Development marches on in “downtown” Eden Prairie. I’ve snapped a few photos of two new projects in the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area-SouthWest Station on Technology Drive. I took these shots from the top of the SouthWest Metro parking garage. It’s quite a view.
Looking West at New Apartment Complex
This photo shows the start of grading for what is planned to be 280 apartments. This area is just west of the SouthWest Station. The units will probably upper-end rental apartments, but we are still working with the developer to see if we can get them to put some affordable-rental units in the project as well. The tall structures on the left side of the photo are the piling machines. The soils in this area are notoriously poor. Concrete pilings must be drilled deep into the earth to allow for the structure security of the future buildings. This step has been necessary for all the buildings in this area.
Looking SE at Future PRCA Park
These two photos show the start of grading for the new Purgatory Creek Recreation Area Park. The top photo shows a view of the park looking over the Pickeled Parrot. The second photo shows the park looking over the future restaurant strip center that is part of the SW Station development. This strip will include such new eateries as Noodles & Company, Caribou Coffee, Chipotle Grill, among others.
But back to the park… The new park development has been in the planning stages for a decade. The City awarded the first major construction contract for the project earlier this spring. The winning bidder was Liberty Construction. The contract is for just $1,800,000.
The new park will include new flower planting areas, new restrooms, several gazebos, benches and paved walking areas, and our first public fountain – courtsey of funding from the Eden Prairie Foundation. When it’s all said and done, it will be our “Central Park”. It will be a great amenity for the employees who work in this area, and for all the citizens of Eden Prairie.
Keep an eye on construction. You will see the PRCA Park really begin to take shape this fall. It will be a fullfledged park by next year.
