Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The final offer was much higher than the market value. Patch explores why that’s the case.
If you look for the value of the 531 Blake Road duplex on Hennepin County property records, you’ll find a figure less than half the $340,000 that the city offered before the deal fell through. Those records put the market value for the property at $162,000. But that low figure mainly arises because there’s a lag from the time the appraisal was done until it’s published. Click here to read why the deal fell through. When the Metropolitan Council was trying to acquire the property in 2010 or 2011, it obtained an appraisal that came back with a $245,000 to $265,000 value, property owner David Gimberline said. That’s closer, but it’s still nearly $100,000 off the city’s final offer. An appraisal Gimberline had done in 2005 or 2006 comes much …
The City of Hopkins disagrees with the property owner about whether he should be able to continue collecting rent for a period after the sale.
The City of Hopkins and the owner of a duplex that is supposed to be part of the newly expanded Cottageville Park have hit an impasse in their negotiations, making it likely that park development will have to continue without the property. As recently as December, the city and David Gimberline, who owns both units in the 431 Blake Road duplex, appeared on the verge of a $340,000 deal. But Gimberline wants to be allowed to collect rent on the other unit in the property for a period after he sells the duplex He said he needs the rent as extra security since property values have fallen even as loans and other duplexes are harder to come by. The extra income would provide a safety net during the time it takes to find and a purchase a new …
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-93.385718
431 Blake Rd N, Hopkins, MN
/articles/cottageville-park-duplex-deal-appears-to-have-fallen-through
/locations/8658582
Friday, January 4, 2013
The biggest stories of the past 12 months.
To be sure, 2012 saw its share of challenges. But it also saw much of the community’s long-term vision start to become a reality. Here are some of the biggest stories to shape Hopkins over the past year. Cottageville Park Plans Start to Take Shape Residents started to see changes around Cottageville Park in April 2011, when Minnehaha Creek Watershed District tore down buildings on properties south of the park. But 2012 was the year that the community started coming together to decide how the newly expanded park should be used. The discussion culminated in a plan first presented in mid December. That plan includes features, such as a green roof pavilion and remade landscape, that could push the redesign cost up to $5.8 million. Eighth…
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Learn a little about the park’s past before you head to tonight’s open house.
Where did Cottageville Park get its name? That’s been a recurring question as officials work to turn the former eyesore into regional destination. The Cuningham Group, which put together the master plan being presented to the City Council on Tuesday, brought a historian onto the team to look at the Blake Road Corridor’s past and bring a sense of place to the park. The team’s research dug up several details about the park’s history. They found the name “Cottageville” in the 1950s referencing a neighborhood surrounding the existing park. The area was also a creamery and homestead with cultivated field. Check out Cuningham’s timeline above—and please share your own Cottageville Park memories when you’re done. And don’t forget to stop in on …
44.932246
-93.384131
Cottageville Park
439 Blake Rd N, Hopkins, MN
/articles/where-did-cottageville-park-get-its-name
1777559
/locations/8411221
Monday, December 17, 2012
The city is hosting an open house Tuesday, followed by a presentation by the architecture firm during the City Council meeting.
The City of Hopkins invites residents to check out a consultant’s final plan for Cottageville Park. The Cuningham Group will talk with residents about its plan for the Blake Road park at an open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. It will then present the plan to the City Council following the open house. Hopkins selected the Minneapolis-based firm in June to come up with options for the park, which it previously presented at a council work session. New park features, such as a green roof pavilion and remade landscape, could push the redesign cost up to $5.8 million. Click on the PDF to the right of this article to read about the firm's plan for the park. It’s unlikely the city will be able to afford all the improvements in …
44.932246
-93.384131
Cottageville Park
439 Blake Rd N, Hopkins, MN
/articles/cottageville-park-open-house
1777559
/locations/8405291
Friday, December 14, 2012
The most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments from around the west metro between Dec. 7 and Dec. 13.
Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments that appeared on Patch sites in Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Shakopee, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation. (The comments below are not meant to reflect the opinions of Patch or its staff.) *** Hennepin County News: Budgets Increase, New County Administrator The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, on a vote of six to one, approved a 2013 county budget of $1.78 billion – a 2.85-percent increase over the 2012 budget, and a .93-percent …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The plan aims to transform the neighborhood park into a place that will attract people from across the region.
New Cottageville Park features such as a green roof pavilion and remade landscape could push the redesign cost up to $5.8 million, according to a draft master plan that a consultant presented to the City Council on Tuesday. The Cuningham Group has been putting together the plan since the city hired the Minneapolis-based firm in June to come up with ideas on how to use the newly enlarged park. It’s unlikely the city will be able to afford all the improvements in the plan at once, but early in the project a Cuningham landscape architect promised that “each phase of the project should look complete, intentional and fully functional.” Consequently, Cuningham offered three levels of park improvements: The plan is about more than just the …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The city is hosting an open house to unveil the new park plan Dec. 18.
The City of Hopkins is inviting residents to check out a consultant’s final plan for Cottageville Park. The Cuningham Group will unveil its plan for the Blake Road park at an open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at City Hall. Hopkins selected the Minneapolis-based firm in June to come up with options for the park. The open house should be the first chance for the public to get a look at the Cottageville Park Master Plan. It’s unlikely the city will be able to afford all the improvements in the plan at once, but a Cuningham landscape architect promised at the beginning that “each phase of the project should look complete, intentional and fully functional.” Cuningham will also work with Hopkins to identify grants—particularly small …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The city was recognized as an ‘outstanding partner’ because of its collaboration with the watershed district.
Hopkins was among the residents and organizations honored at the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s annual “Watershed Heroes” awards celebration Thursday. The awards recognize those who have made significant contributions to clean water efforts. The watershed district honored Hopkins with its Outstanding Partner Award because of the city’s collaboration on efforts to restore Minnehaha Creek at Blake Road. Hopkins and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District have been working together to improve the Cottageville Park area. The watershed district bought properties surrounding the park and demolished the buildings. The city is paying for the design and construction of the expanded parkland. The extra green space should improve water quality, …
Friday, October 19, 2012
Artist Ta-coumba T. Aiken led residents in an art activity to come up with ideas for the expanded park.
Cottageville Park neighbors bundled up against the cool fall weather Thursday evening and headed to the newly expanded green space to share their vision for the park. Artist Ta-coumba T. Aiken encouraged residents to draw their ideas on cardboard cubes and paste photos from magazines symbolizing what they wanted in the park. “A lot of times people build stuff and they don’t ask you what you want to do,” Aiken told a group that was primarily made up of young people. “But you live here. You live around the park. Draw what you want.” “Can we draw a pool?” one kid asked. Not every dream for the park was quite so big. Eycis, 9, drew a rainbow and described how she wanted to see a jungle gym and merry-go-round. Yazzmenn, 11, pasted balls on her …
44.932246
-93.384131
Cottageville Park
439 Blake Rd N, Hopkins, MN
/articles/photos-cottageville-park-art-activity
1777559
/locations/8071883
Norman Teigen
9:35 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Good summary, I think. You might also have included a summary of the City's budget and information about the City's financial condition. The news is good. For 2013 I think that the City Council and city staff might try to become even more involved in keeping the citizens of Hopkins informed about issues and developments. The Oakes Park lift station issue suggests that there was a deficiency in … more ›