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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina March 2023Longtime Edina Community Foundation Executive Director Set to Retire For 20 Years, Crockett Has Used His Passion for Service to Better the Community BY BRITTANY BADER While there are many people to thank for programs like Connect Card, Connecting with Kids, Edina Reads and the annual 4th of July parade, one person in particular is longtime Edina Community Foundation Executive Director Dick Crockett. On March 15, Crockett will retire, ending a tenure that has measurably shaped the Foundation and the Edina community. His retirement day coincides with his 20th work anniversary, bringing his career with the Foundation full circle and much to celebrate. The Edina Community Foundation (originally the Edina Foundation) was founded in 1977 as a charitable organization for the City of Edina and Edina Public Schools. Decades later, its name and focus were changed to serve the wider community. When Crockett came to the Foundation in 2003, he was new to the part-time role, but not to the nonprofit sector. He had previous experience working with nonprofits by doing legal work for higher education institutions and as board chair for the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation. He said it was through these experiences he realized he was more motivated and challenged by service work. So, in 2002 when he received the City’s About Town publication that mentioned the position, he felt called to pursue it. At the time, Crockett said he was tasked with developing programs to fulfill the Foundation’s mission and increase donor support. “I wanted to create more offerings for people living in Edina. We didn’t have that when I started 20 years ago. We were an idea without actual programming behind it yet,” said Crockett. “I started with bringing my own values to the community in terms of what would make Edina a better community to live in and combined that with meeting specific needs people brought to me.” Fast-forward to today, Crockett says he has a list of more than 400 people he has worked with who have had a connection to the Foundation in some way. As the Foundation’s services have grown, so has its mission statement. When reflecting on highlights from his career, Crockett said one of his favorite memories is when a group collaborated on improving the Foundation’s mission statement, from the original “Strengthening our community” to “We bring people together to serve, strengthen and celebrate our community.” He is very happy for the impact the words of the mission statement have had over the years – particularly the point of celebrating the community. He’s most proud of the public art contributions, starting Edina Reads and growing the Community Impact Program, which helps small causes raise money and awareness. “I am particularly proud of the way we’ve been able to grow the Community Impact Program because it has helped create a much broader cultural community here than an ordinary suburban community has,” Crocket said. “And our partners are always very happy to get the service and work with us. It’s a way of serving and strengthening the community as well as celebrating their interests and bringing them to the attention of the broader community.” Like many retirees, Crockett plans to do more traveling. Notably, in the fall, he is looking forward to his annual cycling trip. He also looks forward to spending more time with his family and friends. However, one thing will certainly stay the same: his passion for service work. He has committed to volunteer one day each week to assist a new director or interim director through June. He also plans to continue leading the Edina Reads Committee. “Through my time at the Foundation and being an Edina Rotarian for 18 years, I’ve learned the value and satisfaction of serving other people individually and collectively. I expect that will continue. One thing that I expect to do in retirement is to find another organization to serve.” To learn more about the Edina Community Foundation, visit EdinaCommunityFoundation.org. In Dick Crockett’s time with the Edina Community Foundation, over $500,000 in public art has been contributed to the City. Among the art is “Reflecting on Friendship,” a bronze piece by Nick Legeros that Crockett and his wife, Suzie, donated. (Photo by Dan Doar) Dick Crockett (Submitted Photo) City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina MARCH 2023 Volume 10, Issue 3Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City ¹» ¹» ¹º¹º ¹º ñ ñ ¹» ¹º ¹º ¹º ¹º ¹º ¹º ñ ¹» ñ ñ ñ ñTRACY AVEVERNON AVEWOODDALE AVEHANSEN RD70TH ST W FRANCE AVE SVALLEYVIEWRDMINNESOTA DRGLEASONRDEdinaCommunityCenter AvailAcademy Golden Years Montessori CityHall St Peter's LutheranChurch & School South ViewMiddle School NormandaleElementary ConcordSchool CorneliaSchool SouthdaleLibrary Fire Station Public Works & Park Maintenance Creek ValleySchool FireStation Valley View Middle School Edina High School Countryside School HighlandsSchool EdinaCommunity Library Our Lady of Grace Church & School M innehahaCreek NineMileCreek N i n e Mile Creek SouthdaleCenter Canadian Pacific RailroadCanadian Pacific RailroadBLAKE RDSCHAEFER RDV E RN O N A V ECAHILL RD66TH ST W YORK AVE SINTERLACHEN BLVD MALONEY AVE 4 4 T H S T W 50TH ST W 