Edina City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Macy's Furniture Site Redevelopment Sketch Plan
France Avenue Pedestrian Connectivity
Parking Ratios and Future Conversion
Votes (1)
Macy's Furniture Site Sketch Plan (Work Session)
Dissent: Commissioner Miranda expressed strong opposition to the volume of parking and the potential permanence of France Avenue as a highway-style corridor.
Moved by N/A [Work Session] · Seconded by N/A [Work Session]
The Commission discussed the shift from an east-west axis to a south-side promenade extension to facilitate an underpass. Major concerns were raised regarding the 'car-centric' nature of the parking podiums versus the city's environmental goals. Commissioners suggested increasing building height in exchange for a more porous and activated ground floor.
Notable Quotes (3)
It's really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something big and bold if we choose to do it.
It just feels like an enormous amount of parking and it feels like we're not really making any progress... we're not really reducing car usage here.
If we went back to the investors and Bank appraisal and try to get this project a Finish Line, we didn't meet the metrics that are 'required' by the end users, we'd have a really hard time making the project move forward.
Ordinances & Resolutions (1)
Guides the site for Community Activity Center usage, allowing high-density development.