City Tour Handout 20230
Commissioner Bus Tour
September 19, 2023
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
1
Infrastructure Improvement Project
42nd Avenue North
In partnership with Hennepin County, the city completed various
infrastructure improvements along 42nd Avenue North in 2023. The project
aligned with the MnDOT’s Highway 169/42nd Avenue Bridge and
Interchange Project, which also occurred in 2023, and included:
• Burying Xcel Energy overhead power lines.
• Installing a new traffic signal at Boone and 42nd avenues.
• Installing new decorative lighting.
• Paving a pedestrian trail on the south side of 42nd Avenue North
between Boone and Gettysburg avenues.
• Replacing the existing water main along 42nd Avenue North between
Xylon and Gettysburg avenues.
• Milling and overlaying 42nd Avenue North from Winnetka Avenue
North to Gettysburg Avenue North.
• ADA and signal push button improvements from Winnetka Avenue
North to Gettysburg Avenue North.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
2
Scattered Site Housing Project
4201 & 4205 Boone Avenue North
Construction is underway on one of the two new single-family homes that
will be located at the northwest corner of 42nd and Boone avenues. The site
was previously owned by TreeHouse, a nonprofit organization that serves
teenagers. In 2021, the organization merged its New Hope and Plymouth
locations and closed the New Hope building.
The Economic Development Authority acquired the tax-exempt property,
demolished the existing building, and split the lot into two parcels. Both
parcels were sold to Great Buy Homes for the construction of two single-
family homes.
Both homes are split-level designs and include 2,537-square feet of finished
space, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and three-stall garages.
Construction on the south lot (4201) will be completed this fall and
construction on the north (4205) lot will begin shortly thereafter. The home
under construction is currently listed for $469,000.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
3
Curbside Appeal Program
Single & Two-Family Homes
The city launched the Curbside Appeal Reimbursement Program in June of
2022 to assist single and two-family property owners with making upgrades
to the exterior of their homes and garages in areas that are visible from the
street. The city reimburses a portion of costs for projects meeting eligibility
requirements. Goals of the program include improving the city’s housing
stock, instilling confidence in neighborhoods, and increasing home values.
Projects must be pre-approved by city staff, cost at least $4,000 and be
completed within 180 days. The program reimburses property owners for
25% of eligible project costs with a maximum reimbursement of $5,000.
Funding for the program is dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis. To
date, 18 projects valued at approximately $175,000 have been approved.
Projects include new front porches, additions with roofline alterations, new
front doors and garage doors, new windows, and stone address numbers.
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City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
4
Scattered Site Housing Project
3611 Louisiana Avenue North
The city acquired the distressed property at 3611 Louisiana Avenue North
in December of 2022. The home was demolished in the spring and the lot
has been prepared for the construction of a new single-family home. The lot
was sold to Great Buy Homes for the construction of a 2,537-square foot
split-level home. It will feature five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a
three-stall garage. The front of the home will be reversed (garage left) from
what is depicted. The builder is projecting that the home will sell for
$475,000 to $480,000.
The primary focus of the scattered site housing program is to target
distressed single-family properties throughout the city, with the goal of
improving residential neighborhoods. Objectives include removing
distressed and/or blighted properties, providing step-up housing options in
the city, improving the city’s overall housing stock, investing and instilling
confidence into neighborhoods, and increasing housing and land values.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
5
Ice Arena – South Rink
4949 Louisiana Avenue North
Last November, a contract was awarded to All-American Arena Products to
replace the cement floor, dasher boards, and glass in the south rink at the
New Hope Ice Arena. The previous floor, boards, and glass were installed in
1996 when the south rink was originally built. The project started in March
and was completed in June of 2023. It included replacement of the 86' x 201'
concrete floor system including replacement of the piping, insulation, vapor
barrier, and concrete. It also included replacement of the existing dasher
boards and glass, including the player, penalty, and timekeeper boxes.
The project also included the addition of 25 advertising panels that will be
used as a protective covering for "drop in" advertising panels. Armstrong
Cooper Youth Hockey Association and the city have an ongoing partnership
for dasher board advertisements. The project was completed for
approximately $1,075,000 and was paid for with an interfund loan from the
Temporary Financing Fund, which will be paid back over 15 years.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
6
Scattered Site Housing Project
4965 Winnetka Avenue North
The EDA acquired the property in June of 2023 with plans to demolish the
existing building, split the lot into two parcels, and sell the lots to a builder
to construct two new single-family homes.
