Morningside C Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction

The City Council approved the design and bidding phase for the 2023 Morningside C Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction project on December 20, 2022, including an estimated $13,800 per residential equivalent unit (REU) assessment. The City Council asked Engineering to clarify the estimated assessment amount, why it’s higher than the 2022 Morningside D/E project and explain the next steps in the Assessment process. A very detailed memo can be found here if interested.

The three primary reasons for the higher assessment amount for Morningside C are the size of lots that receive zero REUs, the lot density, and rising construction costs due to inflation.

1. The lots receiving 0 REU’s are significant in size in 2023 compared to 2022. This creates less REU’s to spread the cost of the project.
2. The lots in 2023 are larger creating less REU’s compared to 2022.
3. The estimated costs between 2022 and 2023 include a larger than usual inflation amount.

Morningside C Schedule and Assessment Next Steps

1. December 2022 – February 2023 – Prepare final plans, specifications and estimate.
2. March / April 2023 – Contractor bidding and City Council considers awarding a construction contract.
   1. Historically the estimated costs generally decrease during the bidding phase. Occasionally costs increase.
   2. The City Council could choose to not award a construction contract if uncomfortable with the estimated costs.
3. April / May 2023 – Construction begins.
4. Fall 2023 – Construction concludes.
   1. Historically the estimated costs generally decrease if changes or unforeseen conditions are not encountered.
5. October 2024 – Final assessment hearing.
   1. Final assessment amount mailed to property owners.
   2. Payment options:
      1. Pay the entire amount within 30 days of the assessment hearing to avoid future interest charges.
      2. Pay a minimum 25% of the amount within 30 days of the assessment hearing and the balance rolls over to property taxes spread out over 15 years, with interest.
      3. Roll the entire amount over to property taxes spread out over 15 years, with interest.
      4. Payments may be deferred if you are 65 years of age or older and meet specific income requirements.

The Engineering Study can be viewed here. To complete the public hearing comment form please click here.

The Edina City Council will meet at Edina City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., to consider the public hearing on roadway improvements for Morningside C Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction. This hearing is being conducted under the authority granted by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429.

This hearing has been called as a recommendation from staff. The proposed project would be constructed in the summer of 2023 with the assessment hearing occurring in the fall of 2024. The estimated cost is $1,843,818.00 and is funded by special assessment. The estimated cost per assessable lot is $13,800.00 per residential equivalent unit. The assessment can be divided over a fifteen-year period with interest accumulating on the unpaid balance.

The area proposed to be assessed the cost of the proposed improvement includes the following:

4200, 4224, 4308, 4324, 4408 and 4500 West 42^nd Street, 4000 to 4124 Grimes Avenue, 4000 to 4020 Inglewood Avenue, 4000 to 4125 Kipling Avenue, 4000 to 4120 Lynn Avenue, 4000 to 4166 Monterey Avenue, 4001 Natchez Avenue.

Please watch the informational videos about how projects are funded (special assessment and utility funds), a typical project timeline, how you will be impacted, how you can prepare, and more.

You are also invited to ask City staff questions on Monday October 17 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM (no presentation) at the Weber Park Shelter Building, 4115 Grimes Ave.

We hope you find these videos informative, and we anticipate they will generate questions. Your questions can be submitted on this web page, or you can reach out to us by email or phone.

Hello and welcome to Better Together Edina. This web page will be the hub for sharing information related to roadway reconstruction scheduled for 2023 in the Morningside C neighborhood. Important updates will be posted on this web page at various points during the Engineering Study phase. Anticipate weekly updates during construction in 2023. Key project milestones include:

• June 2022 – Begin Engineering Study preparation
• Late summer 2022 – Informational video
• Nov. 2022 – Engineering Study complete
• Dec. 2022 – City Council / Public Hearing meeting to consider authorizing project design
• Mar. 2023 – City Council meeting to consider authorizing construction
• Apr. 2023 – Construction begins
• Oct. 2023 – Construction substantial completion

A series of short videos on the City's street reconstruction program can be found here.

More information regarding flood risk reduction in the Morningside neighborhood can be found here.

Feel free to call or email me with your project questions, or you can post questions on this website.

We look forward to assisting and keeping you informed with this project.

Aaron Ditzler