These schools brought the counselors back over the summer to reach out to the students who [were] heading to college. And what they found was that … it drove down the rate of summer melt by 8 percentage points.” Though more than 90 percent of Edina High School (EHS) graduates indicate they plan to attend college, there are currently no ways of tracking how many of them actually make it there. Looking to change this reality, Edina Public Schools (EPS) administrators were inspired by Making The Last Mile Count Su b m i t t e d P h o t o 2014 SUMMER • 23 Vendatam’s reporting, and last fall began brainstorming ways to track and mitigate the summer melt in Edina. After months of planning, administrators presented a funding proposal of “The Last Mile” program to Edina Challenge, an initiative of the Edina Community Foundation focused on mitigating the effects of poverty and socio-economic factors in the community. “We received a lot of positive encouragement from the Edina Challenge committee to move forward,” says EPS Director of Human Resources and Operations Gwen Jackson. Jackson was one of the key leaders in the development phase of The Last Mile. “We will continue to look for additional support so that we can involve more students, but for this first year, we are excited to have 26 students involved in The Last Mile.” The 26 students were selected by a team of EHS counselors, who identified them based on need and access to transition resources. As members of this year’s initial pilot program of The Last Mile, the students will meet monthly to connect with adult counselors and mentors, schedule campus visits, receive help registering for classes and discuss future goals. Students will also receive support in accessing financial resources, including financial aid and scholarships, budgeting and financial planning, as well as preparing for the actual move to college, including transportation and housing accommodations. Another important aspect of The Last Mile will be providing students with material support by supplying them with college essentials like bedding, laptops, notebooks and other school supplies. “Edina Public Schools is going to be supporting our students in a new and exciting way that bridges the gap for students in need,” Jackson says. “We want to shift the mindset from ‘once the students received our diploma, they are no longer our students,’ to, ‘these students remain our students until they have actually entered the next step.’” The group met for the first time in February, and will continue to connect through December, at which time students will have hopefully completed their first semester of college. EPS Equity and Inclusion Specialist John Ford, who leads The Last Mile program along with EHS volunteer Becky Briggs, says students are already responding to the program with gratitude and excitement. “These kids have what it takes … they just need a helping hand – a fuel depository to help them kick it into gear for that last mile,” Ford says. “The Last Mile program will see them through while helping them stay accountable to their goals and plans.” For more information on Edina Public Schools, visit www.EdinaSchools.org. 24 • SUMMER 2014 Six Steps In The Right Direction For Braemar Golf Course By Krystal Caron Six steps are what the Edina Parks & Recreation Department thinks it will take to turn municipal golf operations around. The City Council approved the Department’s six-point plan in March. That plan included narrowing the scope of municipal golf operations, investing in improvements at Braemar Golf Course, modifying prices and discounts, outsourcing ancillary services, expanding marketing and improving customer services. “Our goal going into this was to try to figure out how to make our golf enterprise pay for itself. So, we embarked on a six- to eight-month internal study to try to figure out ways to make operations most efficient. The six-step strategy is what we feel is going to achieve that goal in the fastest and most efficient manner,” explained Parks & Recreation Director Ann Kattreh. As part of this plan, Braemar Golf Course will see a range of upgrades and changes over the next few years. Namely, the restaurant will be outsourced, renovations will be made to the driving range and the executive course will be converted into a par three. Construction on the driving range and executive course renovations will begin this fall and is expected to be completed by summer 2015. “The driving range and executive course will be closed during construction, but we will do our best to limit the disruption and accommodate golfers at the Braemar regulation course and the golf dome,” explained Kattreh. Rick Ites has been a resident of Edina for 38 years and is the President of the Braemar Men’s Club and Braemar Golf Association. He thinks developing a master plan and gathering input from outside advisors will revitalize the culture and facilities at Braemar. “We have historically occupied positions of being a leading golf [course] throughout the Midwest, and I think we can get back there. I’m personally excited about the next two to three years; we’re going to recapture some of the excitement,” he explained. “We don’t need to go out and recreate this stuff. We just need to make it a little bit more smooth.” The Parks & Recreation Department has retained the services of a golf course architecture group, Herfort Norby, whose task is to develop concept plans, cost estimates and determine project scope. Herfort Norby is run by Project Architect Kevin Norby. Norby is a registered landscape architect who most recently completed projects at Minikahda Club and Bunker Hills Golf Course. “There was a time when Braemar was widely known as having the best driving range and practice facility in the Twin Cities. Over time, the facilities have deteriorated. … The City has decided to resurrect and rehabilitate this driving range and practice facility, provide a better experience and attract more golfers to hit and graduate from practice facility to golf course,” said Norby. His plans to restore Braemar as “the best driving range and practice facility” include adding an all-season tee area to the back of the driving range, upgrading the turf tees 2014 SUMMER • 25 (continued on next page) and all-season tee areas, improving irrigation to increase the turf recovery and moving and upgrading the lesson area. Some of those improvements will affect a couple of holes on the executive course. Because of that and the goal of attracting a wider range of golfers, Herfort Norby will also convert the executive course into a par three. The process of converting the executive course to a par three course is a critical point in the renovation of Braemar and something the City hopes will help entice new patrons. “We’re working on continuing to make sure that we’re growing our junior golf. We have the largest program in the state and we’d like to continue to grow that and get kids to golf at a younger age,” said Parks & Recreation Assistant Director Susan Faus. She emphasized, “We want to serve our current golfers, but we also want to attract younger golfers and female golfers. We want to try to make it a place for everyone.” Norby is confident that the changes he’s proposing will do just that. “We want to create a short course that is more enjoyable and more playable for a wider variety of people. [We want it to be more available for] kids, women, seniors and beginning golfers – a little more well- rounded,” explained Norby. “It will be really just what Braemar needs.” Faus has been working closely with the staff at Braemar to enhance the customer experience and offer new programming options. “Our main focus is on improving customer service and training all of our different positions Don’t Forget The Fred In March, the Edina City Council made the difficult decision of closing the Fred Richards Executive Golf Course on Parklawn Avenue after the 2014 season. The decision to close “The Fred,” as it has come to be called, was a long and tedious process. “It was a very difficult decision. … We’re sure this process [of saying goodbye to The Fred] is going to be challenging,” lamented Parks & Recreation Director Ann Kattreh. The Fred won’t be lost, though. The City plans to convert the space into a community park. Transforming the golf course into a park is something that Kattreh wants the neighborhood to be excited about. “There will be significant community involvement to find out what the neighbors and community would like to see in that space,” she explained. “We’re going to try to come to a resolution and provide at least a vision for what that park could be by September 2014.” Lovers and patrons of The Fred still have time to enjoy it as a golf course, though. The Fred Richards Golf Course will stay open through the summer. Tee times will fill up fast as golfers take the opportunity to hit the ball at The Fred one last time; don’t miss your chance to put in a couple of rounds this summer! 26 • SUMMER 2014 /.