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Home My WebLink About2023-08-24 HRA Special Work Session PacketAg enda H ousing and R edevelopment Authority Work Session Meeting City of E dina, Minnesota City Hall, Community Room Thursday, August 24, 2023 7:30 AM I.Call to Ord er II.Roll Call III.France Aven u e Ped estrian Crossin g IV.Ad jou rn m ent Th e E d ina Housing a n d Redevelop m ent Au thority wa n ts all pa rticip ants to be com fortable b ein g pa rt of th e p u b lic p rocess. If y ou n ee d a ssista n ce in the w a y of h ea ring am pli$ca tion, a n in terp reter, large-p rint docum en ts or som ethin g else, p lease ca ll 952-927-8861 72 hou rs in advance of the m eeting. Date: August 24, 2023 Agenda Item #: I I I. To:C hair & C ommis s ioners of the Edina HR A Item Type: R eport / R ecommendation F rom:Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager Item Activity: Subject:F ranc e Avenue P edes trian C rossing Disc ussion Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority Established 1974 C ITY O F E D IN A HO US I NG & R EDEVELO P MENT AUT HO R I T Y 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov A C TI O N R EQ U ES TED: No action required; for discussion only. I N TR O D U C TI O N: On behalf of the H R A, C ity staff engaged L H B I nc. to strategically explore a variety of manners by which an improved pedestrian crossing could be incorporated into two privately owned redevelopment sites on France Avenue in between Gallagher 72nd Street. T he vacant property at 7200-7250 F rance Avenue is being redeveloped by O rion I nvestments. T he approved T I F Agreement includes provisions for many public realm improvements, including a connection point for a future pedestrian crossing across France Ave. Enclave Development has the property across the street at 7235 F rance Avenue under contract and is proceeding to explore the development potential. B ased on the public realm preferences of the S outhdale D esign G uidelines and the market costs of development, E nclave has indicated that T I F support will likely be necessary to defray the costs of the public improvements. R ealizing that transformational change will occur on these properties in the next few years, L H B has explored examples of multi-modal design concepts implemented in other communities to better understand the options available to E dina. T he examples include overhead bridges, below-grade tunnels and underpasses, mixed-uses concourses, plazas, land bridges, at grade crossings, and realignment of the driving lanes. During the Work S ession, L H B will share their findings to date in an effort to better understand the scope of work that the H R A might consider desirable and potentially willing to finance in the future. I n the months ahead, staff will publish information on the BetterTogetherEdina.com website and collect additional ideas, suggestions and concerns from the surrounding stakeholders and general public. After the initial public input is collected, L H B and staff intend to prepare a recommendation for consideration by the H R A. Keep in mind, that the future recommendation is not binding, but intended only to set the general direction of a public pedestrian crossing that will be refined and priced for future consideration. AT TAC HME N T S: Description Staff Pres entation EdinaMN.gov France Avenue Pedestrian Crossing Discussion with HRA Board HRA Work Session August 24, 2023 Housing & Redevelopment Authority Rare Opportunity for Community Improvements With two commercial properties poised for transformational redevelopment, there is a rare opportunity to create new public spaces that improve the community for future generations. Planning for these private sites is actively in progress. 7200-7250 Approved Site Plan (building details pending) 7235 Conceptual Site Plan (all details pending) Tentative Purpose Statement An improved pedestrian crossing is being explored to create a desirable public realm that spans public and private sites. Initial brainstorming identified several potential goals: •Implement long-discussed ideas •Sustain through and local vehicle traffic •Leverage private investment •Connect neighborhoods and community amenities •Enhance pedestrian safety and access •Create an equitable, inviting and welcoming pedestrian route •Create world class public realm space •Elevate the France Avenue experience •Establish a pilot that might be replicated elsewhere Edina’s Promenade Design Plan, 2007 Edina Bike / Ped / Trail Master Plans Edina’s Greater Southdale Plan and Design Guidelines Source: pg 114 of 2018 Greater Southdale Plan Hennepin County Road Network Many Standards, Policies and Programs to Review Hennepin County •Transportation Systems Plan •Traffic Safety Standards •Ped & Bicycle Plans •Active Living Policies •Complete Street Policy •Climate Action Plan •Others TBD City of Edina •Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan •Park, Recreation & Trail Strategic Plan •Southdale Design Experience Guidelines •Climate Action Plan •Others TBD Others •ADA and MN Accessibility Guidelines •Stormwater System •Other utility systems •Safe Routes to Schools •Met Council TPP •Three Rivers Park District •Others TBD Seek to Balance Unaligned Goals •Local access vs. through traffic •Pedestrian access vs. vehicle mobility •County and City goals •Public and Private investments •Pedestrians, bicyclists •Motor vehicles, transit •Residents, employees, customers, visitors Initial Brainstorming Ideas for Preliminary Discussion Many Details to Study in Months Ahead •Integration with private commercial properties who are setting the pace •Environmental impact •Engineering •Design •Cost •Financing sources •Schedule •Phasing •Mitigation of construction disruption •Equity-based approach Upcoming Steps to Seek a Workable Solution The conversation is just beginning. There is much more to learn before decisions are made. Some steps will take months, others could take years. DISCOVERY & EXPLORATION PHASES •Learn more about constraints and opportunities •Listen to more ideas from the community (Better Together Edina) •Eliminate least favorable options •Focus on most favorable option DESIGN, FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES •Collaborate with partners to identify a workable solution 1)What outcomes do you envision? 2)Which goals should be prioritized? 3)What other ideas could be considered? 4)What concerns do you have about these preliminary ideas? 5)What else should staff consider as more ideas and input is collected? Discussion Questions