Former Public Works Building Set for Demolition This Month

Edina's former Public Works building will be gone before the end of this month, with the city reporting contractor Jay Johnson Construction has mobilized and "full demolition is expected to begin soon."

The demolition of the building and clearing of the site are expected to cost $98,700 in total, with funds coming from Edina's Housing and Redevelopment Authority budget. In a recent email to residents, the City of Edina reports the site's existing trees will be retained during the demolition process.

Once the Public Works building is gone, the site will be planted with ground cover to help it remain presentable until a new project can be identified and constructed.

The building was declared substandard and eligible for inclusion in a future GrandView Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, as the costs to update it would have far exceeded thresholds identified in Minnesota Statutes.

Public finance specialists Ehlers are studying the potential of establishing a new GrandView TIF District, aimed at funding many of the public improvements in the area. A proposed TIF District is likely to be considered as early as this summer, according to the city.

The Planning Commission also recently granted approval for a 17-unit townhouse development along the northern edge of the GrandView District. Three adjacent parcels between the Holiday gas station and Hwy. 100—which currently house two older apartment buildings and one single-family home—would be cleared to allow for the construction of 17 new townhouses. Units would front either Vernon Avenue or West 49th Street.

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