-4*% TUIPNBT!CFMMCBOLTDPN XXXMPBOTXJUITFBODPN %JSFDU $FMM 4FOJPS.PSUHBHF-PBO0GGJDFSSean Thomas xÙÙĝÞªĝğé xōĝğéĝ½ªğĝĒğxč𪠶 8JUIBWBSJFUZPGGJOBODJOHPQUJPOTJODMVEJOH $POTUSVDUJPO ')" BOE+VNCPMPBOT*DBO GJOEUIFQSPHSBNUIBUNFFUTZPVSOFFET RÞxčğ Financing. RÞxčğĝSolutions... Stan Brown+Associates, LLC Job Search+Career Coaching 6908 Antrim Road, Edina, MN 55439 to help with all of our golfers’ experiences at Braemar,” said Faus. In addition, the Parks & Recreation Department hopes to increase visibility and marketing options for the golf course. Once construction has begun, they plan to hire an outside firm to put together a complete marketing and branding package for the new-and-improved Braemar. “What we’re trying to do this year is to significantly improve customer experience at the golf course. We want to do everything that we can at the golf course to be welcoming and responsive to our customers,” explained Kattreh. For more information on Braemar Golf Course or the park planning process, contact Kattreh at 952-826-0430 or akattreh@EdinaMN.gov. Cosmetic, Family & Sports Dentistry, PA & DR. DOUGLAS L. LAMBERT, DDS DR. SANDRA HOUCK, DDS ELIZABETH A. LAMBERT, D.D.S. Dentistry with eye on today a vision for tomorrow..! Call us at 952-922-9119 www.yoursmiledocs.com Design your ownBusiness Cards& Postcardswith our NEW Online Ordering System! 952-920-1949 facebook.com/jerrysprintingedina Enter Promo Code: AT10 when ordering and receive 10% off! Visit: www.jerrysprinting.com 2014 SUMMER • 27 Celebrating 21 Years of Dance Excellence www.victoriadance.com (952) 835-7497 EDINA’S PREMIERE DANCE STUDIO 7109 AMUNDSON AVE. Training Minnesota’s Top Dancers Since 1993! Enroll Today! VDP offers high energy classes with PROPER technique! TAP l JAZZ l CLASSICAL BALLET l LYRICAL l MODERN l HIP HOP CREATIVE MOVEMENT l MUSICAL THEATER l DANCE LINE 28 • SUMMER 2014 PACS Fund Improves Pedestrian And Bicyclist Safety By Michael McGivern Every time you turn on your lights, you are helping the City of Edina build sidewalks and stripe bike lanes. In 2013, the City began collecting a franchise fee from Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy to fund a Pedestrian And Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund to make the community more usable for walkers and bicyclists. The fund is projected to raise $1.1 million annually. “The fund is dedicated toward a non-motorized transportation structure: sidewalks, striping for bike lanes, signage and facilities – enhanced pedestrian crossings as well,” said City of Edina Transportation Planner Mark Nolan. In the past, these types of projects were completed during street reconstruction projects and funded by special assessments to nearby property owners. The cost of assessments varies, but as Nolan notes: “You see more resistance [to a project] when residents have to pay [for assessments].” “The idea came about when the City Council had made a priority to build out our sidewalk system,” said Engineering Director Chad Millner. “In the past, the policy was to assess residents next to the sidewalks. The PACS Fund helps us build in high-volume areas without having to worry about hurdles that arise with assessments. Assessments are tricky because businesses and property managers see [assessments] as adding value to their property while neighborhoods find it more as a hindrance.” “Residents and business owners have said repeatedly that [maintenance of sidewalks] has been good, but needs to improve,” said Edina Economic Development Manager Bill Neuendorf. “[The PACS Fund] is a commitment to improving the needs of our residents and business owners.” Revenue for the PACS Fund is generated by a franchise fee that imposes a fee of $1.45 per month on residential customers of Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. There are higher franchise fees for commercial customers of both utilities. Projects paid for with money from the PACS Fund are selected for many reasons, including neighborhood Ph o t o b y L a u r y n G r i m e s Last year, nearly 2,000 feet of new sidewalk was laid south of Concord Elementary School. 2014 SUMMER • 29 petitions that are presented to the City Council, studies performed by the City and as a result of constant monitoring of high-traffic areas, especially near parks and schools. Last year, five projects were completed with money from the PACS Fund: • Nearly 2,000 feet of new sidewalk south of Concord Elementary School. • 1,100 feet of new sidewalk on Metro Boulevard north of Industrial Boulevard. • Bike lane re-striping on Wooddale Avenue south of 50th Street. • New turn lane to accommodate pedestrians at Hanson Road and Vernon Avenue. • County sidewalk feasibility studies for three future sidewalk projects. “Projects completed last year were at the top of a list that had been needed to be done for quite some time for one reason or another,” said Nolan. “We even had funds left over which we are able to carry into 2014 projects.” This year, the Engineering Department plans to complete nine projects with money from the PACS Fund: • 6,400 feet of new sidewalks associated with neighborhood street reconstruction projects in the Birchcrest B, Morningside B and Strachauer B neighborhoods. • 710 feet of replacement sidewalk at the northeast corner of Southdale Center. Hennepin County will pay 25 percent of the cost of the project. • 1,200 feet of new sidewalk near Highlands Elementary School. • Up to 1,500 feet of new sidewalk near Edina High School near Valley View Road. • 215 feet of new sidewalk on the corner of West 70th Street and Xerxes Avenue. • Updated green bike lane with improved lane striping at Metro Boulevard and West 70th Street. • Three new enhanced pedestrian crossings with push- button flashing beacons on 66th Street near Rosland Park. • Replace the existing mid-block crossing between The Galleria and Southdale Center with enhanced crossings with push-button activated flashing beacons. • 50th & France parking ramp improvements, including striping and new walk zones. “Having the [PACS Fund] in place is a helpful tool to have. It creates a dedicated funding source to follow through on a goal,” said Neuendorf. “There is always a need for safe pedestrian facilities and it has been a concern for many. Without dollars to fund it, it generally doesn’t happen. Ultimately, it gets things going and gets things done.” For more information on the PACS Fund or non-motorized transport structure, contact the Engineering Department, 952-826-0371 or www.EdinaMN.gov/Engineering. 30 • SUMMER 2014 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS 2014 SUMMER • 31 Pam Allen 952-221-2177 952-927-2842 612-889-4177 612-244-1104 952-927-1646 612-803-8129 952-927-1624 612-382-3109 612-281-5834 612-719-0665 612-720-1048 952-927-1163 952-927-1197 952-201-4758 952-200-5712 952-927-1186 612-940-8020 952-210-8342 952-927-1196 952-927-1191 952-927-1195 952-237-6611 612-501-0252 612-247-5898 952-927-1676 952-927-1114 612-388-8828 952-927-1694 952-261-7576 612-750-2209 952-924-8722 612-802-5057 952-924-8707 612-810-5793 952-915-7951 952-924-8746 612-306-3735 612-735-7430 952-924-8786 952-915-7964 612-309-3967 952-924-8742 952-924-8721 612-787-8736 612-708-8400 612-803-5595 612-865-3549 952-924-8785 952-924-8712 612-242-4514 612-791-1094 612-965-7997 952-928-9810 612-325-7972 612-965-0030 City’s Newest Assistant Director Will Help Engineer The Next Stage Of Edina’s Growth By David Katz The City of Edina is home to nearly 50,000 residents. It is also home to a staggering 230 miles of paved roads, 200 miles of underground water mains and another 260 of sewer mains. Often underappreciated, this infrastructure is vital to the health and wellbeing of the community. In his new capacity as Assistant City Engineer, Patrick Wrase helps spearhead the maintenance and expansion of the City’s substructure backbone. Wrase, a civil engineering veteran with two decades of applicable experience under his belt, is up to the task. He comes to Edina after eight years with the City of New Ulm, Minnesota, where he served most recently as Director of Utilities. Wrase feels that his time in New Ulm offers a representative sampling of the many and varied challenges that face city engineers, as well as the methodical and piecemeal ways in which those challenges must be addressed. “New Ulm is old. Parts of it date back to the 1860s and ‘70s, as do some components of the utility systems in place there,” he explained. Unsurprisingly, some major overhauls are due. Compounding matters, “the original city planners, like elsewhere, did their best to build with good design practices … but there wasn’t much thought to what growth the far future might bring or for environmental sustainability.” It fell to Wrase, within the framework of a multi-year capital improvement plan, to redesign and replace the decrepit water utilities infrastructure – while simultaneously laying groundwork for future growth and balancing the community’s current day-to-day water needs. While work yet remains, Wrase has left his successor with both a project plan and a situation on the ground far better than the one he inherited. This timetable is not unusual. City engineering projects rarely, if ever, take shape overnight. Unless there is proper communication, Wrase says that residents are liable to view this important work as a nuisance, rather