City Tour Handout 2018
City of New Hope
Commissioner Bus Tour
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
1
Pool & Civic Center Park | 4401 Xylon Avenue North
Planning for a new
outdoor aquatic
facility and
improvements to
Civic Center Park are
underway. In June of
2017, the City Council
voted on a preferred
pool concept and
entered into an
agreement with
Stantec Engineering
to provide the final
planning and design. The preferred pool concept includes a current channel, two body
slides, a shallow water area, and a 50-meter, eight-lane pool with diving boards. The
original concept had a 25-yard pool; however, during the 2018 legislative session the
city received $2 million to expand the 25-yard pool concept to 50-meters.
City staff and
Stantec Engineering
are finalizing the
concepts and will
begin the design
process shortly
thereafter. It is
estimated that the
project will be bid
after January 1, 2019,
with an estimated
August 2019
groundbreaking. It is
anticipated that the
pool would open in
June of 2020. The
construction of a new pool will displace some of the amenities within Civic Center Park.
Planning for a new outdoor theater and skate park and the relocation of some park
trails is underway. A picnic pavilion, additional trails, and trail lighting may be
included as part of the plans. The estimated cost of the combined projects is $13 million.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
2
Police Department & City Hall | 4401 Xylon Avenue North
The City Council approved a bid from Terra General Contractors for $14.78 million in
December of 2017 for construction of a new police department and city hall.
Groundbreaking took place on January 5, 2018, and it anticipated that the building will
be completed in July of 2019. The new 66,000-square foot building will provide much
needed space for the police department and will address many deficiencies of the
current city hall. It will have more than twice the square footage of the current building,
most of which will be in the police station/garage and public areas in city hall. It will
also resolve deficiencies of the current building, such as a leaky roof, an HVAC system
in poor condition, an inadequate electrical system, and exterior maintenance issues.
The new police station will include a larger lobby with adequate seating and two
adjacent interview rooms to provide privacy for victims, as well as a secure location to
talk with suspects. It will include improved facilities for officers such as a larger roll call
room equipped with technology, individual workstations, and ample locker room
facilities. There will be larger, more secure areas for the storage of evidence and records,
and a 31-stall underground heated garage large enough to store all police squads. The
new city hall will provide additional public space, including two large meeting rooms
equipped with technology and designed to adapt to a variety of uses, and two small
conference rooms between three staff counters. The council chambers has been
specifically designed to televise meetings and accommodate overflow crowds.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
3
West Metro Fire-Rescue Roof | 4251 Xylon Avenue North
The metal roof at West Metro Fire’s Station #3 was replaced in the spring of 2018. The
old roof panels were deteriorating, began separating from the edging, and needed to be
replaced. The city owns the building and is responsible for exterior maintenance and
improvements. The previous roof was blue colored to match the color of the buildings
located near the swimming pool and city hall campus, all of which have been or will be
demolished within the year. West Metro Fire requested that the new red roof color
match the recently installed overhead doors. The project was included in the 2018
general fund budget and was completed for $59,890.
Before
After
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
4
McDonald’s | 4201 Winnetka Avenue North
McDonald’s is renovating its building/façade and adding a second drive-through lane
as part of a site plan review that was approved in March of 2018. Improvements include
the replacement building’s exterior façade, ADA accessibility updates, parking lot
improvements, new signage, and the installation of a second drive-through lane and
ordering board. The $450,000 project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2018.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
5
Street Reconstruction | Northwood North
The 2017 Northwood North infrastructure project included an aggressive pavement
management program and utility improvements in the area. The contractor completed
all major work prior to September 29, 2017, and received an incentive payment for
meeting all project milestones. The 1.4 miles of streets pictured in yellow on the map
above were fully reconstructed with new roadways and utilities. This includes Cavell,
Decatur, Ensign (between 40 ½ and 42nd), Flag, 40th, and 41st avenues and Hopewood
Lane. The one mile of streets pictured in red or turquoise on the map above received a
mill and overlay or full reclaim, depending on the condition of the pavement. This
includes the Jordan and 41st avenue loop, Jordan Circle, and 40th and Ensign avenues,
south of 40 1/2 Avenue North.