Prior to demolition work, the property will be used for police and fire
training exercises. The fire department will conduct live fire training
exercises throughout the day on October 7.
City staff will process the lot split this winter and market the lots to builders
for the construction of two new single-family homes off 50th Avenue North
in the spring of 2024.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
7
Scattered Site Housing Project
5306 Rhode Island Avenue North
Fieldstone Family Homes recently completed construction of the single-
family home that sold for $550,000. The 2,259 square foot home includes
four bedrooms and a den, three bathrooms, a three-stall garage, a front
porch, and a deck. The home that was previously located at this property
was deconstructed by the nonprofit organization Better Futures Minnesota.
Deconstruction is an environmentally friendly alternative to the typical
demolition of buildings. Unlike demolition, deconstruction carefully
removes a house or building so that materials can be recycled, repurposed,
or reused instead of being sent to a landfill.
Since the scattered site housing program was reinstituted in 2014, the EDA
has coordinated the construction or rehabilitation of 26 single-family
homes, increasing the city’s tax base by approximately $5.5 million.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
8
Infrastructure Improvement Project
2023 Projects
The 2023 Infrastructure Improvement Project involves the mill and overlay
of 0.39 miles of roadway and the reclaim and overlay of 2.1 miles of
roadway. Pavement rehabilitation methods were determined by the city
engineer based on current pavement conditions. This area was determined
based on the 10-Year Pavement Management Plan. In addition to the
pavement improvements, portions of the water main were replaced along
37th, Virginia, Xylon, and Yukon avenues. These sections of water main
were in poor condition with a history of water breaks. Work was completed
between May and August of 2023.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
9
Seal Coating & Fog Sealing
2023 Projects
To maximize the life of the pavement on the 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. This summer over 12 miles of city streets had varying degrees of
crack repairs, seal coating, and fog sealing. The intent of this process is to
seal the roadway to limit moisture from absorbing into the asphalt, 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 brand-new road surface, while
extending the lifespan of the roadway.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
10
Scattered Site Housing Project
5802 Boone Avenue North
In June of 2023, the Economic Development Authority approved a contract
to demolish the home. The property had been deemed uninhabitable and
had gone into foreclosure. The site was prepared for redevelopment and a
Request for Proposals was sent to homebuilders this summer.
The lot will be sold to Great Buy Homes for the construction of a 2,537-
square foot split-level home. The home will feature five bedrooms, three
bathrooms, and a three-stall garage. The builder is projecting that the
it will sell for $475,000 to $480,000. The home and garage will be configured
to face north, along Boone Place, and the curb cut along Boone Avenue
North will be eliminated.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
11
Meadow Lake Pickleball Courts
8525 62nd Avenue North
With the increase demand for pickleball courts, the existing courts at
Meadow Lake School are being converted from three pickleball courts to
eight courts. The courts were built approximately 25 years ago as three
tennis courts. Several years ago, pickleball markings were added to the
courts and clips were added to the nets so they could be temporarily
adjusted to pickleball height. In 2021, the nets were permanently adjusted
to pickleball height. This project is being done as part of the 2023 Street
Infrastructure project but will be paid for with Park Infrastructure Funds.
Earlier this year, a lighting retro fit project also took place. The existing light
poles were reused, and the retrofit included new LED fixtures, electrical
wiring from the fixtures to the panel boxes, a wireless control system, and
a player activated push button.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
12
Safe Routes to School Grant
Boone & 62nd Avenues
In December of 2022, the Metropolitan Council approved the city’s grant
application for infrastructure improvements near Meadow Lake Elementary.
