Banfield to open site on Larpenter

Banfield Pet Hospital has purchased and plans to expand an existing veterinary clinic on Larpenteur Ave. just west of Lexington.
Banfield has acquired Larpenteur Animal Hospital, 1136 W. Larpenteur. It will also lease the building to the west, at 1144 Larpenteur, and add a vestibule connecting the two buildings, according to David W. Sorenson, the project manager with Colliers, which is doing the construction work for Banfield.
Demolition work already is underway in the west building, Sorenson told District 10’s Land Use Committee on Jan. 6. The company hopes to begin new construction in the 1144 building in February and finish by end of summer. The 1136 building then will be renovated in fall. When finished, the clinic will be more than 8,000 square feet. The project does not require variances or zoning changes.
Banfield has more than 1,000 locations nationwide. The company hopes to maximize the Como site’s proximity to the University of Minnesota’s veterinary school, Sorenson said. The project will include new landscaping, additional lighting, and some parking lot revisions, including the likelihood of eliminating the driveway at Dunlap just south of Larpenteur, Sorenson said. The addition connecting the two buildings will include an elevator to provide accessibility that does not now exist, he said.

Free Food Fridays return
The Como Community Council and Sanneh Foundation are partnering to again distribute free meal boxes on Fridays in January. The meal boxes are available to Ramsey Country residents dealing with financial hardships because of Covid-19. The meal boxes will be distributed in the north parking lot of Niem Phat Buddhist Temple, at Dale and Front, on Jan.15, 22 and 29.
Distribution will be 1:30-3:30 p.m. (or until supplies run out). Reservations are highly recommended; to reserve your box, fill out the form at www.district10comopark.org/mealbox.html. The boxes provide two meals of six servings each.

Call or link into D10 Meetings
Pandemic or not, renters, homeowners, and other community members are always welcome to participate in District 10’s board and committee meetings. You can join either by video conference or by phone.
To obtain links, phone numbers, or other access information, send a request by email to district10@district10comopark.org. Or, call 651-644-3889. Upcoming meetings:
• Board meeting: Tuesday Jan. 19
• Neighborhood Relations: Tuesday Feb. 2
• Land Use: Wednesday Feb. 3
• Environment: Wednesday Feb. 10
All meetings begin at 7 p.m.