The contractor returned to the area in the summer of 2018 to complete wear course
paving on the fully reconstructed streets and to complete a final round of restoration
touch-ups. All work is now completed and staff will be requesting that the City Council
close out the project in the fall of 2018.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
6
Inflow & Infiltration Grant | Northwood North
In the spring of 2018, the city received a $50,000 Green Infrastructure Grant from the
Metropolitan Council to study the sanitary sewer system in the Northwood North
neighborhood. The city is also contributing an additional $50,000 in Cured-In-Place Pipe
(CIPP) lining and flow monitoring to complete the Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) study.
The study will provide sanitary sewer flow monitoring results, which will show the
relationship between storm water and sanitary sewer I/I, as well as corresponding
results on the amount of I/I from public and private infrastructure. The primary goals
and objectives of the study include providing the City Council and staff a real snapshot
of where to focus I/I efforts, and understanding and quantifying the relationship
between public and private infrastructure I/I improvements and storm water and
sanitary sewer. Flow meters were installed in May of 2018 to begin monitoring the
amount of sewer flowing through the sewer lines on Ensign and Jordan avenues.
Ensign Avenue was completely reconstructed while Jordan Avenue received a mill and
overlay improvement in 2017. Originally, the study was to be completed in three parts
over two years. Part I of this study involves monitoring the base sewer flows for I/I. As
this has been somewhat of a dry season with only a few large rain events, no I/I was
observed in either flow monitoring areas thus far. The study has since been revised to
continue the initial flow monitoring through the end of September. Part s II and III of the
study (CIPP lining and post flow monitoring) will not occur until the initial flow
monitoring has been completed, and only if I/I has been observed.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
7
Northwood Dock | Northwood Lake
For the last several years, members of the Northwood Lake Association have expressed
interest in working with the city to purchase and install a section of dock on the north
side of Northwood Lake, near the playground. Staff members from Public Works and
Parks and Recreation, the city manager, and a councilmember met with representatives
of the Northwood Lake Association in 2017 to discuss logistics of the installation. The
group decided that a four-foot by 10-foot section of aluminum floating dock with
treated decking would be appropriate for the area. This dock is large enough to allow
residents to launch or dock a canoe or kayak onto the lake.
The cost to install the dock was approximately $1,000. The Northwood Lake Association
split the cost of the dock with the city and staff from the Public Works department
installed the dock in the spring of 2018. The dock will be removed in the fall of 2018. It
will be stored in the park shelter adjacent to Northwood Park. The project is a great
example of collaboration and cooperation between the city and a neighborhood group.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
8
Scattered Site Housing | 3984 Zealand Avenue North
The city of New Hope Economic Development Authority (EDA) purchased the
distressed and foreclosed property located at 3984 Zealand Avenue in the spring of 2017
for $165,000. The home was completely rehabilitated and remodeled by the EDA, and
then re-sold to a family in the spring of 2018. Over $125,000 was invested into the home
to modernize the floor plan and complete the transformation. The EDA funded all costs
associated with the $295,000 project.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
After
Before
9
Street Reconstruction & Bump-outs | Boone Avenue North
Improvements on Boone Avenue North between 27th and 42nd avenues included the
milling and overlay of 1.8 miles of street. The process involves removing the top two-
inches of pavement, patching and repairing the road and curbing, and paving a new
two-inch layer of asphalt onto the roadway. The contractor also installed three
pedestrian bump-outs at Northwood Park, Sonnesyn Elementary School and
Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion as part of the project. The bump-outs are intended to
improve safety for pedestrians crossing the street. The majority o f the project has been
completed and will be finalized in the fall of 2018. The cost of the project was primarily
funded through the Minnesota State Aid program. The $1,014,210 contract also included
mill and overlay work on 36th Avenue North. The city received $16,052 from Hennepin
County to fund a feasibility study on bike lanes along the corridor as well as $55,275 for
the installation of the bike lanes.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
7
10
Good Samaritan | 2765 Virginia Avenue North
Good Samaritan is expanding its
campus with the construction of a
three-story, 32-unit assisted living
facility. Residents of the new facility
will live on-site full time; however,
the individual units will not include
full kitchen facilities. There will be
separate areas in the building for
dining, bathing, exercise, nursing
care, activities, and administrative
services.
Operations are currently conducted in a facility that has 77 beds and includes skilled
care and rehabilitation services. The new assisted living facility will provide housing
and service options that are not currently offered in New Hope. The new facility will be
connected to the main campus by an enclosed walkway.
