Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

There’s a brand new play space at Hamline Park

Located in the Hamline-Midway area at 1564 Lafond Ave., this play space has been completely replaced, including new safety surfacing and new drains underneath to keep the playground dry. The new play … more

11/12/21

Development Roundup November 2021

Keystone project moves aheadKeystone Community Services’ planned new and expand food shelf facilities took a step ahead Oct. 20 as the St. Paul City Council approved an allocation of $902,255 … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/12/21

B Line plan moves ahead

B Line bus rapid transit service is to start in 2024, providing a faster connection between St. Paul’s Union Depot and Uptown Minneapolis. The $65 million project’s final corridor and … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/12/21

Midway Center was demolished in October 2021.

Midway Center finally demolished

As October began, demolition equipment was quickly crunching through the remains of Midway Center. Excavators smashed down walls, and carefully picked out and set aside metal. Parts of the structure … more

By JANE McCLURE | 10/17/21

Bikeway extension?

Extending the Midtown Greenway into St. Paul could generate $3 billion in economic development, according to a recent study, and the supporters say the route will help fight climate change.Midtown … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 10/17/21

A NEW DALE STREET BRIDGE

In her dream, a young girl was walking down Dale Street with her mother, who pushed a stroller. She was reading a poem on the sidewalk. “Look, mama, you can read it both ways,” the girl … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 9/16/21

Midway Center superblock gets more TIF funding

Redevelopment of the Midway Center superblock, including the burned-out remnant of Midway Center, is moving ahead with changes to a tax increment financing (TIF) district and an order to demolish the … more

By JANE McCLURE | 9/16/21

The center of the Midway Shopping Center was the most severely damaged by the fire on May 28, 2020. The shopping center remains vacant and boarded, with a fence around it, more than a year after the damage.

Will demolished Midway Center be used for parking?

The fire-ravaged Midway Center faces an order to be demolished within 15 days at the Aug. 25 St. Paul City Council meeting. While a building demolition permit for the shopping center at the southwest … more

By JANE MCCLURE | 8/12/21

Ryan Companies Parks and Public Spaces project manager Mac Pegovac and Bob Fossum of CRWD check out the progress of the storm water management at the heart of the redevelopment project at the former Ford Assembly Plant property. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Reviving upper Hidden Falls Creek

This summer, workers are building a channel and bridge that will connect a recreated upper Hidden Falls Creek with the lower falls at East River Parkway and Magoffin Avenue.It’s part of the … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 8/12/21

FNA’s Anti-Displacement Community Organizer Danielle Swift, said, “What makes me most excited about this project is the opportunity to be creative around affordable housing and community ownership. The city of Saint Paul will transfer ownership of 652 Sherburne to Model Cities. FNA will be a working partner in this project along with Hope Community’s Housing Justice Center and Historic Saint Paul.” (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT

About two dozen people boarded a big yellow bus on a hot, sticky night to discuss the prospects for Development without Displacement in the Frogtown, Rondo, and Summit University neighborhoods. … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 8/12/21

At Home moving into former Walmart

Two of the area’s largest empty “big box’ retailers are poised for change. Soon the former Midway Walmart will reopen as At Home, a home goods store. And, a mixed-use development of … more

By JANE McCLURE | 8/12/21

Development Roundup August 2021

Project receives fundingThe Metropolitan Council has awarded $2.8 million in polluted-site cleanup grants that promote redevelopment and economic opportunity in the region, including funding for a … more

By JANE McCLURE | 8/12/21

Social club for Muslim men coming to 1619 University

A building that has recently drawn neighborhood complaints is poised for a new life – 1619 University Ave. could become a social club for Muslim men. But the building needs some work before a … more

By JANE McCLURE | 8/12/21

Ribbon cut at Lloyd’s Pharmacy

Lloyd’s Pharmacy owner Jim Stage (back center) and his family officially cut the ribbon of their rebuilt pharmacy on Aug. 5, 2021. Celebrating with them were Mayor Melvin Carter (far left), … more

8/12/21

The Stage family: (Back) Jim and Cally, (middle) Evelyn, Gracen, Elliot, (front) Lydia and Edmund. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Lloyd’s Pharmacy rebuilds

Lloyd’s Pharmacy has rebuilt at the corner of Snelling and Minnehaha and expects to reopen with free food, giveaways, and more on Monday, July 26 and Friday, July 30, 2021, providing they pass … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 7/23/21

The interior, including the historic wooden bar at the Turf Club (at right) has been restored following fire damage in May 2020. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Turf Club revived

The front door of the Turf Club (1601 University Ave. W.) was still covered in plywood in late June, but it is finally off. General manager Nathan Kranz, who manages the Turf Club as well as First … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/23/21

Marvin Roger Anderson is advocating for a Rondo Land Bridge.

Rondo receives trifection of good news from state, federal and Met Council

Twelve years after the initial idea to physically reconnect the Rondo neighborhood took root, three milestones were met in July at the state, federal and regional levels that improve the … more

7/23/21

“I’m staying for the community. I’m staying for the love of the people,” said Gloria Wong, owner of Sunrise Plaza and Century Plaza in the Midway. (Photo submitted)

Investing in Resiliency

If you thought the 350 or so Minneapolis and St. Paul small business owners on Lake Street and West Broadway in Minneapolis, and University Avenue in St. Paul’s Midway who watched their … more

7/23/21

olomon Hailie (left), who owns Bole Ethiopian with his wife, Rekik Abaineh, chats with African Economic Development Solutions Executive Director Gene Gelgule (center) and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter during the ribbon cutting event on May 27, 2021, one year after the restaurant burned to the ground in the civil unrest along University Ave. after George Floyd’s murder. “When we needed something, we knew who to call,” stated Hailie. “We appreciate your support and love.” They received a $50,000 grant through the We Love St. Paul/We Love Midway fund to help with the new space in the former Fox Trot Burger (1341 Pascal Street). “Thank you for leading the way,” said Midway Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chad Kulas. (Photos by Tesha M. Christensen)

Bolé Ethiopian reopens, moves to Como

6/9/21

Standoff over development continues

By JANE McCLURE The St. Paul City Hall standoff over the Lexington Station mixed-use development continues. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office won’t be asked to weigh in on … more

6/9/21