The downtown airport, known as Holman Field, will undergo a $29 million upgrade starting this summer. The plan won key pieces of funding in recent months, such as $1 million from the state and another $1 million from 3M Co.  If the Metropolitan Airports Commission can also secure additional funding, the improvements would include a new dike to protect the airfield from flooding. High water and limited space have already prompted the airport’s biggest tenant, the Minnesota National Guard, to move about half of its operations to St. Cloud. The airports commission has begun designing the levee.

LoTo (short for Lowertown) is the latest restaurant in Saint Paul by owner David Fhima--Fhima's.  Located in Galtier Plaza the restaurant overlooks Mears Park.

LoTo still has more to come — a cheese shop, wine store and drive-through window are on the drawing board.

The U.S. Postal Service has announced plans to relocate its downtown Saint Paul facility to Eagan.

Moving this facility, which processes 5 million pieces of mail per day, will make way for the city’s riverfront development and a transit hub at Union Depot.

The downtown facility included 1,100 jobs.

The Postal Service is aiming to complete the relocation by 2009.

The original Wabasha Street Retaining Wall was built in the 1930's when Wabasha Street was cut out of the bluff. Funding for the replacement was approved from the City of St. Paul Capital Improvement Budget (CIB). A committee of representatives from Neighborhood Development Alliance (NeDA), Riverview Economic Development Association (REDA), West Side Citizens Organization (WSCO) along with city staff, local artists, and volunteers selected St. Paul artist Seitu Jones to design the wall.

The wall is approximately 7 feet tall with a concrete base, metal fence, and decorative lighting. The base of the wall features the word "home" in 12 languages of past and current residents of the West Side.

MS&R and ADRZ have been working with the City of Saint Paul to preserve and redevelop a historically significant seven-story concrete frame grain elevator (Municipal Elevator #1) and a one-story companion brick and steel truss building on the Mississippi River. The redevelopment plan calls for turning the one-story structure (known as the Sackhouse) into a new restaurant that will reflect the foods of the Mississippi River and the adjacent seven-story tower (known as the Headhouse) into a phased interpretive center. The plan designates space within the lower floors of the Headhouse to also serve as the main entry, interpretative element, and support space for the restaurant.

Interior and exterior concrete block walls, structural steel, steel decking, concrete floors and roofing are being constructed.  The building is scheduled to be fully enclosed by early summer 2005. The project team, led by BWBR architects, has been working through the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) design process and identifying items needed for purchase. Public bidding of identified items is scheduled for early summer 2005.

Some interesting facts include 2,100 Cubic yards of concrete have been poured, 200 tons of structural steel will be used on the project, (190 tons have been erected) and over 40,000 concrete blocks have been laid.

The venerable former hotel that shares the block with The Lowry building is also undergoing a significant renovation. Building owner John Rupp says he wants to restore the block to an entertainment hot spot. This summer, Rupp hopes to announce the addition of a new restaurant and nightclub that will join nearby foodie-joints Pazzaluna and Sakura by the end of the year. Rupp is meanwhile upgrading the apartments on the Hotel Lowry’s upper levels and restoring the building’s stone exterior. All of the 150 rental units, ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom, will be renovated by mid-2006.
--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

In time for its 95th anniversary, the iconic Rice Park hotel underwent a renovation of its lobby, meeting spaces and guest rooms and suites. The 254 guest rooms will get new Sealy mattresses, down blankets and pillows, lighting, carpet, drapes, armoires, televisions, chairs and ottomans. The new harvest gold, terra cotta and blue-green color scheme was chosen to represent Minnesota's natural environment. In addition, the hotel lobby is renovated. A new lobby bar is installed and a window overlooking St. Peter Street has been added. There is a new gas fireplace installed in the lobby. The hotel's meeting rooms are expanded and renovated. The hotel remained fully operational throughout construction, which was completed in April.The lobby now offers a new bar with additional seating and wireless Internet connection. A newly remodeled restaurant, M St. Cafe — “M” stands for Market Street — is now open.

It’s not yet on the drawing board, but an idea to build a large hotel near the St. Paul RiverCentre convention facility is the thrust of a new city-commissioned study to begin in May 2005. In an effort led by the Convention and Visitors Bureau and other agencies, consultants will gauge demand for the hotel as the city aims to court bigger convention groups to
town. Civic boosters have floated a few possible locations, including the top of the streetlevel parking ramp across from RiverCentre, Cleveland Circle and the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Initial results are expected by Fall 2005.

