15 acre pump house lot on France Ave - Edina/St. Louis Park

[Anondson]

I tried coming up with a more catchy name, any mods feel free to change it. The city of Minneapolis owns a wooded 15 acre lot in Edina and St. Louis Park, on it was a pump house it ran. The city no longer needs it and will shut it down. The 15 aces have been used as a pleasant space to walk dogs and kids to escape into and chase each other for decades.

Minneapolis is asking the cities where the land is to buy it for the asking price of $1.5M or the lot will be put on the market for single family home development. Edina and SLP are balking at the price.

My thought is, it's on a transit corridor, why single family luxury homes? Why not go for multifamily? Here is a map for context to locate it in relation to the Linden Hills commercial corridor.


Minikahda Vista woods for sale by xeoth, on Flickr

Here is the Strib story. http://www.startribune.com/local/west/273501931.html

[grant1simons2]

Why can't we just keep it as a park and add some trails? I realize there's a need for housing but I don't want woods torn down for it when there are a lot of vacant lots or industrial zones in south, east of Hiawatha

[Anondson]

That's probably a very popular thought. Selfish note: I played in those woods as a child and have very fond capture the flag memories.
Cynical snark: not enough political donors live near it to save from development.

[twincitizen]

Appears to be two parcels: one in SLP, one in Edina, split by the imaginary line where 40th street would go if continued through the site.

http://gis.hennepin.us/property/map/def ... 2824140001

[uptowncarag]

This would be great if it was kept open space or a park but the land is too valuable. If it is going to be housing it should be multi-unit. It is a great area. That being said, low-income housing at this location does not stand a chance.

[twincitizen]

After all those years being owned by Minneapolis, it baffles me why they wouldn't have just annexed the land. I mean, it's directly adjacent to the city, so it wouldn't even be some awkward exclave or anything.

While I understand the appeal of keeping it wooded and keeping the status quo, the area is certainly not "park poor". It's surrounded by adjoining city parks in both SLP and Edina. On one hand it does make sense to keep it some/most of it parkland, but there is absolutely no reason not to line France Avenue with housing of some kind. No reason at all.

[Anondson]

Coworker of mine suggested make the "dog park" official. Fence it, permit access, and now you're making money.

[MNdible]

The city should absolutely sell unneeded land outside of its municipal borders.

Generate as much cash from the sale as possible, while giving deference to Edina and SLP. If they want to pony up the cash and then pay to improve it as a park or a dog run, that's there prerogative.

[seanrichardryan]

Build houses, with a ped/bike greenway connecting the two parks.

[twincitizen]

SLP hosting open house tomorrow/Tuesday night. Online survey available too: http://www.stlouispark.org/community-de ... treet.html

[twincitizen]

http://m.startribune.com/local/west/281 ... tion=local

[Anondson]

Thanks for getting these updates!

[twincitizen]

SLP/Edina offer a milli (a milli a milli) for the property, split 1/3 for SLP and 2/3 for Edina. No word if they'll try to carve out a couple residential lots facing France to help defray costs, but they sure as hell should do that, and they should announce they're doing it now.

http://www.startribune.com/local/286697511.html

I predict that Mpls will take the offer, even though lower than their appraisal, because I'm guessing that the Ward 13 councilmember has already heard from plenty of constituents who'd love to see it remain a park. I wonder if Mpls would dare attach conditions that it remain undeveloped (in respect to the lower offer and/or desire of Mpls residents to continue using the park)

[mplser]

as kids when we would run around in this place, the nickname that pretty much everyone recognized was "Africa" Don't ask why, I have no clue...

[maxbaby]

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S3662112.shtml?cat=1

[ECtransplant]

Anybody got a non-kstp link?

[Wedgeguy]

Is it real news, or an attempt at hits for fake news?

[twincitizen]

Update: http://www.startribune.com/edina-st-lou ... 311893471/

Total combined offer is up to $1.65MM(!) Nice negotiating skills Mpls! Quite the windfall for a property that will basically remain as is. Article mentions that SLP will consider parceling out "a couple residential lots" along France, but that will entail a separate process and discussion with neighborhood. IMO they ought to have that conversation as soon as possible so they can clearly convey to the community that the sale of a couple lots is necessary in order to pay for the park acquisition.

[Anondson]

Hope the city accepts these offers. And I hope it sets to mood in the city for selling of the Meadowbrook money pit so as to preserve it, too, as green space outside the city limits.

[Wedgeguy]

Was Meadowbrook something that the city bought back in the corn field days for a chance at a park/golf course, some 60+ years ago or more? Was this something that came about before the existence of the suburbs?