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.