than something that brings tangible benefits. “As a leader and spokesperson for Utilities, I represented the City of New Ulm at neighborhood and citizens’ group meetings, as well as at commission and City Council sessions … through the planning and construction phases of many large improvements projects.” According to New Ulm’s former Director of Utilities Gary Gleisner, who supervised Wrase’s early work there, “Patrick’s ability to break down major and complicated capital projects and to present these in an easy-to- understand format” is his single greatest strength. Not coincidentally, that same interest in public perceptions and knack for securing broad-based project buy-in played a big role in his hiring as Edina’s new Assistant City Engineer. “Patrick’s track record of leading successful public projects and communicating with residents throughout 32 • SUMMER 2014 those experiences” is something that will serve him – and the community – on a near-daily basis, said Edina Engineering Director Chad Millner. Additional job responsibilities of note include overseeing feasibility studies, generating cost estimates, soliciting proposals from contractors and reviewing permits and plans for ordinance compliance. Among other high priority assignments, Millner said that Wrase will be tasked with developing a long-range plan to govern the selection of neighborhoods for street and utility reconstruction. Wrase holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in infrastructure systems engineering, both from the University of Minnesota. Prior to his time in New Ulm, he worked for the City of Minneapolis Department of Public Works, as well as with regionally based private firms Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. and Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates. Given his credentials, it is safe to say that Wrase knows Minnesota’s roadways far better than most. When his busy schedule permits, though, he’s more than happy to avoid them entirely in favor of a very different mode of travel. “I’m an instrument-rated pilot and flying small aircraft is a hobby I’ve maintained through a sort of timeshare club. It’s fun and, because it is so technical, it also keeps me sharp,” he said. Over long weekends, Wrase takes advantage of this rare skill to visit and explore popular Midwest vacation sites, like northern Wisconsin’s Madeline Island, with his wife and daughter. In the coming months, Wrase looks forward to exploring and getting to know Edina. “Edina has a reputation as a wonderful city and it’s well deserved. … I’m so excited to dig in and be of service to this community.” For more information on the Engineering Department, call 952-826-0371 or visit www.EdinaMN.gov/Engineering. 2014 SUMMER • 33 Ph o t o b y M i c h a e l B r a u n Patrick Wrase assumed his new role as Assistant City Engineer on April 21. He brings over two decades of applicable civil engineering experience to the important position. Find Your Place In History With ‘Edina on the Map’ Exhibit 34 • SUMMER 2014 “Maps are fascinating works of science and art, economics and political power. They reflect our sense of where we stand in the cosmos and our attitudes toward other people, both helping us understand our world and significantly shaping our understanding of the world.” – David Lanegran, author of Minnesota on the Map Explore the community’s growth and change with the Edina History Museum’s exhibit “Edina on the Map” now on display. The exhibit idea comes from the Minnesota Historical Society’s (MHS) former “Minnesota on the Map” exhibit. While MHS looked at the whole state, this exhibit focuses on Edina. The exhibit includes maps not only from Edina Historical Society (EHS) collections, but also from the business files of second-generation surveyor Frank Cardarelle. Cardarelle’s father, John, began surveying as an 18-year- old in 1912 for one of the eight surveying companies in Minneapolis before striking out on his own in 1915 or so. “I love the old real estate brochures from their files,” said EHS Executive Director Marci Matson. “The earliest ones sell the idea of country living on large lots, with room enough for a cow or chickens.” The exhibit also includes antique surveying equipment handed down through the Cardarelle family. Cardarelle joined his father in the field as a youngster and then permanently when he returned from the Korean War in 1955. Between the two, the Cardarelles have mapped out many of Edina’s housing subdivisions. “We were so busy back then,” Cardarelle recalled. “We’d map out block after block as fast as they could build the houses.” The Cardarelles had as many as 10 employees during the boom years. Ph o t o c o u r t e s y o f E d i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y Nancy Wallace Wild drew this map of her world as she saw it in 1922 when she grew up on 50th and Halifax in Edina. Although not drawn to scale, memory maps reveal as much about a neighborhood as an official plat map. Residents are encouraged to submit a memory map of their own neighborhood to the Edina Historical Society. 2014 SUMMER • 35 Cardarelle witnessed many of Edina’s family farms, including his own, transform into housing subdivisions. “Because he walked most of the land while surveying, he’s a great resource for me when I need to identify something in an aerial photograph or on a map,” Matson said. Groups are invited to book a free program with Cardarelle to find out the history of their neighborhoods in conjunction with a tour of the exhibit. The exhibit times well with the City of Edina’s efforts to recognize neighborhood associations. Four neighborhoods have already been officially recognized. The Society will record Cardarelle’s talks for inclusion in the permanent collection. “Frank knows so much about the community, from how streets got their names to stories about farmers and builders,” Matson said. “We need to document those stories for future researchers.” Edina History Museum, 4711 W. 70th St. inside Arneson Acres Park, is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Groups may book a program at 612-928-4577 or edinahistory@yahoo.com. Angela Rohland, FNPArthur W. Ide, III, MD Dermatology, P.A. 952.374.5995 l www.dermatologypa.org 7300 France Ave. S l Suite 400 l Edina, MN 55435 Providing complete skin care for all ages since 1917. Work Right. Live Well.™ Helping people choose careers they love. Choose or change your career for a lifetime of satisfaction and success. Your extraordinary life is waiting for you. Kelly M. Lewis Coaching & Associates Career Choice Coaching 952.456.8467 www.kellymarielewis.com Request a Complimentary Career Strategy Session Career Change | Work/Life Balance | Encore Career | College Major Selection 36 • SUMMER 2014 Lutz Receives Officer of the Year Award By Michael McGivern Detective Mike Lutz has worked tirelessly as a Police Officer for four decades, preventing crime, looking for clues and solving cases. He’s worked day in and day out to advocate for victims and for a sense of pride in his work. Though he hasn’t sought accolades in his career, he was honored with a significant award in April when he was named 2013 Mike Siitari Officer of the Year. “It was overwhelming,” said a humbled Lutz after the April 22 presentation in front of the Edina City Council. “I had a great turnout of family, friends and old timers who have retired from the force.” After completing four years as an Air Policeman in the Air Force with stops in Minot, North Dakota, and Thailand, Lutz found it natural to continue police work. He completed a bachelor’s degree from then St. Thomas College and joined the Edina Police Department (EPD) in July 1973 as a Patrol Officer. He then took the opportunity to be a Detective in 1987 and has held the position since. “The amount of work Mike does is not known,” said retired Edina Police Officer and friend Chip Schwartz, who was part of the EPD from 1971 to 2001. “The cases require a lot of sensitivity [and] can face an awful lot of resistance from victims.”Ph o t o b y M i c h a e l B r a u n Detective Mike Lutz received the 2013 Mike Siitari Officer of the Year Award during an April 22 ceremony at City Hall. 2014 SUMMER • 37 Lutz credits the award to his fellow police officers and the public they serve. Edina Police Chief Dave Nelson backs his humility: “He never forgets a victim. If he can’t solve a case, it’ll always be in the back of his mind. He can communicate with victims … he can get them to open up, he can get them to feel comfortable sharing information.” Nominations for the Mike Siitari Officer of the Year award come from the public and City employees. The Edina Crime Prevention Fund, a community partner for over 40 years, selects the winner after receiving and reviewing nominations. Even after all these years, Lutz is the type of guy that comes to work with a smile on his face, remarked Nelson. “He keeps saying he’ll retire when he doesn’t have fun coming to work anymore.” “To be able to compartmentalize the job and then go home and have a life with his wife, children, grandchildren and play golf is the best compliment I can give him after all these years,” said Schwartz. “I still like going to work everyday, working cases and solving problems,” said Lutz. “The [Mike Siitari Officer of the Year Award] makes all these years more than worth it.” For more information on the Edina Police Department, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/Police. /.