Debate Over How to Revitalize Grandview Area Underway

Nearly 50 Edina residents met late last week to start the yearlong process of coming up with a plan for the redevelopment of the city's Grandview Area.

That plan is aimed at addressing a host of issues and proposals on revitalizing the area, which is bounded by Vernon Avenue, Eden Avenue and Hwy. 100. Technically, Grandview goes east across Hwy. 100 and embodies the parcel of land occupied almost exclusively by Edina City Hall. That includes the city's former Public Works Facility, which is presently vacant. 

“The 2008 Comprehensive Plan by the city cited Grandview as an area in need of potential change,” said Planning Commission member Kevin Staunton.

The Community Advisory Team will spend the next 12 months creating a plan to go before the city for final approval. A Livable Communities Demonstration Account grant from the Metropolitan Council will defray the costs of the planning project.

The major challenge facing the team is what to do on the site of the former Public Works Facility, though other properties inside the area could be factors.

Staunton pointed out that a great deal of the Grandview site in comprised of parcels of land owned by the city, Edina Public Schools and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The initial effort will take place in four, three-month stages: the developing of a preliminary working plan, input from consultants to result in the next draft of the plan, public input and the drafting of the final plan.

After the plan is adopted, the next challenges will be securing financing and launching the redevelopment effort.

The team will break down into 12 working groups and will report their findings and recommendations to a steering committee.

The topics to be addressed are traffic and parking, land use and design, community needs, market analysis, financing and the public realm and infrastructure. Other topics are welcome, the team was told.