Here’s an update on what you wished for two years ago

Chad Kulas

My December 2024 article for the Monitor focused on the recent Union Park District Council Annual Meeting, where I asked attendees what they hoped for the Midway neighborhood in the future. As we close in on two years since the meeting, I thought it would be a good time to look back on the hopes and dreams and see how we’ve done.

First, a reminder of what things looked like in December 2024. I started my article off by bemoaning the sights of a boarded-up CVS, a trash-filled parking lot at the former funeral home site, and an unoccupied former At Home/Walmart site.

Cub Foods was still open, with its closing announcement a few months away, and many were complaining about the lack of shopping carts and the overall condition of the store. We were also a few months away from the devastating fire that closed Groundswell Coffee.

Arguably the biggest hot-button issue in Midway was Kimball Court and a large uptick in police calls to the supportive housing building along Snelling Avenue.

United Village had started work, unveiling “The Calling” a large loon sculpture that Mayor Carter predicted would instantly become the most Instagram-able image in Minnesota.

What were the dreams shared in 2024?
The Dream: Many attendees said they wanted entertainment-related businesses, suggesting pickleball, roller skating, rock climbing, a movie theatre and a bowling alley as some options.
The Reality: LuLuLand, a trampoline park, is going to open in the former Herberger’s space. While that doesn’t satisfy the entire wish list, it’s a good start and could attract similar businesses. Trampoline parks host kid birthday parties and are a great way to bring visitors as well as keep neighborhood families nearby when they plan their own celebrations.

People looking for other entertainment may have noticed an increase in events at Allianz Field and its adjacent green space, the Great Lawn. A series of concerts featuring cover bands occurred this summer, and there have been movies and drone shows, too.

The Midway has been a place for the arts forever, but the recent Midway Music and Arts Fest helped promote both artists and venues, including unconventional places like retail businesses.

The Dream: A good bakery and more restaurant options.

The Reality: Midway Diner opened in September, with Picco planned to open soon. These are the two businesses at the United Village restaurant pavilion and are run by known local chef, Vincent Francoual. The office building will be completed by the end of 2026, with local bakery La Delicious planning to open in 2027. In September 2026, Bewick (pronounced like “Buick”) opened in the former Groundswell space.

The Dream: More housing near Snelling/University. Attendees asked for more, partially to help address the housing crisis as the increase in unhoused and rising costs of rent were both noted.

The Reality: Local developer Paradigm Central Housing is planning the construction of 50 affordable housing units at 1730 University Avenue, placing it between the Green Line stops at Snelling and Fairview. Paradigm’s founder Busayo Okusanya has strong Saint Paul ties and is excited to be working on a project so impactful for our community. As for the former CVS site, we all know it is no longer boarded up but now fenced up with a hole in the ground. But shortly after the much-anticipated demolition in March, news came out that Dr. Bill McGuire would be purchasing the property with plans for more housing.

As for Kimball Court? Police calls have gone down significantly. According to SPPD data, between 2022 and 2025 police calls to the property were cut nearly in half. After the new spaces opened, the downward trend for calls has continued. The expansion of Kimball Court has yielded an additional 22 apartments, bringing the total to 98.

Since December 2024, the Cub Foods closed, as did the paper recycling plant, WestRock. Recently, Fairview announced their nine-acre property is on the market. The former Cub Foods site and the former At Home/Walmart site were both purchased by H-Mart, a Korean grocery chain. No plans have come out on the future uses for either WestRock or Fairview, but both could be mixed-use with housing as a potential.

In less than two years, it’s nice to see how so many of those dreams are at least partially becoming reality. There’s more work to do, but no doubt there is progress made with much more to come.

These projects are bringing more people to Midway, both as visitors and new residents with amenities coming for those already here.

What will the updates be in two years? And what, if anything, would you change from the original list?

Learn more about the chamber and membership at www.midwaychamber.com.