-4*% XXXEVGGNPSUHBHFDPN ]UEVGG!CFMMCBOLTDPN 5PN%VGG .PSUHBHF#BOLFS $POUBDUNFUPEBZUPEJTDVTTZPVS IPNFGJOBODJOHOFFET Ōøªčͪâªĝğɪĝ ªÙÙĝ<éčğ½x½ªĝ ͸¸ªčªâªý By Frank Petrovic A resident committed to sound redevelopment is the recipient of the 2014 Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation. Mayor James Hovland presented the award to Mike Fischer in late April. The Mayor bestows this honor annually to an individual for outstanding and exceptional volunteer service to the community at large. “When I think of Mike, I think of a guy who has always been ready to serve his town whenever we’ve asked him for assistance,” said Hovland. “I can’t think of a better public servant than we’ve had in Mike Fischer over the years, and it was a real pleasure to be able to give him an award – and recognize all of that outstanding service to Edina over the years he was on the Planning Commission.” Fischer served on Edina’s Planning Commission for nine years, serving two years as Chair. He also generously stepped out of “retirement” last year when another Commission member resigned and he agreed to fill the unexpired term. As Chair of the Planning Commission, he led the effort to introduce Planned Unit Development to the Edina City Code and Sketch Plan Review into the City’s development review process. “We’ve asked him for help because he is so good at what he does with land use. He’s always there; always willing to help – always provides great wisdom and advice,” said Hovland. Community Development Director Cary Teague agrees with the Mayor. “Mike’s experience and expertise in the field of planning resulted in better projects for Edina during the time he served on the Planning Commission,” he said. Fischer is quick to redirect praise to the City he loves. “I have consulted in hundreds of cities throughout my career, and have yet to find a better place than Edina for location, quality of schools, character of neighborhoods and quality of citizen volunteers,” he said. 38 • SUMMER 2014 Ph o t o b y M i c h a e l B r a u n Mike Fischer receives the 2014 Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation from Mayor Jim Hovland on April 29, 2014. Fischer Wins Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation Fischer has served on myriad committees and task forces for the City, including the Planning Commission (2004-2014), Comprehensive Plan Task Force (2006- 2008), Edina Housing Task Force (2005-2006), Greater Southdale Area Land Use and Transportation Study (2004-2005) and Local Traffic Task Force (2002-2003). When not volunteering his time in Edina, Fischer works as an architect and Senior Vice President at LHB, a 250-person architecture, engineering and planning firm located in Minneapolis and Duluth. He is also an expert in Tax Increment Finance (TIF) analysis, assisting cities with strategic planning for TIF districts. He was one of four architects in the country to receive the AIA Young Architects Citation in 1997. He studied at MIT and Harvard, earned his master’s degree in City Planning and Real Estate Development from MIT and completed a two-year Bush Fellowship. Prior to his Bush Fellowship, he served as City Council President in Superior, Wisconsin, and Chair of the Duluth/Superior Metropolitan Planning Organization. He moved to Edina in 2000. Fischer accepts his commendation with modesty. “I am so proud to call Edina home and am humbled to receive this recognition,” he said. Fischer lives in the Cornelia Neighborhood with his wife, Laurie, their three children, and their dog, Lucky. Mayor Hovland presented six commendations at the Volunteer Recognition Reception. He awarded the Mayor’s Service Club Commendation to the Edina Historical Society, and the Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Commendation to Sandy Phillips. Danzhen Lajia and Kyle Schwartz shared the honor of receiving the Mayor’s Youth Commendation, as did Mark Lawrence and Laurie Shimizu, when they took home the Mayor’s Connecting with Kids Commendation. Art Center General Manager Michael Frey earned the Mayor’s Community Involvement Commendation. 2014 SUMMER • 39 70th & Cahill (952) 944-5770 www.FlowersOfEdina.com Flowers of Edina 40 • SUMMER 2014 Chamber Lays Groundwork For Convention And Visitors’ Bureau By Jordan Gilgenbach In March, more than 300 hockey families attended a weekend-long tournament at Edina’s Braemar Arena. What struck Edina Chamber of Commerce President Lori Syverson as odd was that while the tournament was in Edina, the families were staying in St. Louis Park, spending their free time and money at St. Louis Park businesses. “This is a telltale sign that we need to take a closer look at what we are doing here,” Syverson said. There are dozens of other stories just like this one. “Sixty people wanted to come to Edina for a week-long family reunion. They contacted the Chamber, but we just don’t have the resources and repository of information to help them plan, so they ended up staying in Bloomington.” After some initial research, Syverson found that most surrounding communities, such as St. Louis Park, Richfield, Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Paul, are active in promoting their communities to visitors. Edina lacks a coordinated effort to attract visitors and groups to stay at Edina’s hotels, eat at Edina’s restaurants and shop at Edina’s businesses. “We want to be as competitive as we can be with all of our neighbors who are doing this,” said Mayor Jim Hovland. “Competition is heating up [for visitors’ dollars], especially in the Twin Cities area,” Syverson said. “It’s only going to get more difficult to keep Edina on the map [for places to visit and stay].” “The Chamber does the best they can with the resources they have,” said Jay Abdo, a member of the Chamber who was on a committee to explore the possibility of forming a convention and visitors’ bureau in Edina. “With an actual resource like [a CVB], we can be proactive – instead of reactionary – and bring in more people to Edina.” In April, the City of Edina approved a 3 percent lodging tax to fund a CVB, “Explore Edina.” The Edina Chamber of Commerce plans to have a fully functional CVB, sometimes called a destination marketing organization, by September. “We only have two hotels, and the potential for having more hotels in Edina is there,” said Council Member Mary Brindle at a City Council meeting. “It seems like a good time to put this in place.” “The timing of this is right,” Syverson said. “Research shows that the economy is rebounding and people are more willing to spend time and money.” Syverson notes that about 32 percent of all visitors to Minnesota travel from Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois. Even more striking to her is that 29 percent of Minnesota’s tourism comes from within our own borders. “Stay-cations are more popular than ever and are a great option for a getaway,” Syverson said. “Edina shouldn’t be left out as an option.” A driving factor for the Chamber of Commerce to pursue a CVB is the volume of calls it receives. “We can get a dozen or more phone calls a week from people asking about lodging, shopping, dining and more,” Syverson said. “They are looking for very detailed information and for 2014 SUMMER • 41 help planning trips. The Chamber just doesn’t have the staff and resources to do that. We want to be able to meet the needs of anyone who wants to visit Edina.” “Explore Edina will be a great resource for those who are looking to visit Edina,” said Lynette Biunno, Receptionist at Edina City Hall, who also takes many calls from potential visitors. “Instead of trying to get piecemealed information and being transferred from one organization to another, potential visitors will have a one-stop place to get information.” “It’s hard for people who want to stay in Edina [to find information],” said Don Hutchison, a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and CVB exploratory committee. “It’s hard when those inquiries come to the Chamber or the City to come up with the information they need. This is about providing that ‘easy button.’ Explore Edina is about making it easier for people.” Explore Edina will serve as a main hub of information for those looking to visit Edina. Initially, Explore Edina will consist of one full-time staff person and share services with the Chamber; however, it will be its own independent 501(c)(6) organization with its own board of directors. In 2014, Syverson expects Explore Edina to generate $190,000 in revenue, with more than double that in 2015. “The biggest difference between Explore Edina and the Chamber of Commerce are their audiences and the clientele they serve,” Syverson said. While the Chamber focuses on business growth, education and business advocacy, a CVB focuses its efforts on visitors who are only here for short periods of time. “We want people to explore the city of Edina,” Syverson said. “There’s a lot here that people might not know about.” One of the first tasks for Explore Edina will be to gather information about Edina for visitors. “Right now, the City, the Chamber and 50th & France don’t have a repository of all the businesses in Edina,” Syverson said. “We have a good start, but we don’t want to miss anyone.” A content-rich website will be developed, partners will be identified and all advertising and marketing opportunities will be explored. Most importantly, Explore Edina staff will need to determine their audience. “Who do we want to reach to tell the great Edina story?” Syverson said. “We have a general idea of who to target, but working with our partners, we hope to have a clearer vision.” Eventually, Explore Edina can expand its offerings to larger groups and attract conventions and meetings, and even host or help plan tournaments to attract visitors to Edina. Explore Edina could also help with large regional events, such as the Super Bowl in 2018. About 19,000 hotel rooms will be needed within a 30-mile radius of the event; Edina is just 10 miles away from downtown Minneapolis. “We’re very excited about all the possibilities of Explore Edina,” Syverson said. “It’s one of the missing puzzle pieces in creating a complete package for Edina. “ For more information, visit www.edina.org. By Dick Crockett Executive Director Our community will soon be honoring its veterans with a Veterans Memorial recognizing Edina residents who have served in our nation’s wars, especially the 32 who gave their lives for their country from World War I to the present. Planning for the project began in 2010. John Keprios, then the Director of the City’s Parks & Recreation Department, convened a volunteer committee chaired by Michael Goergen to develop a design for the Memorial. Other members of the committee included Barbara Bender, Bob Benson, Frank Cardarelle, Jason Christiaansen, Justin Kieffer, Bob Kojetin, Herbert Lefler, John Lonsbury, Robert Reed and Marshall Schwartz. The committee proposed a memorial to be located in Utley Park, at the corner of Wooddale Avenue and 50th Street. It would consist of a granite plaza in the shape of a “V” (for Victory) leading to a granite wall holding a bronze eagle and American flag as the focal point. The names of the 32 Edina servicemen who died in the line of duty would be inscribed on the wall, and three illuminated flagpoles would be adjacent to the plaza. Schwartz authored a companion reader in 2012 with pictures and biographies of the 32 soldiers. The reader may be reviewed at the City Hall reception desk. The committee estimated the project cost to be $450,000 and asked the Edina Community Foundation to serve as its charitable giving partner and to help with the necessary fundraising. In 2013, Foundation Board member Richard Olson agreed to serve as chair of a reconstituted committee to lead the fundraising effort, with Peter Crain, John Currie and Lance Elliot as new members. Funding for the memorial reached a preliminary goal late this spring with contributions reflecting significant participation by the City, the Foundation, Edina residents and other veterans, and the State of Minnesota: • An initial grant of $30,000 from the City of Edina in 2011 for landscape architecture design expenses; • A $3,700 Founders Club program grant from the Foundation, a $20,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Edina requested by the Foundation, and a $9,900 Veterans Memorial Park grant from the Minnesota Cultural Heritage Fund, also requested by the Foundation (one of 10 such grants awarded by the Minnesota Department of Administration); • Contributions ranging from $10 to $50,000 totaling some $80,000, from more than 50 Edina residents, veterans and their families; • Substantial in-kind contributions from several of the contractors who will be constructing the memorial; and 42 • SUMMER 2014 Edina Community Foundation: Honoring Our Veterans Strengthening Our Community • A grant from the State of Minnesota to match all private contributions, up to a total of $225,000. This resulted from the sustained effort during the last two legislative sessions by State Rep. Ron Erhardt, also a Foundation Board member, to include such funding in a State bonding bill. Olson, City Manager Scott Neal and I, accompanied by several members of the committee, testified with Erhardt before the House committee hearing on the bill (another Foundation Board member, Mayor Jim Hovland, had testified for the funding bill before a Senate Committee in 2013). State Sen. Melisa Franzen, another Edina resident in the Legislature, ensured the necessary Senate support for the appropriation. This broad support reflects our community’s strong desire to honor its veterans. It also reflects the Foundation’s leadership in bringing people together for charitable purposes to serve and strengthen our community. Groundbreaking for the memorial will be celebrated at the Foundation’s Veterans Briefing dinner on July 3, and veterans are also honored at the Edina 4th of July Parade hosted by the Foundation and the City, which passes by the Utley Park site for the Memorial. On our Independence Day this year, we can all give thanks to the veterans who have helped to preserve our freedom and liberty. Questions about current or planned gifts to the Foundation for the Edina Veterans Memorial or any of its other programs may be addressed to Crockett at 952-833-9573 or edfoundation@EdinaMN.gov. Additional information about the Foundation and links to other articles about the Foundation may be found at its website, www.edinacommunityfoundation.org. 2014 SUMMER • 43 Su b m i t t e d I l l u s t r a t i o n A rendering of the Veterans Memorial that will grace Utley Park. By Jordan Gilgenbach When Pentagon Park opened in Edina in 1968, it was at the forefront of the transition of office workers from downtown to the suburbs. It became a bustling office park, opposite of what it is today. “Pentagon Park was a highly desirable property for several decades, but has been on the decline for many years,” said the City’s Economic Development Manager, Bill Neuendorf. In the mid-2000s, an investor purchased the 43-acre property with an initial effort to redevelop the site. “Then, during the Great Recession, the real estate market took a dive, and with it, took much of what Pentagon Park had left,” Neuendorf said. The company lost its financing to redevelop the properties, which was followed by several years of foreclosures, leases not being renewed and disrepair. Now, a new developer looks to breathe new life into the site with a potential $500 million investment. Scott Tankenoff of Pentagon Revival, a subsidiary of Hillcrest Development, plans to move forward with a vision to revitalize and transform this property. “It is the project of a lifetime,” Tankenoff said. “The ability to take a project that is so unbelievably dysfunctional … to bring the right stakeholders together, make it so it can be functional again … is a once-in-a- lifetime project for me. We’re not talking about a couple office buildings, but a quadrant – a neighborhood.” Hillcrest Development is a third-generation company, founded in 1948 that buys under-used and troubled properties to stabilize and make successful. Hillcrest has helped stabilize more than 80 properties, but Pentagon Park is one of the largest. As part of Tankenoff’s vision for the site, the project could include 1.4 million square feet of new office space, a hotel with more than 400 rooms and retail. As part of the City’s development agreement with Pentagon Revival, the developer will pay for upgrades to public infrastructure, such as reconstruction of 77th Street, storm water management and soil correction costs. Pentagon Revival will be reimbursed by the City for the cost of the upgrades using money from a newly created Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. Tankenoff said Hillcrest Development is a puzzle solver, which is why he became interested in Pentagon Park. The initial idea was that they would have to go in and do triage on 15 structures that were being run poorly and inefficiently. Most real estate development companies aren’t interested in going in and fixing other people’s problems, Tankenoff said. What he finds even more attractive is the “puzzle” aspect of such a property. Once he figures out what’s not working currently, he can go back and think about what Pentagon Park is fundamentally. 