FAQs
How many parking spaces will you offer?
The new building will offer above and below ground parking with 184 total parking spaces (109 surface spaces, 75 underground spaces, and 10 EV charging spaces).
The mix of parking is designed to accommodate quick stops and longer stays, whether you need to pick up holds or you’re unpacking a family of four on a cold winter day.
How much will this project cost?
The full project - including consulting, demolition, stormwater, green space, and soft costs like furniture and technology – is an estimated $106.8 million.
The project will be funded by general obligation bonds.
What’s going to happen to my property taxes?
This is one of the benefits of having a county-run library system. All property owners in Hennepin County contribute to the operation of our libraries.
The short answer is that your property tax bill depends on your assessed value, which changes based on market conditions, and the total taxes levied by city, county, and school district authorities.
The county levy does not automatically increase because of these bonds, but the bond payments are factored into the overall county budget.
Why aren’t you building affordable housing on the site?
Affordable housing is a significant disparity reduction focus for Hennepin County, and we are working closely with cities, non-profits, and developers to address emergency, transitional, and long-term affordable housing needs across the county.
Over the last two decades, Hennepin County has helped fund more than 10,000 affordable units.
Earmarking this site for affordable housing adds several years to the planning timeline and coordination of several other entities, with no guarantee it would be successfully implemented.
Also, a significant portion of the southern part of the parcel is a 100-year floodplain and limits potential for development.
Our focus for this project is a generational investment in learning, literacy, and enrichment.
Why didn’t the library move to the mall?
The pandemic had a significant impact on retail and real estate, and given where we are now, we feel more confident that building a new library on the existing site provides stability and a significant long-term benefit to the surrounding communities – no matter what happens in the real estate and retail development market.
Will the Edina Arts Center pay for the space they occupy?
Yes, the Edina Arts Center will effectively be a tenant at the library, with a lease agreement.
The county will build the building. The City of Edina will be responsible for outfitting the art center space appropriate to their needs.
Why is the new library smaller than the current one? Seems like we are losing square footage with the new library.
The current building was designed to house multiple Hennepin County services, including the courts and service center. These county services are no longer cohabitating in the space.
The new Southdale Library will be comparable in size to other similarly trafficked/utilized buildings including Brooklyn Park (39,385 GSF) and Maple Grove (40,034 GSF).
Are you offering a temporary space for service during the construction phase?
We’re still exploring that question. A temporary space has been part of other renovation projects, and we’ll be in a better position to answer that question as we get closer to construction.
Why not renovate the existing building?
Over the last several years, the county has studied the facility, maintenance costs, and the accessibility limitations of the current architecture.
Rather than renovate the existing complex at a significant expense, it was decided that demolition and new construction will provide the most flexibility and the best value for residents.
Because the existing building was built to house multiple county services that are now located elsewhere, we are taking the opportunity to scale back our overall physical footprint on this 8-acre parcel and reintroduce green space for generations of residents to enjoy.
In the 50 years since Southdale was built, it’s understandable that some residents have an affinity for the unique design – but we’re very excited about this updated vision for library services at Southdale and hope that you’ll be drawn to the features of the new construction, too.