The city requested $363,000 in federal funds for the project, which includes
the installation of high-visibility crosswalks, flashing stop signs, curb
extensions and ADA-compliant ramps, blinking pedestrian crossing lights,
stop bars, additional signage, and the elimination of a turn lane. The
intersection was identified as an area of concern for students walking to
and from school. A 2019 demonstration project allowed the city to evaluate
potential infrastructure improvements to the intersection before investing
in permanent changes. Improvements are scheduled for 2027.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
13
Park Signage
2023 Projects
Various signs are being added to city parks this year. A new Urban Orchard
sign for Little Acre Park was installed, and a flyer display board was also
purchased and will be installed at Liberty Park this fall. New park signs have
been ordered and will be replaced at Lions, Little Acre, Meadow Lake, and
Terra Linda parks.
A grant was received from Hennepin County for the Paso a Paso and Find
Your Five programs, and these funds were used to purchase new park signs
with maps for Begin, Fred Sims, Liberty, Sunnyside, and Victory parks. These
funds were also used to purchase wooden posts and smaller park name
signs for Dorothy Mary, Civic Center, Hidden Valley, Northwood, Lions, and
Meadow Lake parks.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
14
Liberty Park Playground
9015 60th Avenue North
Earlier this year, the playground at Liberty Park was updated. It was last
replaced in 2000 and was the oldest in the park system. Staff held
neighborhood meetings in November 2022 and a decision was made on the
final design for the new play equipment.
In December, the City Council awarded the project to Flagship Recreation
and Landscape Structures, who refurbished identified components,
installed additional playground equipment, and added geotextile fabric,
playground mats, poured in place material, and engineered wood fiber.
Installation of a sunshade, picnic table, and minor concrete repair work was
also completed. Some benches in the area were replaced by city staff.
Funding for this project was available in the Park Infrastructure Fund and is
estimated at $200,000, including indirect costs.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
15
Liberty Park Basketball Court
9015 60th Avenue North
The basketball court at Liberty Park is being fully reconstructed with new
basketball hoops to be installed. The previous court was built almost 30
years ago and had varying levels of repairs over the years.
As part of this project, the Utility Department staff also replaced a portion of
watermain pipe from Gettysburg Avenue to the general skating rink area.
This project is being completed as part of the 2023 Street Infrastructure
project with funding from the Park Infrastructure Fund. Project costs are
expected to be approximately $70,000, including indirect costs. To help with
some of the project costs, a $3,000 Hennepin Youth Sports Equipment
Grant was received.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
16
Emerald Ash Borer
City Parks & Boulevards
The city is currently dealing with severe infestations of Emerald Ash Borer.
Parks – Many park ash trees have either been taken down or have been
identified for removal this year. Greater efforts to remove park trees will
continue over the next several years to bring ash tree infestations to
manageable levels. Replacement trees will be planted for many of the trees
removed, but the timing will vary from park to park depending on the
season, weather, tree availability, and funding.
Boulevards – The city also continues to work on the removal of dead and
dying ash trees along the boulevard areas. In 2022, nearly 400 ash trees
were removed from the city’s boulevards. Staff expects to remove as many,
if not more, trees this year.
Funding – Due to the elevated number of removals and replacements
identified for 2023, additional funding was needed. Transfers from the
Parks Infrastructure Fund assisted with park trees and transfers from the
Streets Infrastructure Fund assisted with removal and replacement of
infested ash trees in boulevard areas. The city forester has also been
proactive in applying for grants.
City of New Hope 2023 Commissioner Bus Tour
17
Lighted Baseball Field
8810 49th Avenue North
Several improvements to Lighted Baseball Field were budgeted for 2023.
Lighting retrofits took place this winter due to the need to work around the
Osprey nest that is located on top of the left field lights. The retrofits
included new LED fixtures, electrical wiring from the fixtures to the panel
boxes, a wireless control system with performance monitoring, and an
electrical service upgrade. The upgrade will provide environmentally
friendly lighting for the residential area with less light spillage and the
savings from LED lights will also be beneficial.
Field work started this fall and will include reshaping and grading the infield
grass area, infield, and baselines, reshaping and leveling a portion of the
outfield, replacing the fence (backstop posts will remain), and rebuilding the
pitcher’s mound. The use of sod, rather than seed, will be used in order for
play to resume on the field next spring. The batting cage located north of
the field, will also be replaced. The project includes trail improvements, and
a shade structure will replace the old park building. Funding is available in
the Park Infrastructure Fund, and the total cost is estimated at $896,000,
which includes indirect costs. A grant award of $10,000 was received from
the Twins Community Fund.