44 • SUMMER 2014 Developer To Make $500M Investment In Pentagon Park “It’s 43 acres in an unbelievable location in a city that is financially stable, has good City services and schools, and is really the gold standard,” Tankenoff said. “People want to do business in areas that make sense and areas that matter, and they want to be where there is a winning combination. “There aren’t a lot of opportunities like this in the metro, and there are no other opportunities like this in Edina. The ability to remake 43 acres over a reasonable period of time, into the highest and best uses, and do it in a way that is very green, very modern, very efficient, is very important.” “This is the biggest redevelopment in the City of Edina since the construction on Centennial Lakes Park,” Neuendorf said. “It’s possible that, upon completion, that this redevelopment could add an additional $400 million onto Edina’s tax base.” “The completion of Pentagon Park will make it one of the premiere business areas in the City,” said Edina Chamber of Commerce President Lori Syverson. “This project adds to the already stable business foundation and business friendly reputation of the City.” While Tankenoff is excited to effect major change in this area of the City, Pentagon Revival is in no rush to get the project done. “We don’t want to do something to put us or the project in a situation where it can’t be as successful as possible,” he said. Pentagon Revival will take a measured approach to the project. Instead of tearing everything down and rebuilding at once, it is anticipated to be done in phases over the next 2 to 15 years. While a timeline for Phase 1 is still fluid, Tankenoff’s goal is to demolish the south tower site – the buildings in the southwest corner of the project site – in late 2014, and be back to the City in 2015 with plans for construction. When it comes to the remainder of the site and phases, Tankenoff will approach the project with an “as we see fit” attitude. Instead of over-promising and under- delivering, he said he wants to exceed expectations, regardless of how long it might take. “There are several phases to this project that could take place at different times or even at the same time,” Tankenoff said. “For example, Phase 3 could happen before Phase 2, and that’s the beauty of the project – we can make changes as they make sense.” For more information, visit www.hillcrestdevelopment.com. Grandview Southdale 50th & France EdinaLiquor.com 2014 SUMMER • 45 It has been six months since Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) moved into its new service center at 9600 Aldrich Ave. S. Like any move, it takes a while for a new location to become a full-fledged home. Volunteers and staff alike are getting the lay of the land. With VEAP’s tenant, Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department, combined services are having a significant and positive impact on clients. Their pool of resources, combined with VEAP’s services, allows for clients’ needs to be met quickly and efficiently. VEAP is no stranger to change, particularly when it comes to adapting to the always-changing nature of need in the community. “In 1973, VEAP, physically, was just a shelf. A literal food shelf at the Storefront at Nicollet and 64th Street,” said Susan Russell Freeman, VEAP Executive Director. This office was the nerve center of VEAP, organizing satellite food shelves at a growing number of churches and coordinating with hundreds of volunteers in the community. Before long, VEAP moved to a larger space at the Richfield Community Center. After a few brief stays at local churches and office buildings, VEAP moved into the office at 9728 Irving Ave. S. in Bloomington where it stayed for over 20 years and grew to occupy two floors. In its new building, VEAP is now able to serve more families than ever before. In its former location, approximately 120 households could be served each day. Today, as many as 170 households can visit the food pantry in a single day. The wait time for appointments has dropped from five to seven days to same-day or next-day appointments. VEAP’s licensed social workers are meeting one-on-one with all new clients to assess the roots of their financial instability and get them connected to other community resources, including Hennepin County services, more quickly. For decades, VEAP has been changing lives in the community thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of dedicated, passionate and hard working volunteers and donors. A lot has changed, but its core mission has stayed the same: to ensure basic needs are met, and our communities remain strong. This may be one of the most exciting times to get involved with VEAP. The summer begins with the kickoff of VEAP’s Summer Youth Food program, where breakfast and lunch food items for children of low-income families is collected. The Three Square Classic golf event to support VEAP’s Children and Youth Services program tees off Monday, July 14, with a new SUNRISE 9-hole women’s golf challenge. The Back to School Drive begins in August, ensuring that children in the community have the supplies they need to succeed in school. To volunteer, donate or get involved in other ways, visit www.veap.org or call 952-888-9616. 46 • SUMMER 2014 VEAP Serves More Families Than Ever Before At New Location 2014 SUMMER • 47 VEAP Seeks Donations To Provide School Supplies For Children In Need All children, regardless of income, deserve to start the school year off with a backpack and grade-appropriate school supplies. However, for a growing number in our community, purchasing those items can cause significant financial hardship for families. That’s where Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) and you can help. VEAP’s annual Back to School Program provides children in need with a backpack filled with basic supplies appropriate for their grade levels. The goal in 2014 is to collect 75,000 items to provide backpacks and supplies for 3,550 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. VEAP seeks the following items for the provided bags of supplies: • Backpacks (colorful and/or character backpacks appreciated) • Crayons (24 count) • Spiral notebooks (wide & college ruled) • Composition notebooks • Colored pencils (12 count) • No. 2 pencils (8-12 count) • Dry erase markers • Erasers (large, pink) • Glue bottles & sticks • Highlighters • Markers (standard colors) • Pens (blue or black, 8-12 count) • Pencil boxes/pouches • Red pens • Rulers • Scissors Back to School collection dates are July 15 to Aug. 12 and donations can be delivered to 9600 Aldrich Ave. S., Bloomington. Items will be accepted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Thursday until 7 p.m. School supplies can also be dropped off at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., and Edina Fire Station No. 1, 6250 Tracy Ave. A list of additional public drop off sites can be found on the VEAP website at www.veap.org. Financial donations can be mailed to 9728 Irving Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55431 or online at www.veap.org. Please note that the donation is for the Back To School program. Registration for the Back to School program will be held July 21 to Aug. 12. Children must be registered through VEAP to receive school supplies. To qualify, students must live in the communities of Edina, Bloomington, Richfield and a portion of south Minneapolis (south of 50th Street and west of Cedar Avenue) and living at 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. For more information about VEAP’s Children and Youth Services programs, contact Krista Phillips at 952-888-9616. Edina periodically flushes hydrants to purge settled minerals and iron from the water distribution system – and to identify hydrants in need of maintenance. The Public Works Department plans to conduct hydrant flushing this fall. Due to the increased water usage during summer months, fewer flushes are needed in the fall. Increased warm weather usage leads to increased flow rates. This keeps minerals suspended in the water and moving through the system, instead of settling in water mains. An added benefit of limited flushes is conservation of resources – namely water, water treatment chemicals and electricity. Public Works plans to flush hydrants during the weeks of Sept. 8 and Sept. 15. The hydrants are located in the Southdale area, 50th & France area, Morningside neighborhood, and the intersection of 57th Street and York Avenue. This schedule is subject to change as needed. Due to the hydrant flushing, it is inevitable that some residents will receive rust-colored water that could stain laundry, but it is safe to drink. You should check for signs of discoloration prior to washing clothes. If the water is discolored when you turn on your tap, simply run the water until it is clear. Because the water system is a “single-pressure zone,” red water may appear anywhere in the Edina. For more information regarding hydrant flushing, contact the Public Works Utilities Division at 952-826-0375. – Compiled by Frank Petrovic 48 • SUMMER 2014 Edina Will Conduct Fall Hydrant Flushing Is your driveway all it’s cracked up to be? www.hageconcrete.com612-861-4243 CONCRETE WORKS TechniCrete.The only concrete with a lifetime, no-crack guarantee. EDINA HARDWARE 4510 Valley View Road, Edina 952-925-1133 Celebrating 54 Years on the Corner 1960-2014 7601 France Avenue South l Suite 300 l Edina, MN 55435 Jenny Rasmussen ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, CFP,® AAMS,® CDFATM 952.857.1238 jenny.x.rasmussen@ampf.com © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC 2014 SUMMER • 49 Looking for new digs? We’ll sniff out a new home for you. Fred Little, Realtor, GRI 952-220-3733 fredlittle@edinarealty.com www.fredlittle.edinarealty.com SALUT Welcomes New Head Chef As the new Executive Chef at SALUT Bar Amèricain in