54TH ST W 58TH ST W 70TH ST W 76TH ST W DEWEY HILL RD VALLEY VIEW RD VALLEY VIEW RD 78TH ST W I-494 HWY 100HWY 169HWY 169HWY 100HWY 62 HWY 62 April 2019 ±Legend 0 2,000 Feet 1 6 9 6 Development Tracker ¹»¹»¹º¹º¹ºñ ñ¹»¹º¹º¹º¹º¹º¹ºñ ¹»ññ ññTRACY AVEVERNON AVEWOODDALE AVEHANSEN RD70TH ST W FRANCE AVE SVALLEYVIEWRDMINNESOTA DRGLEASONRDEdinaCommunityCenterCalvinChristianSchoolGoldenYearsMontessoriCityHallSt Peter's LutheranChurch & SchoolSouthviewJr HighNormandaleElementaryConcordSchool CorneliaSchool SouthdaleLibraryFireStationPublic Works &Park MaintenanceCreek ValleySchool FireStationValley ViewJr HighEdinaHighSchoolColonialChurchCountrysideSchool HighlandSchool PublicLibraryOur Lady ofGrace Church& School M in ne hahaCreekNineMileCreek N ine Mile Creek Canadian Pacific RailroadCanadian Pacific RailroadBLAKE RDSCHAEFER RDVERNON AVE CAHILL RD66TH ST W YORK AVE SINTERLACHEN BLVDMALONEY AVE 44TH ST W50TH ST W 54TH ST W58TH ST W70TH ST W 76TH ST W DEWEY HILL RD VALLEY VIEW RDVALLEY VIEW RD 78TH ST W I-494 HWY 100HWY 169HWY 169HWY 100HWY 62 HWY 62 April 2019 ±Legend 0 2,000 Feet 4 5 The City of Edina Development Tracker includes reconstruction or new construction projects that have been completed in the past six months, are currently under construction, have filed a formal application to the City or have been substantially approved. View the Development and Construction Tracker online at EdinaMN.gov by clicking on the “Learn About Projects” button. 8 10 11 2 Former Public Works Site 7 3 Maison Green 12 Pentagon Village Apartments 2 1 Interlachen Country Club Location: 6200 Interlachen Blvd. Developer: Interlachen Country Club Status: Under Construction The club is expanding its boundaries by adding a new parking lot and expanded practice area off Waterman Avenue. The Country Club owns two single-family homes that will continue as single-family homes to serve as a buffer to the homes to the west. A gate will be constructed at the end of Waterman, just after the homes owned by the Country Club. 2 Former Public Works Site Location: 5146 Eden Ave. Developer: Edina Housing & Redevelopment Authority, United Properties and Jester Concepts Status: Approved The proposal includes a 6.5-story, 90- unit senior cooperative (owner-occupied) project with 173 underground parking spaces. Ten percent of the units will be affordable. The project will include a two-story, 13,500-square-foot restaurant and a 30,000-square-foot public park with pedestrian walkways to a bridge that would connect to the municipal parking ramp next to the building housing Jerry’s Foods and Jerry’s Hardware. 3 Maison Green Location: 4917 Eden Ave. Developer: Reuter Walton Status: Under Construction Reuter Walton tore down the Perkins restaurant and office building on the site. The developer is building a seven-story, 208-unit luxury apartment building with a 3,700-square foot restaurant/coffee shop. Ten percent of the units are set for those with 50 percent area median income. 4 Our Lady of Grace Expansion Location: 5051 Eden Ave. Status: Completed Improvements included a new priest residence, activity center, expansion of the school and parish gathering space and remodeled areas of existing buildings. 5 Valley View Row Location: 4404 Valley View Road Developer: City Homes Status: Proposed City Homes is developing the vacant site. The new plans include construction of two, two-unit row houses. 6 Bhatti GI Gastroenterology Location: 6500 Barrie Road Developer: MSP Commercial Status: Under Construction The applicant tore down the existing 16,032-square-foot medical office building to build a new three-story, 24,000-square- foot medical office and surgery center. 7 Cornelia View Apartments Location: 4040 W. 70th St. Developer: Ecumen and Lupe Development Partners Status: Under Construction Ecumen and Lupe Development Partners are constructing a new four-story, 118-unit senior affordable housing project with 86 underground and 23 surface parking stalls. 8 70th & France/U.S. Bank Site Location: 7001 and 7025 France Ave. Developer: Orion Investments, ESG and Mortenson Status: Under Construction Phase one of this project is complete with the construction of a one-story, 6,500-square-foot U.S. Bank building with a drive-thru. The bank opened in February. The next phase includes a 24-story, 267-unit apartment building with 1,500-square- feet of retail; a six-to-seven-story, 189,430-square-foot office/retail building; and an eight-level, freestanding 540-stall parking ramp with a 1,300-square-foot bike space. Demolition of the old bank building is scheduled for this spring, with construction of these next phases to follow. 9 The Sound on 76th Location: 4100 W. 76th St. Developer: The Sound on 76th / AEON Status: Completed After removing notable artwork, the building that once occupied FlyteTyme Studios and later the Minneapolis Media Institute was demolished. A four-story apartment building with 80 affordable housing units and underground resident parking was built on the site. 10 The Fred at Pentagon North Location: 4660 77th St. W. Developer: Solhem Companies Status: Under Construction The applicant tore down two office buildings on the site and is constructing a five- to seven-story, 408-unit market rate apartment building. 