Funds sought for three local projects

Development Roundup

By JANE MCCLURE

The long-awaited redevelopment of the northwest corner of University and Fairview avenues is starting to take shape. Goodwill-Easter Seals of Minnesota is seeking $50,000 in Metropolitan Council funds, to start exploring site conditions. The project was one of three submitted in late October by the City of St. Paul.

Goodwill-Easter Seals has long owned a large parking lot and other commercial properties at the corner, with only one property remaining in private hands. A sale of the Major Tire building is pending, according to a Goodwill-Easter Seals official. The nonprofit already owns other buildings and a parking lot. Recently the non-profit closed a more upscale resale store it operated in a former service station. Before Goodwill bought that property, it was Lee and Dee’s, a popular restaurant.

Long-range plans for the site include denser, mixed-use redevelopment. The properties eyed for redevelopment are south of the Goodwill facility on Charles Ave., which houses a variety of programs and a discount retail store.

Metropolitan Council provides funds for transit-oriented development projects through its Livable Communities Program, which has a demonstration account and a tax base revitalization account. Developers seek the funds through cities. Cities can submit up to three projects per funding cycle.

Goodwill-Easter Seals ranks second of two submissions for site investigation, behind Ain Dah Yung Center request for $28,500. That is for housing development in Frogtown.

A second request, for $40,000 in demonstration account funds, was submitted for the planned Lexington State Apartments on Lexington Pkwy. just southwest of Lexington and University. The funds, if awarded, would cover predevelopment costs.

The Livable Communities request was one of two the city submitted in October for major projects.

Several projects were submitted for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for contamination cleanup and investigation grants, and to the Metropolitan Council for Tax Base Revitalization Account Program. These include requested assistance for redevelopment of the former Lexington Outreach Library site at 1080 University Ave. and for the proposed RiverEast School on N. Kent St.

Lexington Station did just share in an earlier Metropolitan Council grant awards of $5.6 million. The affordable housing development, which is planned to have 243 dwelling units, was awarded $800,000 toward site acquisition.

The proposed 151-unit senior citizen housing complex, Sanctuary on Vandalia, was awarded $1.3 million for site acquisition and pollution cleanup. Iota is one of two developments near the Raymond Ave. light rail station to be funded. The other, Union Flats, received $679,865 for the same purposes. It would include 216 affordable housing units as well as two pocket parks. Both of these developments are on former industrial sites.

Vandalia Tower is for sale

First & First, the Minneapolis developer behind the successful Vandalia Tower redevelopment, is putting that property and 16 others up for sale.

The development company has transformed the former King Koil mattress factory and other old industrial properties into mixed-use developments in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The properties house offices, restaurants, a coffee house and craft breweries. The buildings combined have more than 500,000 square feet of space.

CBRE will be selling the properties. Vandalia Tower is just southeast of the University-Cretin-Vandalia intersection. Other properties are in the Minneapolis North Loop, Whittier and Minneapolis Northeast neighborhoods.

Snelling-Midway planners honored

The St. Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED) was honored with one of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Leaders in Local Government Awards. The awards salute made public organizations and individuals for innovation, excellence, and success.

The PED planning division was honored for its planning work on the Snelling-Midway site, its work along Green Line light rail and its planning for former Ford site redevelopment in Highland neighborhood. A Major League Soccer stadium and redeveloped Midway Center are proposed at Snelling and University, on property owned by Metropolitan Council and RK Midway.

Longtime business leader dies

Warren William Larson, a longtime business leader, and advocate in the Midway, died peacefully Oct. 21. He was 90 years old.

Larson, a Minneapolis native, was a U.S. Marine veteran. He was the founder and president of Midway Can Company, later Midway Container. He also served as vice president of the FarmOyl Company. He was active with the Midway Chamber.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.