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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina Sept 2022Two Affordable Housing Complexes Move Forward This Summer Sound on 76th, Cornelia View Apartments to Help Fill Need for Affordable Multifamily Units BY DAN REISIG Visible progress on two major affordable housing projects in the city’s southeast quadrant could be seen over the summer. In June, the ribbons were cut and residents officially welcomed home to The Sound on 76th, an entirely income- limited apartment complex in the Cahill Neighborhood. The building offers modern, fully equipped one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with monthly rents set below market rate. Income limitations ensure that the property helps fill the need for affordable multifamily housing units, with all units priced at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), with eight units designated for people leaving homelessness and priced at or below 30 percent of AMI. The complex, developed by Aeon, was built at the site of the former Flyte Time Studios, and hints of its musical roots abound. Art pieces on each level reference musicians and instruments, and a wooden wall that was used in the historic studios was preserved and incorporated into the building’s first-floor community room. “We are thrilled to welcome more than 200 residents into the Aeon family at The Sound on 76th. We are so grateful for the City of Edina and the many other partners and community members that helped make these new homes possible,” said Eric Anthony Johnson, President and CEO of Aeon. Just a few blocks north, ground was broken in July on the Cornelia View Apartments development. A four-story, 118-unit affordable senior community built at the site of a run-down office building, the project is a partnership between Lupe Development Partners and Ecumen, a nonprofit organization that focuses on advocacy for older adults. The project includes a 99-year lease that dictates that the housing remains affordable, with pricing and availability information expected in summer 2023. Studio, one- and two-bedroom units will be available to qualifying seniors ages 55 and older at various income levels at or below 30 to 80 percent of AMI. “These two projects show exciting, tangible progress toward meeting our affordable housing needs in the City,” said Affordable Housing Development Manager Stephanie Hawkinson. “Beyond bricks and mortar, though, they represent a place for people to call home. Residents can raise a family or age in community safely and securely with easy access to all the best amenities Edina has to offer.” Construction is slated for completion in September 2023, with the first move-in soon after. For more information about Edina’s affordable housing, contact Hawkinson at 952-833-9578 or shawkinson@EdinaMN.gov. Doors officially opened in June at The Sound on 76th, with more than 200 residents calling the affordable housing community at 4400 W. 76th St. home. (Photo by Dan Reisig) Shovels in the dirt signified the official groundbreaking for the Cornelia View Apartments, a new affordable senior housing community set to open in 2023. (Photo by Dan Reisig) City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina SEPTEMBER 2022 Volume 9, Issue 9Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City 800 Birthday Parties celebrated annually at the park Concerts scheduled in the amphitheater per year50 Family Movie Nights held the second Friday of the month from November to April 6 Children’s entertainment events held every other week from September to December 7 250 Participants in the 2021 Halloboo Trick-or-Treat Trail, scheduled to take place at Edinborough in October - COMPILED BY KATHERINE HULBERT Fall at Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S., is bustling with activities and events. In addition to the indoor pool, track, amphitheater and five-story PlayPark, Edinborough has plenty of entertainment for all ages. For more information, visit EdinboroughPark.com. Senior Center Celebrates 20 Years at Grandview Square Celebration to be Held Sept. 21 BY KATHERINE HULBERT September is National Senior Center Month, a fitting occasion for Edina’s Senior Center to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its location at Grandview Square. Organized events and activities for seniors have taken place at several different locations throughout Edina since 1969, most recently at the Edina Community Center before the Grandview Square location opened its doors to the community in 2002. The centralized location at Grandview Square has been loved by residents and nonresidents alike for the past 20 years. Recreation Supervisor Nicole Gorman is eager to welcome all who enjoy the Senior Center for an anniversary celebration 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21. There will be coffee, cake, entertainment, prizes and more to mark the occasion. Registration is required. Sign up for the event by visiting bit.ly/SeniorCenter20th or by calling 952-833-9570. “I’m looking forward to people joining the fun and growing their community at the Edina Senior Center,” said Gorman. “The theme for September’s National Senior Center Month is ‘Strengthening Community Connections!’ Bring your friends and make new ones with us as we celebrate all month long.” The Senior Center has robust programming in September, including a paper-shredding event, Nordic pole walking classes, a plethora of informational classes and, of course, the 20th anniversary celebration. A full list of upcoming events at the Senior Center is available in The Times Newsletter, free to view and download online. View or download the current issue for free by visiting EdinaSeniorCenter.com and clicking on the “Newsletter (PDF)” link at the top. Information about signing up for 2023 subscriptions to printed issues of The Times, delivered by mail, will be in the October 2022 issue of that newsletter. For more information, visit EdinaSeniorCenter.com. City staff hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Edina Senior Center at 5280 Grandview Square in 2001. (File Photo) BY THE NUMBERS Edinborough Park 2 New Local Parking Regulations Go into Effect Updated Zoning Ordinance Reduces Parking Spaces In 1972, the average new car listed for around $3,500. The best-selling car of the year was the Volkswagen Beetle. A gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents. Automobiles and the industry and infrastructure supporting them have changed a lot in the past 50 years. Many of the City of Edina’s parking regulations had not. Last month, the City Council approved a zoning ordinance amendment bringing parking regulations into the modern era. Issues with parking requirements often arise when new developments are proposed. Community Development Director Cary Teague said developers sometimes seek more or fewer parking spaces than guided by Edina’s parking regulations, and residents are sometimes concerned that proposals include too much or too little parking. The Planning Commission recommended changes after evaluating such things as trends; use of decades-old parking lots; current and projected quantities and availability of mass transit; differing needs for different areas of town; incentives for reducing parking, including increased greenspace; climate change and equity; and previous