[Music] Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at city hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. The city seeks a new developer to purchase and redevelop a vacant site in the heart of the Grand View District. Since the city's public works facility was relocated in 2010, a variety of concepts have been considered for the 3acre property on Eden Avenue. Most recently, a 2022 proposal to build senior cooperative housing, a sit-down restaurant, and a public green space was unable to secure financing and did not move forward. Earlier this month, the city issued a request for proposals or RFP to find a new developer or team to purchase and redevelop the property. The RFP was intentionally written to allow a wide variety of proposals that achieve the best project at the best land price to the city. Based on discussions by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the RFP prioritizes a mixeduse project with preference for owner occupied housing and missing middle type housing at a variety of price points that is not currently being constructed in Edina. We've looked at a lot of ideas on the site over time. Uh the city council is eager to take a new look this year to work with a new group of developers to see what makes sense in 2025. The city expects to select a developer and consider a binding contract in early summer. It is anticipated that the preferred developer would pursue zoning and preliminary site plan approvals through the city's standard processes later in the year. Construction could begin possibly as early as 2026. Trees in the Grand View District will be removed this month in anticipation of the Highway 100 interchange project. At a glance, the 27 millionoll project includes two new bridges on Vernon Avenue, one over the Canadian Pacific Railroad and the second over Minnesota Highway 100. The project also improves nearby intersections and eliminates redundant Highway 100 access ramps in favor of a standard tight diamond interchange, including the removal of the northbound on and off ramps at Graange Road. Noise walls will also be built. Trees along Minnesota Highway 100 near Edina City Hall, adjacent to the northbound on-ramp around both bridges and near CPKC railroad tracks must be removed for the project. The tree removal must be complete by the end of March before protected species begin nesting. We know residents are concerned about what trees. Uh we were very careful about what trees that were selected to be removed. We're not taking the large oak trees on Graange Road. We know those are very important to the people, residents. They're very important to us. They were protected with our project last year. They'll be protected again with the project this summer. Construction on the interchange project is expected to begin later this spring, possibly in late April. Brayar Arena is home to one of the most successful learn tokate USA programs in Minnesota with over 700 skaters enrolled in the program in 2023 and 2024. This past winter, Dana Swanson was hired as Braar Arena's new skate school director. Edina TV met with Dana recently to find out what attracted her to the position and what her plans are for the future of the program. No matter the season at Brear Arena, every day is an opportunity to lace up and prepare. Hi guys, come on out. To feel the ice glide beneath your feet. Well, that's the goal. All the way down. Keep your eyes up. Out. Our eyes up. Let's go skate. Come on. Every year, hundreds of people aged three and up sign up for Learn to Skate USA programs. So many in fact it ranked as the third largest in the state and 42nd in the nation in 2023 and 2024. We have some of the most experienced coaches out of any learned to skate program in the country and it really contributes to the demand in our program in the region. When an opportunity to lead the various programs became available last year, Diana Swanson knew she would apply. She had skated competitively at Braar Arena as a child, launching a skating career. She ran the skate school in Eden Prairie for a decade. Edina is just such a well-known skating community. So, I know it draws a lot of good skaters and that made me really interested to be a part of it. Together, bend. Swanson was hired as skate school director last December. She has a method for making learning skating fundamentals fun, even when gravity wins. I love seeing them overcome their fears. It kind of clicks where they really aren't scared anymore. Dana brings a lot of excitement to the program. Um, she's extremely passionate about skating. Swanson is working toward offering more open skate opportunities, more events and lessons accessible to everyone. I do I think I want to bring the program to everyone in the community, not just people who maybe their parents skated or they have that history in their family, but to make it accessible to everyone. Just as every stumble can be a learning moment, Swanson sees time with every student as an opportunity to give back. It's having it come full circle. I mean, I started in a learn to skate program just like this. Um, so to be able to come back around and coach, it completes me. 1 2 3. At Braar Arena, I'm Dan Carpenter. Good job everybody. For Adina TV, the next session of learn to skate classes at Braar Arena starts in June. Registration for the summer session opens to Edina residents on April 16th. Visit braarrenena.com for more information. March is Women's History Month. This year's national theme is moving forward together. Women educating and inspiring generations. This month, honor women's contributions to our community and American history. Thanks for watching this episode of Agenda Edina. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. [Music]