What's Happening on the South Shore?

Our program on November 18^th consisted of updates from 3 city managers representing Excelsior, Chanhassen and Minnetonka. The first was Kristi Luger, 7 year manager from Excelsior who said the town was booming with growth from 25k building permits last year to over $80,000 this year. Five more new restaurants are open or scheduled to open this year including Victors on Water, a pizza place and Asian Fusion. Much construction highlighted by the approval of Kowalski’s in addition to the new library and expansion of the brewery. The hotel is still alive but the management company has changed to Hilton (campus??) The council will move into expanded quarters in the old library. Concerns are upgrading the St Albans Bay Bridge, maintaining our identity as an affordable city and promoting our ‘Ma and Pa” stores. She described Excelsior as a cul de sac as there are no major roads running through the main street.

 

In contrast Chanhassen manager Todd Gerhardt, with 17 years service, as he described his town as driven by franchises in several new centers. There will be several new restaurants there as well: Smashburger, Pot Belly, Noodles, Starbucks and Hurricane. A major new grocery will be built near Summerwood. The centers are Great Plains Center, Dakota, Village on Pond, Village Townhouses, SW Village Townhouses and Lyman Boulevard, Phase II. A 4 lane bridge will be built on Highway 101. A significant increase in market value has occurred.

 

Geralyn Barone is the city manager in Minnetonka. Their concentration seemed to be in the area of housing with several new developments including single family, apartments and condos. She mentioned Tonka on the Creek, Applewood Point (Big Willow), Carlson Island Apartments, Legacy Oaks, Ridgedale’s Highland Bank and  the addition of Nordstroms and Kona Grill. Road projects include I 394 ramp, 101 to Minnetonka Blvd to Highway 12, Shady Oak to 7 to Excelsior Blvd. and a new roundabout.