Good Samaritan acquired two parcels north of their property in 2012 to construct the
new facility. The building connection and site layout created the need for special zoning
considerations and the property was rezoned to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to
allow for the flexibility necessary to accommodate the proposal. The project is most
closely aligned with the zoning standards found in the R-5 Senior/Disabled Residential
District, therefore its standards served as the base zoning guidelines in creating the
PUD standards for this project. A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district was created to
provide approximately $500,000 in assistance for the project.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
11
Winnetka Storage | 3216 Winnetka Avenue North
The previously vacant industrial building at 3216 Winnetka Avenue North is currently
being converted into a self-storage facility. The $3.8 million project includes a 23,000-
square foot addition to the second floor at the southwest corner of the building.
Building improvements include several exterior modifications and improvements,
including the second floor addition, fresh paint on the existing building, new roofing,
additional windows, parking area improvements, and the construction of an outdoor
storage area.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
Approved
Before
12
Street Reconstruction | 36th Avenue North
Improvements on 36th Avenue North included milling and overlay to the roadway
between Winnetka and Louisiana avenues. A section of 36th Avenue North near
Winnetka Avenue North that was in exceedingly poor condition was fully reclaimed.
Following the reclaim, the road base was re-graded, the remainder of 36th Avenue
North was milled, and the roadway was repaved. The project was completed in the
summer of 2018.
Because 36th Avenue North is a roadway that is shared between New Hope and
Crystal, costs associated with improvements to the shared portion of the roadway were
split 50-50 between the two cities. The city of New Hope maintains ownership on the
south side of the road, while Crystal maintains ownership on the north side of the road.
The city of Crystal also paid for the continued striping of 36th Avenue North from
Louisiana Avenue North to Douglas Drive.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
13
Scattered Site Housing | 3751 Louisiana Avenue North
The city of New Hope Economic Development Authority (EDA) acquired the vacant,
abandoned, and severely distressed property located at 3751 Louisiana Avenue in the
spring of 2017. Following acquisition, the EDA cleared the site to facilitate a complete
redevelopment of the property. Regal Homes purchased the newly vacant lot, and
finished construction of a new home in the summer of 2018. The new home pictured
above sold for $380,000.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
After
Before
14
Scattered Site Housing | 3856 Maryland Avenue North
The city of Crystal
has owned the
single-family lot
located at 3856
Maryland Avenue
North for several
years. The lot has
been used as a
connector that joins
Lions Park in New
Hope to Kentucky
Park in Crystal. The
city of New Hope
Economic
Development
Authority (EDA) is in the process of purchasing the vacant lot from the city of Crystal.
Once the purchase is complete, the EDA will sell the lot to a scattered site builder
through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. As part of the project, the
park connection will be maintained by constructing a trail along the northern edge of
the site (shown on the site plan above in yellow). The city of Crystal has agreed to pay
for and install the trail, and the city of New Hope will maintain it upon completion.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
15
Sunnyside Park | 4751 Quebec Avenue North
Planning for the improvement project at Sunnyside Park began with neighborhood
meetings in the winter of 2017/2018, with equipment installation taking place in the
spring of 2018. The playground equipment had not been replaced since 1993 and was
the oldest in the city’s park system. Improvements include a new playground container,
equipment, wood fiber surfacing, an access trail, signage, benches, and two picnic tables
with sun shades. In addition to the playground project, the basketball court was rebuilt
and new hoops were installed. A $25,000 Hennepin County youth sports program
playground grant helped pay for the playground and a $10,000 equipment grant helped
pay for the basketball hoops. The remainder of the project was funded through the Park
Infrastructure Fund. The estimated cost of these improvements, including the basketball
court at Begin Park, was $320,000, including indirect costs.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
16
Railroad Site | 52nd and Pennsylvania Avenues
The city is seeking high quality single-family housing development proposals for an
8.7-acre undeveloped site that has been owned by the city for many years. The site is
located just north of the New Hope Ice Arena, directly west of Iron Horse Park on the
north side of Soo Line Railroad. The city’s Comprehensive Plan identifies the property
as a future residential land use and states the intent to develop a single-family
neighborhood on the site. The property is considered an important development
opportunity and the city would like to see a high-value project placed on the site. The
city took ownership of the land in 1979, and review of historical photos dating back to
1940 indicates that no previous structures occupied the site. The property is largely
wooded, with low-value vegetation.