Edina, Stephen Jones brings with him years of experience. While he was one of the first chefs in the nation to breed heritage pigs by day and then prepare them for restaurant guests at night, he’s now solely concentrating on the latter. “Taking the helm at SALUT is exciting,” said Jones. “It’s great to work at a restaurant that shares my beliefs about cooking in harmony with the seasons and sourcing the best ingredients. After all, having been a supplier myself, I know what kind of quality is available, and what a difference it makes.” Jones spent time cooking at the James Beard House in New York and played a role in earning Boston’s Salamander restaurant five nominations for James Beard “Best Restaurant.” He said he looks forward to introducing patrons to some of his personal favorites from the French culinary cuisines, but with an Asian twist. “I have a background in pan-Asian cuisine as well as a love for French cuisine, and there are a number of great dishes that reflect the intersection of French and Southeast Asian traditions,” said Jones. “Chefs love to exercise their creativity,” he added. “That’s what makes cooking at SALUT as much fun as eating here.” SALUT is located at 50th & France at 5034 France Ave. S. For more information, visit www.salutbaramericain.com or call 952-929-3764. Café, Inc. Opens Shared Workspaces Café, Inc. opened a 6,500-square-foot collaborative workspace in Edina earlier this year. The firm’s management team said that the firm’s purpose is to provide professionals with an accessible and affordable shared working space that also offers amenities and security features typical of a traditional corporation. “Mobility in the workforce is evolving,” Café, Inc.’s General Manager Chet Funk said in a statement. “Many people spend less than half of their working hours in a traditional office environment, and we think Café, Business Notes Café, Inc. opened a 6,500-square-foot collaborative workspace in Edina earlier this year. Workers can purchase day passes or memberships. 50 • SUMMER 2014 Inc. will become the go-to for those seeking something between a traditional office or home setting.” Workers can purchase a day pass for $25, or memberships ranging from $49 to $249 a month. Café, Inc. is located at 4940 W. 77th St. For more information, visit www.mycafeinc.com or call 952-217-5825. Allen Edmonds Opens Store In Edina Allen Edmonds recently opened its second Twin Cities store at Galleria. Aside from a wide selection of shoes, the 1,700-square- foot space boasts men’s accessories and apparel. The company is also known for its complimentary executive services such as home fittings and custom shoes. “It’s been a really good experience to open a second store in this market,” said Store Manager Phil Kilbride, who has been with the company for six years. “The reaction has been extremely positive.” In 1922, Allen Edmonds began handcrafting shoes on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. Today, the company continues this manufacturing tradition and offers upscale men’s dress and casual shoes featuring “classic American styling” and fine craftsmanship. Allen Edmonds is located next to Twill at Galleria on the corner of 69th Street and France Avenue. For more information, visit www.allenedmonds.com. New Members Join Edina Chamber The Edina Chamber of Commerce has welcomed 17 new members since January. Joining the Chamber recently were Admit One Home Cinema; Budget Blinds of Edina; Buffalo Wild Wings; Café, Inc.; Cocoa & Fig; Dalton Sherman, Inc.; Edina Realty – Danya Spencer; Lili Salon Spa; Makers Café; Nakamori Japanese Bistro; Philia Foods LLC; Prairie Care; Precision Gasket Company; Red’s Savoy Pizza; The Glow Lounge; Unity Bank and Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors – Joe Godfrey. “The Chamber is more than thrilled to welcome these new members,” said Erica Hollom, Director of Member Services. The Edina Chamber of Commerce is located at 3300 Edinborough Way, Suite 150. For more information, visit www.edina.org. – Compiled by Kaylin Martin Stephane CattelinGRI, e-PRO, CIPS, TRC The InternationalApproach to Real Estate Serving the Edina French-American Community Realtor/Agent Immobilier Minneapolis Lakes Office SaCattelin@CBBurnet.com612-924-4352 Office612-703-8229 Mobilewww.StephaneCattelin.com Owned and Operated by NRT Incorporated 2014 SUMMER • 51 Su b m i t t e d P h o t o 52 • SUMMER 2014 By Krystal Caron Ever since Bob Moore was a young boy, he admired the house at 5501 Londonderry Road. “On Sunday afternoons, [my dad would] load me up in a station wagon and drive me around. He’d talk about the Erickson properties that were built and you’d look up and see this house on top of the hill,” recalled Moore, a member of the City of Edina’s Heritage Preservation Board (HPB). “It was something I have always admired since I was a little kid.” Moore isn’t the only one who has been awestruck by the distinctive house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, (Frank) Lloyd Wright Jr. The house was named the 2014 Edina Heritage Award winner by the HPB. The Edina Heritage Award is given to individuals, families, companies or organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and use of Edina’s heritage resources. The home, now owned by Brian and Linda Tell, is a perfect candidate for such an award. Arthur Erickson and his brother Alfred commissioned Wright to build two homes on the west side of Edina in 1950. The two ran a petroleum business called Erickson Brothers that eventually grew to become Holiday Stationstores. The home belonging to Alfred Erickson was torn down in 1998, making the preservation of the Arthur Erickson home even more exceptional. After Arthur Erickson passed away, his wife, Elsie, continued to live in the house until 1981. At that time, Arthur Erickson’s nephew and son of Alfred Erickson, Donovan Erickson, moved into the house with his wife, Beth. They sold the house in 1996 to the Tells. “It’s about inside, outside,” explained Beth Erickson. “That’s what it’s about living here. It’s hard not to live here and not have a green thumb. You learn to appreciate nature.” Wright brought many elements of the outdoors into his design of the home. One of the first things you see as you walk into the home is a row of indoor, irrigated planters that line the edge of the house. Each planter is shaped like a triangle, with two of the three sides serving as floor-to- ceiling windows looking out into the yard. Most of the planters still have the original fica trees planted by Elsie Erickson in the 1950s. Thomas Oslund is a prominent Twin Cities landscape architect who has worked on projects at Target Field, Guthrie Theater and the I-35W bridge memorial known as the Remembrance Garden. He is also a good friend of the Tell family and explained that, “the expression of the house follows the Wright principles of horizontality, a technique that creates a symbiotic relationship between the structure and its given site. [It creates] a low profile to what is a sizable structure; the multifaceted geometry of the plan, along with the siting of the house, takes full advantage of the exterior views. The use of stone on the houses facade creates the impression that the house seemingly grows organically out of the site rather than just being placed on top of it.” Historic Arthur Erickson House Receives Edina Heritage Award 2014 SUMMER • 53 (continued on next page) “It’s just interesting. It’s just such a wonderful house. You learn to really appreciate nature [after living here] and you never really want to be closed in again,” said Beth Erickson. In addition to many floor-to-ceiling windows, which was quite novel in the 1950s, the home has a sprawling “Z” shape that allows each room to have an open and bright feeling. “It’s really the way the house was planned on the lot [that makes it so special]. You get all of the winter sun and limited summer sun and it just works on the lot so perfectly,” explained Moore. Everything in the house seems to incorporate elements of nature and intricacies that give the space a unique feel. Linda Tell explained that the woodwork, which can be found lining the ceiling and used in built-in cabinetry throughout the house, had to be cut by hand in the 1950s. “No expense was spared in this house,” she said. Even details as simple as the lattice on the light screen are intricate. “My interpretation is that they’re sheaves of wheat,” she said. “[It’s] all right angles and diagonals. Whenever I have maintenance or someone come in, they’re always [taken aback] because this was built in the 1950s before computers and before all of the technology to help make all these cuts.” The Tell family has made every effort to preserve the home and maintain as much of the original design elements as possible, but it hasn’t been easy. The roof is a membrane and aggregate roof, meaning that there is a waterproof membrane with small stones on top that aggregate precipitation. It hasn’t been without leaks and sometimes loose stones need to be thrown back onto the roof. The floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the house are all custom sizes. All of the plumbing was built with industrial designs and mechanisms which have proven to be hard to replace and repair. Most of the electrical work and light fixtures are original, which has been a challenge for the Tells. However, Beth Erickson and Linda Tell agree that despite the difficulties, the home is stunning when it’s illuminated in the evening. Still, even something as simple as changing the locks is troublesome. The edging around the doors, as well as most of the exterior trim work, is made of copper. Nearly every detail of the house is unique. “It has been expensive to maintain – the roof alone!” Linda Tell emphasized. “The chimneys are beautiful Su b m i t t e d P h o t o The Arthur Erickson House, owned by Brian and Linda Tell, is the recipient of the 2014 Edina Heritage Award. 