An External Review of the Post-Development Phase of the Crest Ridge Corporate Center, Glen Lake Redevelopment, and Goodwill Industries Development

Abstract

This project was completed as part of the 2012-2013 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Minnetonka. Many new development projects in Minnetonka engender resistance from neighboring residents. The City of Minnetonka wanted to investigate whether or not projects remained controversial several years after the developments were completed. Minnetonka project lead Susan Thomas worked with graduate students in OLPD: 8595: Evaluation Problems, to assess community attitudes toward several development projects that were controversial at the time, including the Crest Ridge Corporate Center, the Glen Lake Redevelopment, and Goodwill Industries. Through interviews with Minnetonka residents, the students evaluated perceptions of each of the projects, and made recommendations for how the city can enhance the public input process for future developments to ensure that the needs and concerns of both developers and residents are being considered. The students' final report and presentation are available.