The Galleria shopping center in Edina is slated to see big changes. It will soon be the home to several new retailers. Among the new stores a 15,000-square-foot anchor store is planned for the mall’s east end later this year.

An Ohio based furniture company, Arhaus Furniture, a home design company founded in 1986 is planning to open in the Galleria also later this year. The store is anticipating it will open in the autumn of 2012. This will be the first store for Arhaus Furniture within the five-state region.

Marmi, an European influenced footwear and accessories store also plans to open later this year at the Galleria. A locally owned boutique shop, Allure Intimate Apparel, is making plans to occupy a 1,800 square-foot space next to STYLEDLIFE later this spring. Bang & Olufsen, Cole Haan, Papyrus and Hammer Made will be relocating within the Galleria in the months to come. Hammer Made, a store that has been located within the Galleria since 2009 has plans to double in size.

New stores and expanding of stores means more jobs for the area. Low unemployment rates help the area housing market. If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Edina,Contact me and I would love to help you buy or sell your home.

Kim Melin

Real Estate Advisor/Edina Realty
952-201-4758

Budget cuts this year in the Edina School District resulted in many programs being lost that many parents considered as an integral part to their children's education. The $2.3 million in budget reductions for the 2011-2012 school year resulted in the Spanish program being cut at the elementary level. Edina Community Education Services is stepping in and now offering world languages for elementary students as part of a pilot program. The pilot program offers many different languages. The program goes as far as to connect Edina’s elementary students with their very own teacher live from Shanghai, China. Virtual learning is a growing thing across the country and it has been met with many positive results.

Many parents are very happy with the program and appreciate the opportunity for their children to be able to learn a second language. Currently there are 175 students from K-5 grade that are enrolled in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French and Latin courses. The classes run about an hour long and the students meet either after school or on the weekends.  The most popular class being offered is Spanish at this time.

Edina Community Education plans to offer even more language classes next year. If you are interested in learning more about the youth programs that Edina Community Education Services offer, visitedinacommunityed.org or call 952-848-3952.

The community of Edina is committed to providing the best education possible. Contact me and I would love to help you sell or a buy a home in Edina.

Kim Melin

Real Estate Advisor/Edina Realty
952-201-4758

 A new city program put into place will make it easier for residents of Edina to go green in their home. The Edina City Council unanimously adopted the Edina Emerald Energy Program earlier this month.  The program will make Edina the first city in the state to take advantage of the Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) legislation.

This program was approved by the state Legislation in 2010 and it allows for homeowners to have the cost of energy efficiency and conservation improvements assessed to their property and paid alongside property taxes. Many local businesses owners have already made plans to take advantage of the program. Running a business or a home on solar panel energy could save both homeowners and business owners money and help the environment at the same time. The PACE program along with grants and rebates are making it more affordable for homeowners to afford solar energy. Without these types of assistance the price of upgrading to solar energy is out of the reach of many homeowners and business owners.  PACE is a funding model where Edina will issue a bond on behalf of the homeowner or business owner to finance a renewable energy or efficiency project. The bond is then sold to a private investor and then secured with a special property tax assessment on the building.

City Manager for Edina, Scott Neal, had this to say about the program. "It works very much like any other special assessment program that this city and other cities have used for many years,” and "The only difference is you're special assessing private improvements to private property, which is different and which is the heart of PACE." The city of Edina has adapted this program from a similar one that is in place in Sonoma County, Calif. Assessments for improvements under the PACE program cannot exceed more than 10 percent of the property’s value, or have a repayment plan that is longer than 10 years.  If you choose to take part in this program and the project will cost more than $20,000 you will need city council approval. Projects under the $20,000 mark can be approved by city staff.

Edina is leading the way with helping its residents take advantage of green opportunities. If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Edina, Contact me and I would love to help you buy or sell your home.

Kim Melin

Real Estate Advisor/Edina Realty
952-201-4758

The children at South View Middle School will soon feel less crowded as a result of the Edina School Board recently approving a $2.3 million addition and renovation The vote was approved 6-0. The new addition and renovation will add five new classrooms, renovate existing rooms and expand the cafeteria.

South View Middle School houses kids in grades 6- 9, and according to Wold Architects and Engineers who surveyed the facility last year the school exceeds its functional capacity.  Wold Architects & Engineers surveyed facilities district wide. Last December they reported their findings and the school board asked them to return with a plan for short-term relief.  According to their findings South View Middle School will be short on space for 168 students beginning this school year.

The new two-story addition will be built along the southeast corner of the building and will be 5,750 square-feet with plans to break ground this fall.  The cafeteria expansion will begin next spring after school lets out. The cafeteria will expand to 5,100 square feet up from its current size of 2,820.  The expansion and renovation is expected to be completed by fall 2012. The funding for the renovation and expansion will come from the districts lease levy and alternate facilities funds.

The community of Edina is committed to providing the  best education possible.Contact meand I would love to help you sell or a buy a home.

