EDINA, Minn. — The Edina City Council Tuesday night approved a large mixed-use development proposed by Enclave Companies at the site of the former Macy's Furniture Outlet on France Avenue South.
The North Dakota real estate development company plans for one 11-story building plus three seven-story buildings on the site, which is south of the Southdale Mall.
It will replace a 1970's era earth-sheltered style building with a large parking lot, built at the time when energy costs were rising and submerged buildings were in vogue as a means of cutting heating and cooling costs. It sits on a plot of land in an area ripe for redevelopment.
"The proximity to restaurants, retail, jobs is very good. The access to good transportation is very good," Patrick Brama of Enclave told KARE. "And for us, a walkable environment is really important, something we prioritize."
He said the estimated cost of the development currently ranges from $280 million to $350 million.
"Predominantly, the two east buildings are residential while the west two buildings are more commercial and mixed use. So, there will be first floor active uses, first floor retail, office above with condos or apartments above that."
The project backs up against the Edina Promenade, a greenway with biking and pedestrian pathways that connects to the Centennial Lakes area. Some local residents oppose the size and scope of the project, asserting it will harm the character of the Promenade area.
"This area is just a pristine place of greenery in the middle of Edina, very walkable, very peaceful," Judy Buckley, who lives in an adjacent condominium community, told KARE.
She said the city council, by approving a Planned Unit Development at this site, is essentially granting a denser development that normally would be allowed in this space.
"It just seems like it’s going to loom over the promenade and not be an enhancement. It will take away the sun. The shade's going to overpower the whole Promenade."
Her neighbor Michelle Langefels also raised the issue of traffic congestion in the France Avenue corridor.
"It’s really challenging to get anywhere in this area, almost all times of the day because the traffic is really busy," Langefels said.
"Now this street will have to accommodate all that — the people living there, the people working there and also the retail. I don't know how they're gonna to handle this density."
Brama said the developers have altered the design significantly across the past 18 months in response to issues raised by the Edina Planning Division staff, neighbors and other organizations.
That includes reconfiguring parts of the site plan in anticipation of a future pedestrian crossing spanning France Avenue. He said his team has made adjustments to lessen the impact on the Promenade.
"We've added step backs to the seventh floor of the apartment buildings against the Promenade to reduce the impact of the mass of the building against the Promenade," Brama said.
"We’re excited about this project. It's a rare opportunity to do a true mixed-use pedestrian development. And that's what this is."
Edina Mayor Jim Hovland, who is a voting member of council, said he's convinced the developers are striking the proper balance with the project.
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