Relocation Updates: We Made It!

We are delighted to announce that the co-op’s member loan drive has surpassed our goal of $1.5 million in committed loans from more than 200 co-op members! Linden Hills Co-op is moving in fall 2010 to a new larger location at 3815 Sunnyside Avenue. We will continue accepting and processing loan agreements on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the board of directors. More information on the loan program can be obtained by calling Jeanne Lakso, member services manager, at 612-279-2460.

Here’s a great piece on the Fair Food Flight blog about this remarkable co-op success story.

The Southwest Journal provides additional coverage on the co-op’s relocation and move here and here, The co-op’s project team is busy meeting with the architects, interior designer and general contractor to finalize plans and costs.

Read more in the February-March edition of the Rollin’ Oats Journal. Or take a look at a recent editorial published in the Edina Sun-Current. You can download a copy of our most recent press release about the move here. It contains information from the member design forum on January 5, where it was announced that the co-op is applying for LEED certification for the renovated location. Read about what that means in terms of new green features!

Zeman Construction Company has been chosen as the general contractor for the expansion and relocation project. Zeman Construction, based in Golden Valley, has more than 25 years of experience, including in the design, development and construction of green and LEED-certified buildings. They worked with TEA2 Architects to remodel the co-op’s current building back in 1995, and have done work for numerous local grocery stores, including Lakewinds Natural Foods.

THANK YOU to our generous community of co-op member owners. We are deeply appreciative of your support, both financial and in the many other forms that have been offered.

On Saturday, December 12, approximately 30 co-op members, board, staff, and representatives from architectural firm Wilkus Architects, Inc. gathered at Linden Hills Park for a informal forum on the design for the new co-op. You can download the meeting notes here. If you would like to submit an idea or a question to the project design team, please email info(at)lindenhills.coop. If you’d like to communicate with the board of directors, send an email to board(at)lindenhills.coop.

Background
In late October, the board of directors and general manager Luke Schell announced plans to relocate within the Linden Hills neighborhood, to 3815 Sunnyside Avenue. The new site, near the intersection of West 44th Street and France Avenue South, has been a neighborhood grocery store for many years, until the closing of Sunnyside Market in 2007. We hope to begin renovations as early as February and reopen in the new spot in fall 2010. You can read more about it in the December-January co-op newsletter.

Linden Hills joins Mississippi Market and Seward Co-op as the third local cooperative to relocate and expand the past year.

This is an exciting time for all of us: member-owners, store staff, board and community members. There will be more information to share with all of you as plans develop. You can download a list of frequently-asked questions and answers here.

Stay in the Loop!
Check out the co-op’s Facebook page for news or send an email to info(at)lindenhills.coop with “SUBSCRIBE EXPANSION NEWS” in the subject header to receive periodic updates in your email box.