3400 Edinborough Way, Site Plan with Parking Variance

Please support this opportunity to create affordable housing without the need for tif . I’ve been a resident since 1986 and am still waiting for actual affordable housing !
Andy Otness

As an Edina resident and member of Edina Neighbors for Affordable Housing I strongly support this development. Edina needs more affordable housing and this NOAH (naturally occurring affordable housing) meets this need for residents who make between 50% and 80% of the Area Median Income. I would hope the units could be permanently affordable. The project meets all the Comprehensive Plan requirements for location and design. Surface parking is fine and encourages residents to use accessible public transit thus reducing car traffic and carbon emissions. Bravo for the developer! It's a win-win for residents and the City of Edina.

Hi, this is Mary Milberg. I live at 7614 York Ave. S., unit 3118. I'm calling about the Residence Inn at 3400 Edinborough Way that is going to have 136 apartment units. It says that the parking lot has 136 parking spots. What I want to know is what about guests that are coming to see these people? Where are they going to park? The other thing I want I'm curious about is that the Marriott had access to indoor park. Is that going to still be available because it's going to be a different environment. These people are going to be residents in our area and not guests staying at a nice hotel. They can pay for Edinborough Park, just like we do. Anyhow, those are just my thoughts. Thank you. Bye. Bye. (Voicemail transcribed by City Staff. Received 11/5/24 at 2:48pm)

My name is Jack Dean and I live at 7614 York Avenue, Unit 3213. I am not in favor of turning the Marriott into an apartment building. I think there are more than enough apartments in Edina and I would much rather see that building demolished and turned into a green space. Thank you for your consideration. (Voicemail transcribed by City Staff. Received 11/7/24 at 11:47am)

I live in Parkwood Knolls and strongly support this project. Affordable housing is a dire need in Edina and across the state and country. This seems to be a great opportunity to make progress on Edina moving toward its goal. I do not live in that neighborhood but have supported initiatives - which failed - in my neighborhood. We need to do better together to continue to have Edina be a strong, welcoming and wonderful commmunity. I urge your support of this project.

I support this project. It checks all the important boxes: provides affordable housing, which is sorely needed in Edina; the units can be available very quickly and with little additional expense; and parking is available. We know that thousands of Minnesotans have no covered parking, so that issue should definitely not deter the decision on this project. I strongly urge support.

My name is Kelly Streit, I live in Minnehaha Woods Neighborhood. In 2018, , the City approved the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and committed a goal of adding 1804 new affordable housing units by 2030, roughly 180 units per year. Edina is well short of this goal. I think that this proposal would help the city meet this goal. This project needs no subsidy and would quickly add to the much needed housing stock in Edina.

I strongly support this project. It will provide a large number of much-needed affordable housing units quickly, with no public subsidy, and with minimal environmental impact. I think the uncovered parking is fine. We get less snow these days, and as long as there is a plan for how the parking lot will get plowed it will work for residents. Thank you for supporting this project!

A "yes" vote on a parking variance will open the door -- or more accurately 136 doors of new affordable of Naturally Occuring Affordable Housing (NOAH). This site would be a desirable home for people currently working close by as well as for retirees of Edina.

Whether working or retired, all residents will need to document their income just as prospective tenants are required to do in any other market rate complex.

Given the pace with which the destruction of Naturally Occuring Affordable Housing has been lost in Edina, the focus of the city related to NOAH property has wisely been on protecting and preserving existing affordable homes. Unique to this proposal is the opportunity to welcome the CREATION of NOAH property. It is also notable that in this instance no federal, state or municipal funding is being sought by the developer. Absent the need to pursue multiple and complex funding, these residences can be ready for occupancy within a relatively short timeframe.

The smaller square footage of these new apartments has been noted by the developer. While some perceive smaller living space as a negative, less square footage is not seen by everyone as a hinderance to a satisfying lifestyle. There are retirees who no longer want to spend their time and money on upkeep of a larger space. Some are tired of keeping and curating stuff they have accumulated for decades. Closets the size of small bedrooms is not what they are looking for. There is also an increasing number of young adults who are conscientiously pursuing a lifestyle that places a smaller environmental "footprint" on the planet. I believe some future tenants will enthusiastically make 3400 Edinborough Way their home not soley for financial reasons but as a broader lifestyle choice.

I hope the Edina City Council will approve the parking variance to advance affordability in Edina as well as offer residents -- current and future, a new suitable place for them to call home.

Eliot Howard West 62nd St. Edina

Michelle Silva, Village Homes of Edinborough.

I did not appreciate the developer's flippant attitude toward this project. This proposed plan has people packed like sardines in these apartments. Also, the variance for no enclosed parking is a blatant excuse to have one less thing to take care of. He himself said he would still go through with the development if enclosed parking was enforced. Edinborough park and offices have a parking ramp that is suitable for the area and should be suitable for this proposal to 'maintain the aesthetic,' as was the reasoning for no enclosed parking. Enclosed parking protects vehicles from the elements of the weather, especially somewhere with harsh weather like Minnesota. If it's possible to implement, why not add it. I believe market costs will continue to rise regardless of the additional costs of a parking ramp, so ignoring the code is just a disservice to residents.

