The Eden Prairie City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved buying a building on Danfoss’s property for the Public Works Department to store its equipment.
The building, at 7955 Wallace Road, will give the department indoor space to store large vehicles and equipment — and a warm place for staff to work during the winter, Public Works Director Robert Ellis said at the council meeting.
Some of the problems with storing equipment outside include mice chewing through electrical components and mineral buildup, Ellis said.
Using the Wallace Road facility will also help consolidate Public Works operations, as it is located near the city’s main Maintenance Facility at 15150 Technology Drive, where many employees work.
Ellis said Public Works currently stores equipment outdoors at several sites — including the Maintenance Outdoor Storage Site near Flying Cloud Airport, outside the Water Treatment Facility and Maintenance Facility, and inside some of the city’s water towers. Storing equipment outdoors decreases its longevity, he said.
City staff and council members have discussed purchasing the building several times since late 2024, most recently during a closed session after the Oct. 7 council meeting.
Ellis said the building purchase will not impact the city’s tax levy or general fund.
In total, the property costs $3.05 million, Ellis said. The city will use $1.77 million from its Capital Improvement Plan and $1.28 from the Utilities Enterprise Reserves.
The building has high ceilings and open floor space, giving the department ample room to store its large equipment, Ellis said. It’s move-in ready aside from possible security additions.
Danfoss, a Danish engineering company that acquired Eaton Hydraulics in 2021, announced earlier this year that it would close its Eden Prairie manufacturing plant by the end of 2025. The city has since been in discussions with the company about future uses for the property.
“Not often do you have a willing seller,” Ellis said. “Most of the property that I’m in the business of purchasing comes through condemnation. So the fact that we actually have a friendly agreement for this purchase is actually nice to have.”
