New office-warehouse proposed for vacant Hwy. 5 site

A developer is seeking city approval to build a 52,000-square-foot office-warehouse building on a highly visible but vacant four-acre property north of Highway 5 and west of Wallace Road/Martin Drive in Eden Prairie.

Why it matters: The project, if approved by the city, would generate property tax revenue on empty, leftover land that was purchased by the state when, in the 1990s, it built new Highway 212 and its connection with existing Highway 5.

The project was unanimously endorsed Feb. 10 by the Eden Prairie Planning Commission, which advises the city council on development projects.

The Highway 5 Business Center, as it’s being called, is proposed by Edina-based Endeavor Development, the same company that recently received City of Eden Prairie approval to demolish the vacant American Family Insurance campus north of Crosstown Highway 62 and construct two industrial buildings there.

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Endeavor purchased the Highway 5 property last year. And, like the Crosstown project, the office-warehouse proposed along Highway 5 would be easily seen by motorists, so extra attention is being paid to its design and architecture, as well as the landscaping around it.

“It will be a very visually prominent building,” said Jeremy Barnhart, city planner. “We want to make sure that the planning commission and the public understand there is going to be a change in the character of that area.”

The property sits below the grade of westbound Highway 5, similar to its neighbor to the east, the nonprofit thrift store called The PROP Shop.

The architecture, articulation, materials, and color of the proposed building are similar to those approved for buildings Endeavor plans to construct on the American Family Insurance property. Commissioners agreed this week that, when combined with a robust landscaping plan, the Highway 5 Business Center project appears well-suited to the property.

“I support this project wholeheartedly,” said Commissioner Ed Farr.

But, residents should brace themselves for a noticeable change in the prominent but currently vacant site, said Commissioner John Kirk.

“The right kind of homework has been done, so it will be a good addition to the community even though it may raise some eyebrows the first time people see it,” he said.

Evan Mattson, Endeavor’s development manager, said the building, if approved, would be built on a speculative basis, meaning no tenant has yet been identified. As proposed, about 85% of the building would be warehouse space and the rest would be offices.

The project now advances to the Eden Prairie City Council for review.