Interfaith Action shelter wins approval

Interfaith Action’s plans to move Project Home to Bandana Square can go ahead. The St. Paul Planning Commission July 25 unanimously approved a conditional use permit needed for the facility. It will be located in the former Best Western Plus Como Park.
The Planning Commission decision is final unless it is appealed to the city council within 10 days. As of Monitor publication date no appeal had been filed.
The permit was recommended for approval earlier in July by the Planning Commission Zoning Committee. Dozens of supporters sent letters to the committee and turned out for the meeting. Como Community Council also recommended approval of the permit.
But the final language for the permit itself was developed after the zoning committee meeting, which is an unusual step. The issue that had to be decided between city and Interfaith Action staff was how many families can live at Project Home at any one time.
The number agreed on for the permit is 60 families.
Simon Taghioff, who chairs the zoning committee, outlined the issue and a need for modification. The wrinkle in the request is the underlying zoning and how many people can live in a congregate living facility. The former hotel’s underlying business zoning allows up to 16 residents in such a facility.
City planner Josh Williams explained the rationale for allowing more residents, saying it can be seen as a “hardship condition.” One issue looked at is the hotel has more than 100 rooms, and had operated at Bandana Square since the mid-1980s.
Another is that it is difficult to find a suitable space for the family shelter, which is relocating from a century-old building owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Highland Park. About 30 families can live at the Highland building, Provincial House, at any one time.
Project Home went into the Highland facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, Before then the program had moved from place to place since its start almost 30 years ago, typically housed in faith-based institutions.
The approved permit allows for 60 families plus Project Home staff on-site. Some planning commission members indicated that they’d have considered a higher number of families. But if there is a need to change that condition, Williams said the matter can be brought back to the planning commission in the future for an amendment.
The change to a permanent home for Project Home will take place after the building is renovated.
Three community meetings were held earlier this year to provide information about the project.
The building was originally a print shop for the Northern Pacific Railroad complex that makes up today’s Bandana Square. Bandana Square was an ambitious development with the hotel and a shopping center with stores, restaurants and the Dakota Jazz Club.
Project Home provides shelter for families, typically for two to three months at a time. Project Home works with Ramsey County to transition families into more permanent housing.
The new location at 1010 Bandana Blvd. W. will provide more space for families’ meals, support services and activities, as well as space for Interfaith Action. Most Interfaith Action operations will move to the new facility. Its Indian Work operations, which runs programs for emergency services, health services and youth enrichment, will remain in Little Canada.
Interfaith Action announced the Como building purchase this spring, for $7.2 million. Pacific Lodging LLC was the previous owner. Part of the purchase was covered through federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars allocated by the state.