In a 5-0 vote, the City Council approved the final site plan for the new Lyndale Gardens town center in Richfield.  The final design includes a one acre public park with amenities including a splash pad, a center stage for live performances, a community oven, walking/bicycling trails, edible organic gardens, and an open-air farmers market pavilion.

Housing will include 151 rental units ranging in size from studios to 3-bedroom town homes; new residents will enjoy sunny exposures overlooking Richfield Lake.  A 10,000 square foot retail building is planned that will be back-to-back with the new Lakewinds Natural Foods.  Lakewinds is planning to purchase part of the site in June and build a new co-op grocery store that will open in early 2014.  The Cornerstone Group is seeking a local restauranteur to occupy part of the retail space overlooking the lake, as there will be space for outdoor dining.

While construction won’t begin until late 2013 or early 2014, there is plenty of activity already happening at the site.  The Richfield Farmers Market will be hosting a weekly market event every Wednesday from 2-7 p.m. running from June through August.  In conjunction with the market, the City will host two community concerts on July 10th and August 7th, to test out the site as a potential location for Richfield’s new band shell.  The Cornerstone Group is also partnering with the arts organization Springboard for the Arts to secure funding for public art that will be integrated into the site design and features.

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Click to download the latest site plan for Lyndale Gardens in PDF format