54 • SUMMER 2014 chimneys, but the flashing has lots of issues. There are always issues, but it is a great house!” Despite that, the Tells have managed to maintain the integrity of the original design while still adding modern amenities. They modified the built-in cabinetry in the family room to house their home theater system. The kitchen has been remodeled with new appliances and cabinetry that still incorporates the crown molding and color palette found throughout the house. They’ve even preserved historical qualities of the house like the artesian well and the fallout shelter that was built during the height of the Cold War. Neither can be accessed any longer, but the history of the era is still preserved. “It’s always like a fun adventure. I love the house, I always give tours. I love my home,” said Linda Tell proudly. “The Erickson House, a.k.a. The Tell Home, has given three families lots of fun memories. Each of us has tried to keep up with the times to bring this beautiful home to the 21st century, but still keeping with Lloyd Wright Jr.’s natural feeling of the house.” The award was presented to Brian and Linda Tell at the May 20 City Council meeting. For more information about the Heritage Award, contact Senior Planner Joyce Repya, Staff Liaison to the Heritage Preservation Board, at 952-826-0462 or jrepya@EdinaMN.gov. Su b m i t t e d P h o t o The interior of the Arthur Erickson House features detailed trim and natural stonework. Wright designed the home with an open floor plan that included many outdoor elements. 2014 SUMMER • 55 Presenting Sponsors Christensen & Laue, PA l Dermatology Specialists l Excel Energy l 50th and France Association First Minnesota Bank l Galleria Shops of Distinction l Grandview Tire and Auto MA Peterson DesignBuild l Pets are Inn l Re/Max Results l Simon Properties-Southdale l Think Bank Schmitt Music l State Farm Insurance - Matt Boockmeier, Agent l Warner’s Stellian Appliances Bronze Level Sponsors Custom Remodelers Inc. l Krause Hovland Chartered l Oliver Taylor Salon Sign Pro l Wings Financial Credit Union The Foundation thanks its 4th of July Parade Committee members for their great volunteer efforts: John Swon, Chair l Kristin Aarsvold l Marsha Buchok l John Currie l Barbara Malzacher l Kris Marshall l Rick Murphy l Maria Novacek l Lynn Swon edina4 J U LYth p a r a d e o f PRESENTED BY THE EDINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION city of The Edina 4th of July Parade Friday, July 4, 2014 10:00 a.m. From City Hall to 50th & Franceedinaparade.org Gold Level Sponsors Silver Level Sponsors The Edina Community Foundation thanks the sponsors who contributed to the success of the 2014 Parade: 56 • SUMMER 2014 Planning Matters Construction Under Way On 50th & France Parking Ramps The City is working to provide better free parking downtown at 50th & France. Construction is currently under way in all three City-owned ramps. Once complete in October, the public ramps will be cleaner, brighter, safer and more convenient. Dynamic wayfinding signs throughout the commercial district will help drivers find parking. Signs will notify drivers when a ramp is full and direct them to another ramp that has capacity. Fresh paint and new LED lighting will make the ramps more attractive and safer. Pedestrian walkways will also be easily identifiable throughout he ramps, adding to pedestrian safety. Around 50th & France, some sidewalk pavers will be replaced and drainage under the pavers improved. Landscaping will also be updated. Some trees will be replaced and planter beds repaired. Driving isn’t the only option to visit 50th & France. Walking, bicycling, carpooling and public transit are also good options. 50th & France has frequent bus service on Metro Transit Routes 6 and 46. For more information on the project, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/50thandFrance. Taco Bell To Be Rebuilt Edina is getting a new-and-improved Taco Bell this year. Border Foods received City Council approval to raze its existing restaurant at 3210 Southdale Circle and build a new, slightly smaller, more modern one. Taco Bell has been operating at this location since 1985. To minimize impact on the homes to the east, Border Foods will install a 15-foot landscape area along the east lot line and angle the menu board to the south. Border Foods estimates it will take 90 days to rebuild the restaurant after demolition. Work is expected to begin this summer and be complete by the end of October. For more information, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/planning_projects. 2014 SUMMER • 57 ADMIT ONE ONE TICKET PER DONATION KU H L M A N F I E L D ED I N A C M T Y . C T R . 6th AN N U A L COMMUNITY CARNIVAL & VEAP FOOD DR I V E PUT ON BY WI S E G U Y S J U L Y 1 , 2 0 1 4 1 1 A M - 2 P M DONATE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE FUN GAMES, FOOD, DUNK TANK & FUN FOR EVERYONE! CONNECT INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS EDINACOMMUNITY Education About Town Ad.indd 1 4/17/14 3:48 PM 58 • SUMMER 2014 The Last Word If you’ve lived in Minnesota for any length of time, you’ve almost certainly heard the old joke about our two seasons: winter and road construction. There is a bit of truth to that. Winter can be long and a little forbidding and construction season can be short and intense. A great example of what a short, intense construction season looks like will be at 50th & France this summer. Shortly after the Art Fair wrapped up, construction crews crept into the area and began a series of projects that will enhance the beauty, pleasure and convenience of shopping in the district. We’re going to replace broken and worn sidewalk bricks, replace trees and improve lighting. Some of the most significant improvements will be to the City’s parking ramps. We are installing new signage to formally name the ramps – North, Center and South. We installed new signage inside the ramps that will more clearly explain the types of limits of parking stalls. We’re also installing new dynamic signage leading into the district that tells you which ramps are full and which have available stalls. We believe all of these signage changes will help us manage our existing parking resources at 50th & France better, and perhaps help us avoid building more parking structures in the immediate future. But I think the most the noticeable improvements to our parking ramps will be inside the ramps themselves. We’re going to restore the concrete stairs, repair drainage pipes and repair damaged support structures. Then, we’re going to thoroughly clean and paint them. Before the 2014 holiday shopping season, those ramps are going to look good and feel safe. And that’s not all. The owners of the 50th & France Building where businesses such as Raku, Starbucks and Edina Liquor are located are going to do a significant exterior remodeling project this summer. And, in 2015, we’re going to install an elevator in the South Ramp. All of this comes with a cost, of course. The all-in cost for these improvements is about $5 million. It’s worth noting at this point that the final cost-sharing plan for the projects has not yet been approved, but it’s likely to be a 60/40 split between two funding sources: the property owners at 50th & France and the City, which will pay its share from funds generated by the Centennial Lakes Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. By using those two revenue sources, the City is able to make substantial improvements to the 50th & France area without taxing our general taxpayers for the cost of it. This was one of the City Council’s goals from the outset, and I think it’s important that Edina residents know that. Edina cannot rest on its laurels. We need to continue to pay attention to what has made Edina the high-quality community that it has become. The improvements the City is doing this summer at 50th & France are a big part of that effort. Sorry about the temporary mess and inconvenience down there this summer, but I think you’re going to like what you see when it’s done. Scott H. Neal City Manager 2014 SUMMER • 59 Edina’s #1 Builderin 2012 & 2013! Build with Edina’s Top Permitted New Home Builder Two Years Running! Call Today about Available Homes & Homesites in Edina Sell Your Existing Home to JMS - Call for Details Award-Winning Industry Leader Since 1985 952.949.3630 www.JMSCustomHomes.com MN Builder Lic. #BC392462