In advance of sending out a Request for Proposals (RFP), the city had a soil boring
analysis completed for the site. The results were favorable and the information was
included in the RFP. The RFP was sent to several developers on July 11, 2018, with an
August 31, 2018, deadline for submission. Proposals for the site will be reviewed by the
City Council at the September 17, 2018, work session.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
17
Golf Course Pond | 8130 Bass Lake Road
In conjunction with the IronWood apartment
project, improvements were made to the 9th
hole pond at the New Hope Village Golf
Course. This included the installation of rip-
rap around the north and east sides of the
pond. The rip-rap utilizes rock to protect the
shoreline again erosion. Alatus, the developer
for the IronWood project, will be installing
additional rip-rap along the remaining areas
of the pond later this fall. The project will help
improve water quality and will reduce the
amount of sediment that runs into the pond
each year. Due to the poor soil conditions in
the area, some of the rip-rap that was installed
in the spring of 2018 has settled. The
contractor will be returning in the fall of 2018
to install additional rocks in the areas that
were affected.
After
Before
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
18
IronWood Luxury Apartments | 8400 Bass Lake Road
Alatus, LLC is constructing a four-story, 182-unit luxury apartment building on the city-
owned site adjacent to the New Hope Village Golf Course. The city completed a market
feasibility study in 2015 to determine what type of redevelopment was best suited for
the site and concluded that luxury apartments were the most viable option.
The final plat and vacation of easements for the project were approved in February 2017
and construction of the $43 million building began in the summer of 2017 and will be
completed in late 2018. Building amenities include a pool deck with lounge chaises and
grilling stations, an indoor/outdoor entertainment suite with rooftop grill, work -from-
home spaces, create space/do-it-yourself workshops, panoramic views of the New Hope
Village Golf Course, a 24/7 fitness center, studio, and indoor sauna, a resident coffee
bar, and a pet spa. The city and developer negotiated a city-provided loan that will
assist in adding a high-efficiency HVAC system, which will help the building achieve
LEED Certification and result in no carbon footprint for the entire building.
The city created a redevelopment Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District in conjunction
with the project that authorized the expenditures for land/building acquisition, site
improvements and preparation, utilities, administrative costs, and other qualifying
improvements. In 2007, the city purchased five, 12-unit buildings. With land
acquisition, relocation costs, and demolition, the city invested nearly $2.2 million into
the project. In 2017, the city sold the property to Alatus, LLC to facilitate the
construction of the 182-unit apartment building for $1.443 million. The TIF District
allows the city to recoup the land write-down costs and administrative fees.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
19
Water Main | Meadow Lake Road & Yukon Avenue North
While reviewing plans for
the IronWood apartment
complex, the city noted
that the aging and
deteriorating water main
on Yukon Avenue North
adjacent to the site might
need to be replaced.
Developers for IronWood
planned to replace the
water line from Bass Lake
Road to the new building
in order to increase the its
size from six-inches to
eight-inches, to provide
for adequate fire protection
of the building. After
evaluating the system, the
city determined the entire
line from Bass Lake Road
to 58th Avenue North
would need to be replaced.
The water main and three
residential services were
replaced in April of 2018.
The project was bid with
the Golf Course pond improvement project to receive competitive pricing on both
relatively small projects. This water main portion of the project was awarded for
$106,525.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
20
Scattered Site Housing | 7303, 7311 & 7515 62nd Avenue North
As part of the city’s Scattered Site Housing
Program, the city of New Hope Economic
Development Authority (EDA) recently
acquired three single-family homes in
close proximity along 62nd Avenue North.
All three homes represent some of the
oldest in the city, as they were constructed
in 1952. The EDA has cleared all site
improvements on the property located at
7303 62nd Avenue North and the newly vacant lot sold to Tollberg Homes in the spring
of 2018. Construction on the new home (pictured below) is nearly complete and it is
under contract to be sold for $310,000. Following demolition of the other two homes, the
lots will be sold to scattered site housing builders through a competitive Request For
Proposals (RFP) process.
Progress
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
21
Scattered Site Housing | 6065 & 6067 Louisiana Avenue North
The city of New Hope Economic Development Authority (EDA) acquired the foreclosed
property located at 6065 Louisiana Avenue North in late 2015. The distressed single-family
home and other outbuildings were razed to prepare the property for redevelopment. The
base parcel was large enough to subdivide and create two buildable lots. The newly vacant
lots were offered for sale to scattered site builders through a competitive sales process, and
Great Buy Homes was selected as the preferred builder for the project. The first home
pictured above has been completed, and sold for $324,000. The second home is under
construction on the lot next door, with an expected sale price of $325,000.