It is unrealistic to think there should be no assigned parking either. To paraphrase what was said at the public hearing from the developer, "It will make my job a lot easier if there was no assigned parking. It would be first come, first served." So there is no excuse to give the tenants the added stress of having to look for parking spots, just to make an investor's life easier in that regard. No assigned parking can create an excess of vehicles. If assigned parking is not enforced, this excess will only trail into the surrounding parking areas, such as the senior homes next door and Edinborough Condominiums, which are private. To add on, Edinborough park has multiple entrances, one being at the hotel itself. This will become disorderly since guests also park at the hotel in order to use said entrance.

If this is the behavior displayed about a proposal, I can only imagine how the management/maintaining of the building and its tenants will be. I want to be hopeful of this, but so far it feels like we're being presented with something half-hearted. I only want something that is properly managed and will not be a hassle to deal with, or not dealt with, in the long run. The people always most impacted by these things are the residents and people pertaining to the area. I am not concerned with issues regarding theft or crime because it already feels so safe, but if management or the people in charge are not on top of it, time will only tell.

Barry Rosenthal, 6205 Scotia Drive. I don't know all the specifics of this proposed development, but I assume that the developer wants to convert the hotel to apartments because the hotel is not economically viable. So unless someone wants to take over the hotel operation, we don't want the property to sit vacant, and this is a great location for housing (especially housing for seniors or people with special needs who can make use of the indoor park.) Apartments are not going to generate any more traffic than a hotel and there is already parking there, so I don't see how apartments are going to cause any more density issues than a hotel. I think people just don't like the idea of affordable housing because they associate it, very unfairly, with criminals. With the way rents are now, middle class workers like teachers and health care workers qualify for what is considered "affordable housing." This development is needed for so many reasons, including the fact that unless suburbs do increase density we will run into a debt trap because maintaining suburban infrastructure is far more expensive over time than the initial infrastructure installation. Having this new development will help keep our taxes down.

Removed by moderator.

Kathleen of the Concord Neighborhood. I saw this proposal at planning and think some serious consideration should be given to the developer and their track record. My trust level there is not high. Also take a look at other similar "affordable" buildings in Edina and their track record. This will be most impactful to the building of senior housing immediately connected to this building and they share many facilities. The facilities are fee based and already crowded. Not having secured parking is another big problem in Minnesota and this area in general with theft issues. If the Marriott wants to get out of this property maybe another hotel chain would like to pick it up...occupancy rates seem good. I guess council member Agnew may have to recuse herself on this vote?

Hello, my name is Jack. Dean and I live at 7614 York Avenue, Edina, MN #3213 and I am not in favor of turning in the Marriott building into an apartment building. I think there is more than enough apartments in Edina and I would much rather see that building demolished and turned into a green space. Thank you for your consideration. Transcribed by Planning Staff November 7, 2024 12:30

Removed by moderator.

Hello, my name is Karen Dumas and I own the property at 7615 Edinborough Way in Edina, MN, unit number 4206. I am against the conversion of the Marriott resident hotel into a 136-unit apartment building. We're getting to the city of Edina getting to densely populated and it's just a traffic nightmare. Thank you.

Transcribed by Edina Planning Staff
November 5, 2024 1:00 PM

Hello, my name is Karen Dumas and I own the property at 7615 Edinborough Way in Edina, MN, unit number 4206. I am against the conversion of the Marriott resident hotel into a 136-unit apartment building. We're getting to the city of Edina getting to densely populated and it's just a traffic nightmare. Thank you.

Transcribed by Edina Planning Staff
November 5, 2024 1:00 PM

Hello, my name is Karen Dumas and I own the property at 7615 Edinborough Way in Edina, MN, unit number 4206. I am against the conversion of the Marriott resident hotel into a 136-unit apartment building. We're getting to the city of Edina getting to densely populated and it's just a traffic nightmare. Thank you.

Transcribed by Edina Planning Staff
November 5, 2024 1:00 PM

Hello, my name is Karen Dumas and I own the property at 7615 Edinborough Way in Edina, MN, unit number 4206. I am against the conversion of the Marriott resident hotel into a 136-unit apartment building. We're getting to the city of Edina getting to densely populated and it's just a traffic nightmare. Thank you.

Transcribed by Edina Planning Staff
November 5, 2024 1:00 PM

Hello, my name is Karen Dumas and I own the property at 7615 Edinborough Way in Edina, MN, unit number 4206. I am against the conversion of the Marriott resident hotel into a 136-unit apartment building. We're getting to the city of Edina getting to densely populated and it's just a traffic nightmare. Thank you.

Transcribed by Edina Planning Staff
November 5, 2024 1:00 PM