approvals or rejections of requested variances to Edina’s parking regulations. Highlights of the ordinance amendment include: •Reduction in the number of parking stalls required for a development. •Incentives for developers to reduce parking, including shared parking, bike parking and location near transit stops. •The addition of maximum limits on parking spaces. •Separate parking regulations for the 44th & France, 70th & Cahill, Valley View & Wooddale, 50th & France, Southdale and Grandview commercial areas. Though further reductions may be allowed if a project is in a transit service area, some of the more significant changes are: •Apartments – Reduced from 2 spaces per unit to 1.25 minimum and 1.75 maximum spaces per unit, consistent with the most recent requests for new apartments in Edina. •Medical or dental offices, clinics and animal hospitals – Reduced from 1 space per 200 square feet to 1 space per 300 square feet. •Hospitals – Reduced from 1 space per bed to 1 space for every two patient beds. •Restaurants – Changed from one- third the seating capacity to 1 space for each 100 square feet of floor area. •Mixed-use district – Uses are generally amended to be consistent with specific use requirements. For example, residential parking reduced from 1.75 spaces per unit to 1 space per unit with a maximum of 1.75 spaces per unit. In other business last month, the City Council: •Awarded the sale of short-term bonds to Morgan Stanley & Company to provide temporary financing for the site acquisition and initial design of a new Fire Station 2. •Approved a joint powers agreement with the Fencing Consortium, which will jointly contract with a fencing vendor for anti-scale fencing for use during a time of unrest. The City Council will next meet 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 and Tuesday, Sept. 20. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. - COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE Fall into the Arts Returns Sept. 10-11 Two-Day Festival Benefits Edina Crime Prevention Fund Among Others For the 18th time, the art community will descend on Edina in September for the annual Edina Fall Into the Arts Festival. Over one weekend, Sept. 10-11, approximately 225 artists and exhibitors, food vendors and sponsors will showcase and sell their work at Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. The festivities will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. New this year is a kid zone area, featuring family-friendly art activities and programming. Additionally, the Maetzold Amphitheater will be active all weekend with performances and entertainment. Proceeds from the event benefit the Edina Chamber of Commerce, Centennial Lakes Park, the Edina Art Center and the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, a key funding source for keeping Edina safe. “The Edina Fall Into The Arts Festival is a great community event every year, not only to showcase our city’s art community, but also for the impact it makes on public safety through the Edina Crime Prevention Fund,” said Police Chief Todd Milburn. “Events like this not only help make our city better culturally, but also make a difference in how our police department is able to serve residents and visitors.” For more information about the Fall Into The Arts Festival, visit EdinaFallIntoTheArts.com or contact Shelly Loberg at 952-806-9064. To learn more about the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, visit EdinaCrimeFund.org. – COMPILED BY DAN REISIG 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission meetings live: • Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) • Facebook.com/EdinaMN • “Watch a Meeting” web page at EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings RECURRING EVENTS Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park 3-7 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 29 UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m. “Town Talk” on proposed local option sales tax The “Town Talk” will be broadcast live on Edina TV and available for online viewing on Facebook Live and through the City’s website. The video and materials for the Town Talk will be available on BetterTogetherEdina.org for a week following the presentation. Monday, Sept. 5, Labor Day City offices closed Monday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 11 Edinborough Park closed for maintenance Wednesday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. Night Glow Golf, Braemar Academy 9 Golf Course Thursday, Sept. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month begins Thursday, Sept. 15, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. Walk With the Mayor, Braemar Arena Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Sept. 22-Sunday, Sept. 25 Chalk The Walk, Centennial Lakes Park Thursday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. Shred Event, Braemar Arena (main parking lot) Friday, Sept. 23 Absentee/early voting begins Sunday, Sept. 25-Tuesday, Sept. 27 Rosh Hashanah For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. Edina voters can begin casting their ballot for the Nov. 8 General Election as soon as Friday, Sept. 23. In Person Early Voting Hours at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th Street: •Weekdays Sept. 23-Nov. 4, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. •Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. •Monday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Vote Early by Mail Voters can also vote by mail if they do not want to do so in person. You can apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to you at bit.ly/MNAbsentee. If voting by mail, you will need a registered Minnesota voter or a notary to act as a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. Completed ballots must be received by Hennepin County by Election Day to count. Ballot Overview To find details of what’s on your ballot, visit the Secretary of State My Ballot Finder at myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us. Federal: U.S. Representative State: Attorney General, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, judicial seats, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Representative, State Senator County: County Sheriff and County Attorney City: Two Edina City Council seats; Half- percent sales tax increase to provide $17.7 million for Fred Richards Park improvements and $21.6 million for Braemar Park and Arena projects Election Day Polling Place Earlier in 2022, voting precinct boundaries changed due to redistricting. If you plan to vote in person on Election Day, you can find your polling place based on your address by visiting the Secretary of State Polling Place Finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us. Please note that City Hall is not an Election Day polling place. For more information about early voting or the election, visit EdinaMN.gov/Election, call Elections staff at 952-826-0363 or contact City Clerk Sharon Allison at SAllison@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0408. - COMPILED BY BRITTANY BADER Early Voting For General Election Begins Sept. 23 at City Hall Learn Where to Cast Your Ballot and What’s on It CITY OF EDINA 4801 WEST 50TH STREET EDINA, MN 55424 ***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGEPAID TWIN CITIES MN Permit No. 3932