Kim Melin

Real Estate Advisor/Edina Realty
952-201-4758

 600 volunteers across the metro area came together to give Minnehaha Creek a well   needed sprucing up. This year marked the Fifth Annual Minnehaha Creek cleanup.  4,000 pounds of trash alone was pulled out of the area around Lake Hiawatha in South Minneapolis. Many volunteers were also bussed to Lake Calhoun and Lake Nakomis.  Volunteers enjoyed free bagels for breakfast and lunch provided by Leinenkugel's. The strangest piece of trash removed from the creek was a door.  The grand marshal of the annual clean up event was U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

The cleanup will help improve the Minnehaha Creek's shoreline, creek bed and surrounding area according to Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Minnehaha Creek is the chief conveyor of water that drains 181 square miles of the watershed from the far western suburbs through 29 communities. Edina is one of the many communities in the area that Minnehaha Creek flows thru.

Living in Edina offers something for everyone.The sense of community is the cornerstone in Edina. If you would like to live in a community that cares about its residents and its environment. Contact me , Kim Melin,  I would love to help you sell or a buy a home.

Kim Melin

Real Estate Advisor/Edina Realty
952-201-4758

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Edina Public Schools Ranks 76 in Newsweek's Best High Schools in America

Edina, Minn., May 21, 2011 - Edina Public Schools ranks 76 out of 500 high schools in Newsweek's 2011 list of the best high schools in America. Among the top 500 schools, 9 Minnesota high schools received honors, with Edina being the only school in Minnesota to rank in the top 100.

Other Minnesota schools rankings include: Mahtomedi High School (158), Lakeville North High School (178), Century High School (210), Eden Prarie (213), St. Louis Park Senior High School (248), Andover High School (364), Apple Valley High School (451) and Simley High School (478).

Superintendent Ric Dressen said, "The recognition for our high school is a compliment to our entire community.  I realize our students' success that leads to national honors comes from a team effort.  Students, staff, parents, and community members all give their very best starting in our early education programs and culminating at graduation.  I congratulate our entire District community on this outstanding recognition."

The list, compiled every year by Newsweek, was revamped this year to include a new research methodology focusing on a wider range of criteria to reflect the overall level of preparedness for college and beyond. To compile the 2011 list, Newsweek surveyed over 10,000 public high schools across the country, with 1,100 schools considered for the final list of 500 schools. The final rankings are based on a Newsweek composite score comprised of six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10%), and AP courses offered (5%).

Edina earned the rank of 76 by achieving a graduation rate of 99%, college matriculation rate of 94%, average SAT score of 1887, and average AP test score of 3.7. The figures used in the rankings were based on the data from the 2009-2010 school year. The entire list of the top 500 high schools can be seen in June 27, 2011 issue of Newsweek and online.

The weather is starting to warm up here in Edina and outdoor summer activities at Centennial Lakes are in full swing.  Centennial Lakes Park is the place to be this summer if you are looking for a way to enjoy your evening or weekend. The 24-acre park has something for everyone this summer and is bound to keep you and your family busy.

Here are just a few of the upcoming events:

Thursday, June 16:

        Noon: Brodini Magic Comedy Show

        3-7pm: Farmers Market

        Sunset:  Movie in the Park: Despicable Me

Sunday, June 19:

         Noon: Julius Caesar; Shakespeare in the Park

        7pm: Hopkins Westwind Concert Band

Monday, June 20:

         7pm: Edina Chorale

Tuesday, June 21:

         Noon:  Mary Hall's Show For Pipsqueeks

       7pm: Vintage Piano Show with Jim Shannon

Wednesday, June 22:

        7pm: Good News Big Band

Thursday, June 23:

       Noon: Alpha Bits Band

      3-7pm: Farmers Market

      Sunset:  Movie in the Park: Eat, Pray, Love

The farmers market will be held along the walkways outside of the Hughes Pavilion every Thursday rain or shine.  Enjoy seasonal fruit and vegetable grown by local farmers. You can also enjoy miniature golf, paddle boating on the 10 acre lake, croquet and lawn bowling at Centennial Lakes Park.


Living in Edina provides plenty of opportunity for fun and community experiences. Contact me and I would love to help you sell or a buy a home.

Kim Melin

Real Estate Advisor/Edina Realty
952-201-4758

Edina‘s Hornet Marching Band is making a name for itself across the country. In 2009 they performed at Chicago's Thanksgiving Day parade and now they are headed to make their debut in New York City this November.

The United War Veterans' Council invited the Hornets to apply to participate in New York City's annual Veterans Day Parade and they were accepted. The band will in also perform in Times Square in a "mass band" performance that will honor those killed on September 11, 2001.  The performance will feature over 800 musicians playing together.  The Director of the Hornets, Andy Richter, attributes doing bigger events such as the Chicago parade as a way to get the band's name out there.

The size of the marching band is large by many school standards and they hope to take 202 musicians along to the parade in New York City. Edina's Hornet Marching Band was the largest group selected to participate.


Living in a wonderful school district is the dream of many parents. If you are looking to live in Edina contact me. I would love to help you sell or buy a home in the area.