Before
After
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
22
VIP Auto | 7201 Bass Lake Road
A 5,060-square foot gas station and 3,780-square foot car wash has been approved for
construction at 7201 Bass Lake Road, the site of a previously underutilized retail
building. The $8.1 million development will include several environmentally conscious
improvements, including a storm water collection system that retains all rainwater
onsite and is re-used by the car wash. A filtration system will recycle and reuse water
that is used by the car wash. The gas station canopy will feature an integrated solar
panel roof system that will supply approximately 50% of the electricity required to
operate the convenience store.
Before
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
23
Parkview | 55th & Winnetka Avenues North
Parkview is a 60-unit housing development at 55th and Winnetka avenues completed by
Centra Homes in 2017. The city purchased the 17-acre site in 2013 with a goal of
diversifying available housing stock in the city. The residential subdivision consists of 29
single-family homes and 31 detached townhomes. The homes sold-out faster than expected
for higher than anticipated prices.
The two-story, single-family homes sold for an average price of $378,934, ranging between
$314,178 and $438,676. The single-family homes range from 2,585 to 3,990-square feet, and
include a variety of models and floor plans. Each model includes a two-car garage, with
several models offering an option for a three-car garage.
The detached townhomes sold for an average price of $309,706, ranging between $273,995
and $334,777. The detached townhomes range from 1,974 to 2,128-square feet and are
association-maintained. There are four standard models, all of which include a full
basement and space for a 12-foot deep deck or patio.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
24
Begin Park | 5407 Wisconsin Avenue North
In addition to the park improvements completed at Sunnyside Park in 2018, the
basketball court at Begin Park was also rebuilt and new hoops were installed. A portable
enclosure was also installed at the park. The playground equipment at Begin Park is
scheduled to be replaced in 2020.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
25
Scattered Site Housing | 5400 Yukon Avenue North
In the summer of 2016, the city’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) acquired the
vacant and distressed single-family home located at 5400 Yukon Avenue North. Following
acquisition, the EDA cleared the site to facilitate a complete redevelopment of the property.
Great Buy Homes purchased the newly vacant lot, and finished construction of the new
home in the spring of 2017. The new home pictured above sold for $297,000.
Before
After
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
26
Northwest Church of Christ | 8624 50th Avenue North
A 5,400-square foot expansion is underway at the Northwest Church of Christ, located
at 8624 50th Avenue North. The $1.495 million addition includes a new assembly hall
that will help accommodate the need for additional space for a growing congregation.
The church purchased the adjacent parcel to the north of the property that contained a
single-family home, which was demolished in preparation for the expansion.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
27
North Water Tower | 4648 Aquila Avenue North
The city planned two projects at the
North Water Tower this year with the
assistance of the Joint Water
Commission. In the spring, a
contractor installed a bypass line that
connects the existing emergency well
to the city’s water system. Previously,
the emergency well could only
provide water directly to the North
Water Tower. The new bypass line
will allow the emergency well to be
used if the water tower is down for
maintenance or in the case of an
emergency. Major work on this project
has been completed and the contractor
will return to finish the restoration in
October.
After a routine inspection of the North
Water Tower, it was determined that
both the inside and outside of the
structure needed to be re-painted. A contractor began work on the tower in August and
plans to complete the project in mid-October. The water tower will be painted a beige
color, similar to what is shown above.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
28
Crack Fill, Seal Coat & Fog Seal | Boone Avenue North
To maximize the life of the pavement on city streets, the city schedules annual crack
repair, seal coating, and fog sealing of selected streets. This activity is a critical part of
the city’s current pavement management strategy. A contractor routed and filled cracks
on 18.3 miles of streets this summer. Following the crack repairs, 5.9 miles of street were
seal coated and fog sealed. The parking lots at Victory Park and Public Works were
crack filled, seal coated, and fog sealed this year in addition to the road work.
The intent of this process is to seal the road so that no moisture is absorbed into the
roadway and roadbed, which is the leading cause of asphalt failure. After the road
cracks are filled, the contractor applies an asphaltic emulsion and trap rock aggregate.
Excess rock is swept off the roadway prior to the fog sealing. The fog sealing further
seals the road surface and eliminates any excess rock release. It also provides the
appearance and feel of a jet black, brand new road surface, while extending the life span
of the roadway.
City of New Hope 2018 Bus Tour
Crack Repair
Fog Seal