Edina City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Story
Edina Approves New Library-Art Center, Eyes County Tax Services
New Southdale Library and Edina Art Center Project
National Registry Listing of Oscam House
Historic Preservation and Heritage Landmarks
Votes (4)
Transition of Assessing Services to Hennepin County
The Edina City Council directed staff to prepare an agreement to transition the city's assessing division to Hennepin County to reduce municipal costs and property tax burden. The assessing division currently consists of 7 full-time staff members responsible for establishing estimated market value, property classification, property records maintenance, quintile reviews, new construction reviews, and appeals administration. Hennepin County already provides assessing services to most municipalities in the region except Edina, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and St. Louis Park. Maple Grove is also considering a similar transition. Financial projections indicate potential savings of approximately $500,000 in 2026 and $1 million annually starting in 2027. City Manager Scott Neil will negotiate the agreement details with the county over several weeks.
New Southdale Library and Edina Art Center Project
The city council approved plans for a new 43,000 sq ft building that will house both the Southdale library and the Edina Art Center at the intersection of York Avenue and 70th Street. The existing building at 7001 York Avenue will be raised, and the new structure will be positioned closer to the intersection. The design is sensitive to the surrounding residential neighborhood, particularly single-family homes along Xerxes Avenue and the Richfield residential area. A clerestory popup is set back an additional 25 feet at the center of the facade to create the appearance of a smaller-scale structure. The Art Center will occupy the upper level and include a clay wheel room, handbuilding space, glaze room, electric indoor and gas outdoor kilns, maker space, large art creation studio, gallery, and gift shop. The project represents a significant transformation from the current parking lot and elevated building design to a more integrated, restorative landscape with native plantings. The project is expected to take approximately 3 years to complete.
National Registry Listing of Oscam House
The Mari and Hendrick Oscam house, located in the Indian Hills neighborhood of Edina, was approved for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in January. The house was built in 1963 and designed by architect Elizabeth Close, one of the first female architects in Minnesota. The home is recognized as one of the best examples of international style architecture in the Twin Cities. The design reflects European modernism principles, incorporating brick materials and flooring that connected to the owners' Dutch heritage, and emphasizing function over style with practical, low-maintenance exterior materials. The non-traditional floor plan demonstrates Close's innovative approach. The house previously received a heritage landmark designation in 2015. This is the first house designed by Elizabeth Close to be elevated to the National Register.
Historic Preservation and Heritage Landmarks
The Heritage Preservation Commission emphasized its role in ensuring that community architectural assets are preserved, celebrated, and recognized for their historical contributions. May was designated as Historic Preservation Month, with resources available on the city of Edina's website including a map showing locations of historic sites throughout the city. The commission's mission includes protecting unique examples of architecture in Edina and raising community awareness of heritage landmarks.
Notable Quotes (7)
To reduce costs and lighten the municipal property tax load, the Dina City Council has directed staff to prepare an agreement to possibly transition assessing services to Henipin County.
The biggest kind of wow factor will be the complete transformation of this site. Uh going from a majority parking lot paved um a high building that's on essentially stilts. uh so having a a kind of different feel than it has uh currently into the restorative aspect. So a very much uh native um process for the landscape and the overall uh moments that are created on the site will be really key to how a user will be uh experiencing the site.
Building the art center along colllocating it with the Henipin County Library really gives us the opportunity to build on the already vibrant arts community in Edina. It's something that residents are really going to benefit from having both library and art center in the same location. We'll also have a really amazing opportunity to work on different kinds of programs that will be a huge benefit to the community.
In the Netherlands, brick is a very prevalent building material, and so she incorporated the brick floors and also repeated that in the fireplace.
Function over style. This was an aspect of European modernism in architecture and close enjoyed a design challenge. She used practical materials on the exterior, another hallmark of her work, easy maintenance for the owner.
We would hope that Mari's interest in listing her home in the National Register could possibly inspire other homeowners in that same direction because these homes are clearly threatened.
Our role is to just make sure that these um community assets are um not only preserved but also celebrated and that people are aware of them and how they've contributed to the history of the community.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Approved permit for the new 43,000 sq ft building combining library and art center at York Avenue and 70th Street
Approved site plan for the new library and art center project
Approved height variance for the new 43,000 sq ft building
Designation granted to the Mari and Hendrick Oscam house in 2015
Federal listing approved in January for the Mari and Hendrick Oscam house, designed by architect Elizabeth Close
Agreement under preparation by City Manager Scott Neil and Hennepin County for potential transition of Edina's assessing division; scheduled for City Council review and possible approval at June 2nd meeting