What does the city do with problem properties like former CVS?

Problem properties, especially the vacant CVS at Snelling and University, trash along neighborhood streets and other quality of life issues need more city attention. There’s also a need for equity when properties are turned in for code violations and for a better understanding of city processes.

Those were among the messages more than 50 neighbors had June 6 for Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) Director Angie Wiese.

A repeated message is this: Property owners need to be aware that the community is paying attention and that positive changes are needed.

The Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC), Union Park, and Como Park district councils hosted the discussion. The meeting was intended to explain the various DSI roles and ways neighborhood residents and business owners can work with DSI. The meeting was also a chance for DSI to give an overview of what it does, how it responds to complaints, and what challenges DSI faces.

A major focus was the former CVS. Midway residents and business owners are tired of the vacant store’s appearance, and of how the property has become a nuisance.

“CVS has been my worst neighbor,” said HMC board president Cole Hanson. He and his daughter pick up a bag of trash every day.

CVS reopened after sustaining extensive damage during the 2020 civil unrest, then closed again in spring 2022. It has become a place where people loiter and leave trash. Others dump trash there.

A check of the CVS website shows that the CVS building is available for lease, and is one of more than 320 CVS properties available for lease or sale. The city faces challenges with an out-of-state owner who is not motivated to lease or sell a property.

The former CVS is in the city’s vacant building program. Its owner had to pay almost $5,000 to get into the program. For each year a building remains in the vacant building program, the charge is just under $2,500.

 It is considered a Category 2 vacant building, with one or more violations. Category 1 buildings are those that could be easily sold to a new owner; Category 3 buildings are in the worst condition.

 Wiese said DSI has assigned a staffer to regularly monitor the CVS building, issue orders for litter and graffiti cleanup, and then use the city’s authority to do cleanups and assess the property owner as needed. The city has repeatedly done cleanups and assessed the owner.

There is also concern about litter along University and other streets, and conditions at vacant lots and the superblock where Allianz Field is located.

HMC and Union Park District Council (UPDC) regularly organize cleanup events. Some district council members and community leaders want others to step up, especially the leadership at Allianz Field and the United Village development. The latter area has had more cleanup recently but some neighbors are frustrated that they themselves did the cleanup for many months as volunteers.

Wiese also gave an overview of her department, which handles city license, zoning issues, animal control, various building permits, property inspections and code enforcement, and a host of other issues.

Wiese said other steps have been taken in the city as a whole to address problem properties. The city has contracted out some tasks out, including trash and rubbish collection and mowing of tall grass and weeds.

City officials are seeking approval for what are called “administrative citations” to take on property owners and others who violate city ordinances. The proposal needs to go through a Charter Commission and city council process. The current system of penalties lacks flexibility, especially when considering repeat offenders.

But there were also concerns about equity and how code enforcement is handled. Some neighbors said they have been penalized for having an item such as a mattress outside, or having tall grass and weeds for a short time while other properties have had items out for much longer. One person noted that an industrial-sized oven sat outside of one Midway property for more than a year. There was a request for equity in how property code enforcement is done and for consideration of cases where people may not be able to handle cleanup themselves.

Many questions were about the city complaint process, with residents wondering where to call. The starting point for most issues is 651-266-8989.