11 Pentagon North Phase II Location: 4620 77th Street W. Developer: Solhem Companies Status: Approved The developer plans to tear down one of the existing office buildings at Pentagon Park and construct a seven-story, 276-unit apartment building in its place. Ten percent of the units would be for affordable housing. One of the main features of the plan is the provision of a new entrance to Fred Richards Park on the east side of the existing office building. 12 Pentagon Village Apartments Location: 4911 77th St. W. Developer: Rise Development Status: Under Construction A six-story, 200-unit apartment building is planned for the southeast corner of Pentagon South. Ten percent of the units will be for affordable housing. - COMPILED BY RENEE MOTTET BY THE NUMBERS Typical years in the career of a police dog 8 Usual number of calls that K-9 Gryf handles each year 100 Weeks of training before a K-9 can work a shift 16 The Edina Police Department’s K-9 units are certified by the U.S. Police Canine Association in patrol and narcotics detection. These dogs typically respond to calls involving suspect tracking, searching for narcotics or searching areas or buildings. Edina’s dogs, K-9 Blitz and K-9 Gryf, are partnered with Patrol Officers Sean Young and Mike Bengtson. K-9 Units 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND Since the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance first went into effect in 2015, one consistent complaint has come from Edina residents: It doesn’t do enough to protect trees or replace those lost during construction. “The biggest complaints have been that the tree replacements are too small. They would cut down a 100-year-old oak tree and only have to put in a 2.5-inch diameter sapling to replace it,” said City Forester Luther Overholt. “More trees were being removed than replanted. Of those that were replanted, many weren’t cared for and often died.” That also conflicted with the City’s Climate Action Plan goal of increasing the tree canopy to 40 percent by 2030, up from the estimated 35.9 percent in the 2021 Ground Cover Survey. Trees are one of the most effective ways to mitigate climate change, noted Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock. “Edina is lucky to have a relatively healthy urban forest already, but there are a lot of threats, including increased development and climate change,” she said. To better protect existing mature trees, preserve the character and beauty of Edina’s tree canopy and help mitigate the loss of trees when they do have to be removed, the City amended the ordinance effective in 2023. Among the changes: •Designating larger trees as “protected” or “heritage,” and each status requires a much more significant replacement if removed. •Prioritizing the critical root zone around a tree to be undisturbed during construction. •Requiring a 36-month financial guarantee to ensure tree replacement rules are followed. Residential building projects that require a building permit are now required to obtain a tree protection permit as well. Those include demolition or grading permits; subdivision applications; building permits for homes or accessory structures such as a garage, deck or pool; and additions. “This applies to a resident redoing a deck themselves or contractors building pools or grading over 10 yards of dirt,” Overholt cited as examples. Any heritage tree removed must be replanted with equivalent replacements of a minimum size. For example, if someone cuts down a 40-foot conifer, it could be replaced by four 10-foot conifers. To ensure a replacement of this “heritage” status tree, the financial guarantee is 110 percent of the tree replacement value, which is $500 a foot. So this 40-foot tree’s escrow amount would be $22,000. Half the escrow would be refunded upon the project’s completion and the other half refunded three years later if the replacement tree remains healthy. To learn more, visit EdinaMN.gov/TreeProtection or contact Overholt at LOverholt@EdinaMN.gov. Ordinance Changes Will Help Protect Trees From Construction Residential Building Permits Now Require a Tree Protection Permit UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday, March. 1 Women’s History Month begins Wednesday, March 1, 11:30 a.m. State of the Community, Braemar Golf Course Sunday, March 5, 6 p.m. Brooklyn Big Band, Edinborough Park Tuesday, March 7, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Wednesday, March 8 Holi Wednesday, March 8 International Women’s Day Thursday, March 9, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Friday, March 10, 1 p.m. Veterans resource event, Edina Senior Center Friday, March 10, 6:30 p.m. Family Movie Night, “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,” Edinborough Park Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. St. Paddy’s Craft Party, Edina Art Center Sunday, March 12, 6 p.m. Gypsy Mania Trio, Edinborough Park Sunday, March 19, 6 p.m. Westwind Big Band, Edinborough Park Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Wednesday, March 22 Ramadan begins Thursday, March 23, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Sunday, March 26, 6 p.m. The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. 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 City Forester Luther Overholt stands inside the fencing that protects a fir tree and its critical root zone from pump station construction at West 72nd Street and Oaklawn Avenue. (Photo by Tom Cornell)