Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter (center), husband Melvin Carter Junior (left) and son St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter III (right) commemorated their family’s original Rondo home that was uprooted during the construction of I-94 by planting a tree during the Juneteenth Celebration at the Rondo Center of Diverse Expression at 315 Fisk St. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Rebirth, healing, reconciliation and hope

Saturday, June 19, 2021 was a day of healing, rebirth, reconciliation, and hope in St. Paul’s historically Black Rondo neighborhood. The Juneteenth Celebration showcased the creation of a new … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/23/21

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

Fire damaged part of the Midway Center structure in 2020.

Four sue after eviction from Midway Center

Customers have flocked to Peking Garden since spring, happy that the Midway Center mainstay has reopened at University and Western avenues. Owners the Lau family were pleased to find a new … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/23/21

Community members officially cut the ribbon to open Midway Peace Park on June 15, 2021.

Students, residents at Skyline Tower made their vision happen

Located in the Midway Area, Midway Peace Park (416 N Griggs St.) is the newest completed component of the city of Saint Paul’s vision to create vibrant outdoor gathering spaces that strengthen … more

7/23/21

Miriam Friesen (pictured left) and Trudy Dunham (pictured right), co-creators of Replant Minnehaha Trees. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Replant Minnehaha Avenue Trees

Trudy Dunham and Miriam Friesen are on a mission: they want to replace the nearly 100 ash trees removed from the Hamline Midway neighborhood faster than city officials are proposing. Last month, the … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/23/21

2021 CHROMA ZONE MIDSUMMER ‘HAPPENING’ EVENT

Discover the people, places, and murals near Raymond and University avenues at a free, outdoor event on July 24. This family-friendly midsummer “happening” will celebrate the 2021 Chroma … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/23/21

Section of street designated Philando Castile Memorial Ave.

The section of Larpenteur Avenue where Philando Castile was killed by a St. Anthony police officer just five years ago has been renamed. Signs marking Philando Castile Memorial Avenue were placed … more

7/23/21

Citizens comment on future of Hamline Midway Library during CIB hearing

St. Paul could spent $14.168 million in 2022-2023 on capital improvement projects if the city’s proposed Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) wins mayoral and city council approval. … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/23/21

St. Paul wrestles with rental ordinance, rent control

Rent control on ballot?The fate of a proposed November ballot question on rent stabilization or rent control is now in the hands of Ramsey County elections officials. Members of the Housing … more

By JANE McCLURE St. Paul’s S.A.F.E. ordinance and its tenant protections were repealed on a 4-3 city council vote June 23. Council members have said they’ll start work immediately on a new tenants’ protection ordinance. That doesn’t mollify some h | 7/23/21

{ Monitor in a Minute }

Reparations committee formedThe St. Paul City Council June 16 appointed its Reparations Legislative Advisory Committee.In January, the city Council issued an apology for its role in institutional … more

By JANE McCLURE | 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

Public hearing on Hamline library replacement, other CIP projects slated for June 14

Funding for Hamline-Midway Branch Library renovation or replacement is one of five projects that made it through the first round of the 2022-2023 Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process. … more

By JANE McCLURE | 6/9/21

Midway resident Susan Gainen is part of Art to Change the World, which will have a pop-up event at Sociable Cider Werks on Aug. 8 from noon to 8 p.m. (Photo submitted)

Midway resident part of Art to Change the World

When Art to Change the World director Barbara Bridges saw all the new construction of apartment buildings going up in her Northeast neighborhood she saw potential art buyers and collectors moving in. … more

6/9/21

Rebecca Calvo is the interim director at District 10 Como Council.

In Brief June 2021

St. Paul edges out MinneapolisSt. Paul bumped Minneapolis to third and took second in annual Trust for Public Land’s 2021 ParkScore® index. Washington, DC, is the best city park system in … more

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

District 10 Executive Director Michael Kuchta is leaving.

District Council Executive Directors bid farewell

Como District 10 and Hamline Midway Coalition are both looking for new executive directors.After almost six years in the position, Como District 10 Executive Director Michael Kuchta is moving out of … more

5/12/21

Folks ride with Mayor Melvin Carter to celebrate the opening of the newly completed trail along Ayd Mill Road on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Off-street trails along Como Ave. and Johnson Parkway were also completed in 2020. (Photo submitted)

St. Paul Bicycle Coalition advocates for safer biking options and connections

The bicycle system in St. Paul is improving each year, in part due to the advocacy of the St. Paul Bicycle Coalition.Co-chairs Andy Singer and Ian Buck point to the increased number of bicycle lanes, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/12/21