A developer is proposing a 17-story residential tower, artist lofts and municipal art center in Edina at the site of the city's former public works facility.
Frauenshuh Commercial Real Estate submitted a sketch plan for the project, called Grandview, to Edina officials Thursday.
It would occupy a 3-acre site on Eden Avenue near the intersection of Hwy. 100 and Vernon Avenue that is now owned by the Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
"The time in the development cycle is ripe where if the community can agree on what to build there, we think that this is the right time to do it," Bill Neuendorf, Edina's economic development manager, said.
The city will host a community open house Jan. 22 to hear comments. The city's planning commission is scheduled to review the sketch plan on Jan. 24 with the City Council expected to review it on Feb. 7 to offer comments for the developer as they evaluate whether to prepare a full submission.
For years, the city has solicited community ideas for the site and at one point considered building a 70,000-square-foot community center on the lot. The Edina housing authority and Frauenshuh entered a preliminary development agreement last month to pursue a redevelopment plan.
The location is in a neighborhood known as Grandview because it includes a hill that rises to a level that provides a striking view of downtown Minneapolis. It is already home to three small shopping developments, the largest anchored by a Jerry's Foods grocery store and a five-story office and retail building. The Edina Library, which shares its facilities with the Edina Senior Center, is also nearby.
"The Grandview District currently contains a diverse array of businesses, goods and services," Frauenshuh said in the proposal. "The proposed development will expand the economic vitality of the district by adding residents, public facilities, public gathering spaces and support directly in the district."
