Allianz asks approved

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Midway Center site can go forward. Various project approvals won St. Paul City Council support on Sept. 20, 2023, including plat approval and interim parking uses.

The redevelopment, dubbed United Village, will have an office building, hotel and restaurants in its first phase. That phase will also include a public plaza at Snelling and University avenues, and a children’s playground east of the Allianz Field soccer stadium.

Some neighbors and city council members are taking a wait-and-see attitude, given the lack of redevelopment activity over the past several years. They cite plan changes, as well as what they see as poor communication about the site. Yet another red flag is past site conditions and the need for neighborhood volunteers to regularly clean up trash on the 34.5-acre property.

The city council voted 5-0 to approve the project’s preliminary plat, extend interim use for two existing parking lots for five more years, and create a third interim parking lot. A fourth action changed technical language on surface parking in the 2016 council resolution creating the Snelling-Midway Master Plan. The master plan outlines how the 34.5-acre site is to be developed. There has been debate as to whether or not the plan should be reopened and amendments made.

Council members Russel Ballenger, Mitra Jalali, Rebecca Noecker, Jane Prince and Chris Tolbert voted in favor of the requests. Council President Amy Brendmoen recused herself because her husband Mike Hahm is a project advisor. Council Member Nelsie Yang was absent.

The appearance of the block bounded by Pascal Street and St. Anthony, Snelling and University avenues has been a sore point for many neighbors. Before Allianz Field could be built and open in 2019, part of Midway Center was torn down. The rest of the shopping center was heavily damage in the 202 civil unrest. Tenants had their leases terminated, with some closing up shop for good.

That was followed by a long debate with city officials over building demolition.

The Allianz Field and United Village site in Ward One border Jalali’s Ward Four. Jalali said she has heard a number of concerns and questions from neighbors.

Jalali pushed for the project developers to “reset the relationship” with neighbors and to ensure that there is ongoing dialogue as the project moves ahead. She was able to add a condition to approvals that requires the developers to meet with the district councils at the councils’ request. At the very least, an annual meeting and written report are sought. The development team agreed to that request.

Hamline Midway Coalition and Union Park District Council raised red flags about continuing the interim use of two parking lots west of the stadium, and creation of a new parking lot northwest of the stadium. Under interim use permits, the lots can stay in place for up to five years. Union Park backed down from its opposition and instead sent the city a list of longstanding concerns. The coalition continues to be opposed and to raised concerns about the development and the process itself.

Parking was a major focus. The two interim lots west of Allianz Field were created in 2018, for five years. The council action allows use for another five years. A third new interim lot to the north was also approved, for five years. While developers need parking to get their projects underway, Hahm said the land is too valuable to be used as surface parking for an indefinite time.

Hamline Midway resident Justin Lewandoski said there is an attitude that development is “better than a parking lot.” He cited the community skepticism toward the development. Jalali, agreed, noting worries that the interim lots will be used for parking on an indefinite basis

But for those who oppose creating or retaining parking, others worry that the site doesn’t have enough parking. 

Jim Hornecker, director of real estate for Cub Foods, said in a letter that Allianz Field isn’t providing enough off-street parking. Allianz Field is just west of Midway Cub.

“Cub’s concern is that capacity in these interim parking lots is substantially insufficient for event parking at Allianz Field. Since there’s insufficient on-site parking, Allianz Field attendees regularly park in front of Cub, which is across Pascal Street to the east, without permission or payment. As a result of the parking which overflows into our lot, it becomes very difficult for our customers to park and shop our store. Posting signage on event days has not made any appreciable impact in alleviating the situation,” Hornecker said. Cub is asking that the developers be required to substantially improve the parking situation on their properties.

Others took a positive stance toward the requests and the development moving forward. Melanie McMahon, executive project lead for Mayor Melvin Carter’s administration, said the actions represent an “exciting next step” for developing the area bounded by Pascal Street and St. Anthony, Snelling and University avenues. The development is led by master developer M.A. Mortenson, management company R.K. Midway and Dr. Bill McGuire, the principal owner of Minnesota United. McGuire and his development group have been meeting with area district councils in recent weeks.

St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and Midway Chamber of Commerce representatives urged the council to approve the developers’ requests and allow the project to move forward, citing the economic benefits redevelopment would bring. Chad Kulas, Midway Chamber Executive Director, said the project will bring jobs and “more positive activity for our neighborhood.”

Approvals will allow site work, including $1.4 million in pollution cleanup, to move ahead. The platting subdivides the area for development, and establishes streets and parks. The city requires park land to be dedicated when a plat is approved.

Once environmental cleanup is done, sites can be developed. The goal is to have a four-story office building, full-service hotel, restaurants, a public plaza and children’s playground take shape in the development’s first phase.

Jalali raised concerns that the first phase of development doesn’t include housing. Developer representatives said housing would be included in the project’s next phase. The site’s tax increment financing (TIF) district is expected to generate revenues that can be used for affordable housing projects along the University Avenue corridor, not just on the superblock.

Another issue she raised is whether new development will be locally owned and affordable to people in the area. “Sure, it will be new, but will it be accessible to us?” she said, recalling the Midway Center businesses lost to redevelopment and to civil unrest.

The redevelopment project’s next stop is the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Commission, for further action on parks and open space plans.