Edina Council Scraps Mixed-Use Development Plan for France Avenue
The Edina City Council unanimously approved a request Monday to reverse a 2017 rezoning decision and allow the owner of a France Avenue property to continue operating it as an office building instead of pursuing an ambitious mixed-use development project that proved financially unfeasible.
Southdale Office Partners, which owns the property at 6600-6868 France Avenue, asked the city to undo the 2017 rezoning that had paved the way for "The Avenue on France," a mixed-use development combining offices, retail, and residential space. The company determined those original plans were no longer viable and sought a simpler path forward.
Under the approved changes, the property will be reclassified as a planned commercial district 3, allowing the owner to continue using the building for offices while making interior improvements and adding handicap-accessible entryways. The council approved both the rezoning reversal and the conditional use permit in a single vote with no recorded dissent.
A representative for the property owner praised the decision, saying the council's action "puts a clear set of guidelines in place and allows us to move forward with the confidence." The approval removes regulatory uncertainty that had stalled the property's future.
The decision reflects a practical shift in development strategy for the Southdale area property. Rather than waiting for market conditions to support a larger, more complex project, the owner can now proceed with modest upgrades to the existing office space while maintaining its current use. The council's action clears the way for those improvements to begin.
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Request to Rescind 2017 Rezoning and Approve Conditional Use Permit for 6600-6868 France Avenue
Southdale Office Partners, the property owner, stated that their prior mixed-use development plans for 'The Avenue on France' were not feasible. They requested the City Council to rescind the 2017 rezoning, reclassify the property as 'planned commercial district 3', and grant a conditional use permit to allow for continued office use, interior remodeling, and the addition of handicap accessible entryways.
tonight's resolution really puts a clear set of guidelines in place and allows us to move forward with the confidence.
Source document
[Music] The Avenue on France will not be built. In 2017, 6600 to 6868 France Avenue was reszoned for the mixeduse development. Plans included new six-story office building and medical buildings, an eight-story residential building, four retail or restaurant buildings, and a hotel. The existing six and sevenstory buildings were to remain. The property owner, Southdale office partners, has found that the plans are not feasible and requested the city council to resin the resoning, classifying it once again as planned commercial district 3. The owner also requested a conditional use permit to continue the office use on the site. The city council approved both requests. We just want to thank you for this um the approval of the request here tonight. Um you know, you you've all seen this project as it sits today and you've seen what it could be in various elements, but today is not that um ambitious, but it certainly is important and um tonight's resolution really puts a clear set of guidelines in place and allows us to move forward with the confidence. Southdale Office Partners plans to remodel the interior of the existing middle office building and restaurant and add two small entryways for handicap accessibility in the building.
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