Eager to do something with an underused space on a pivotal downtown street, property owners Frauenshuh Cos. say they’ll build a 17- to 20- story tower anchored by a restaurant and other retail spaces on the first floor topped with a small extended-stay hotel and about 70 condominiums. Frauenshuh officials say they are also awaiting the outcome of talks between city officials and Target Corp. about the prospect of a downtown Target store there. The developer hopes to break ground by early spring of 2006 and finish the estimated $55 million project by late 2007.  The site, now a parking lot, used to host a complex of vacant stores known as Wabasha Court before they were razed three years ago.
--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

Once a vaudeville house that played host to Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers and George Burns, the Palace Theatre (formerly known as the Orpheum) closed its doors in February after Brave New Workshop ended its run of “Minnesota: It’s Not Just For Lutherans Anymore.” But arts-and-culture enthusiasts were heartened by a couple of city-commissioned studies that found the building to be structurally sound and ripe for renovations estimated at $11 million. The building’s owners are exploring possible reuses.
--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

A portion of the 4-acre, cityowned surface parking lot known as Cleveland Circle will be transformed into the Smith Avenue Transit Center. As part of this $24 million project, a new Smith Avenue extension will bisect the site from Kellogg Boulevard to Fifth Street. The new transit center, a 600-car public parking ramp that will sit on top of a Metro Transit bus layover station, will occupy the northern half of the site. Funded by the city and federal governments and the Metropolitan Council, construction will begin this summer and should be completed by late summer of 2006.

Cleveland Circle’s southern half remains up for grabs, possibly for an entertainment and retail complex. Redevelopment of that portion had been in limbo while Mayor Randy Kelly attempted to land a Minnesota Twins ballpark next to the site.
--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

This $46-million enlargement project will include new headquarters for MPR, recognized as one of the largest public radio stations in the United States.

The project will result in a doubling of the size of the noncommercial radio station and will allow MPR to increase the scope of its operations while consolidating existing facilities.

In order to accommodate space for the expansion, the former headquarters of the St. Paul Public Housing Agency were demolished at 480 Cedar Street in downtown St. Paul. The agency's offices were located adjacent to the current MPR headquarters. (The St. Paul Public Housing Agency has moved another building on Wabasha and 11th streets.)

The expansion project has been in the planning stages since 1999. The city of St. Paul loaned $3.3 million to the project.

The end result will be a 120,000-square-foot building,

A new three-level parking ramp next to the hotel opened in April. The Liffey, the hotel’s Irish pub, opened its new, second-story outdoor patio in May.

Workers broke ground this spring on an $18 million, 100,000-square-foot specialty heath care center developed by the St. Paul Heart Clinic and Pulmonary Critical Care Associates on the north end of United’s campus. The new building, expected to be done early next year, will house about 125 physicians and 500 support staff.
--Laura Yuen,  Pioneer Press

HealthEast officials announced a $70 million plan to expand and renovate St. Joseph's Hospital in downtown St. Paul.

Construction, which will begin in March 2006, will include a 175,000-square-foot, five-story patient tower adjacent to the hospital's parking ramp, a 15,000-square-foot addition to a remodeled emergency room, a $500,000 helipad, a new lobby and new homes for its Heart Center and Neurovascular Institute.

The city is waiting to hear from developer Sherman Rutzick on whether he thinks it’s feasible to preserve the 75-yearold former police headquarters and convert it into condos. Rutzick plans to build a 15-story condominium tower on a parking lot next to the building, a row of 10 town houses topped with six stories of condos, and possibly 32 condos in the renovated Public Safety Building. The $54 million project, called Capitol View Towers, would sell housing units with an average price of $390,000.

--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

400,000 sq. ft. office building for the Department of Human Services. The building will be eight stories plus a mechanical penthouse. Structure will be steel frame. Exterior envelope is masonry, with precast concrete. Standard mechanical and electrical services for an office facility. A post-tensioned concrete parking ramp is designed for 482 cars, open air style with lowest level mechanically ventilated. St. Paul Fire Station No. 8 will be located within the ramp.

This $101 million projected is scheduled for completion Fall 2005.

The 324,000 sq. ft. office building for the Departments of Agriculture and Health staff who interact with the lab functions will be five stories with a mechanical penthouse. The structure will be reinforced concrete. Exterior envelope will include precast panels, & curtain wall system. Typical mechanical and electrical services for an office facility.

This $74 million project is slated for completion in Fall 2005.

August 6-7, 2005

The Mississippi River Challenge is a two-day journey from Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park to Grey Cloud Island. Participants travel with voyageurs, paddle the only gorge on the Mississippi, and negotiate the cavernous St. Anthony and Ford Locks.

Pledge funds raised through the Mississippi River Challenge directly support Friends of the Mississippi River's work to protect the River in the Twin Cites region.

Raspberry Island continues to be slowly tranformed into an entertainment destination.  The renovation of the Minnesota Boat Club in 2003 created a beautiful riverfront destination for group gatherings.  The plush, green sod donated by Toro, provides a sitting area for concert attendees at the Schubert Club Band Shell.  Money has been secured to replace the cement revetment around Raspberry Island with decorative rip rap that compliments the river's edge along Harriet Island.

Phase I:  Construction work is complete on the $3 million first phase of the park.  Features include a large plush green grass area, three fountains, sitting walls and direct connections to the river's edge.  Construction started Summer 2004 and was recently completed in Spring 2005.

Bronze statutes will be installed by late summer and a Grand Opening of the park will follow.

Phase II:  A federal TEA-21 grant of $1.13 million (for 2006) has been announced to develop river’s edge treatment along the Upper Landing Park similar to that on Harriet Island.

As fall 2004 came to a close, most of the construction on the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary was completed. All contaminated soils have been removed or covered, and the foot and bicycle paths are graded.  Native flowers have been planted along the spring-fed stream that meanders along the toe of the bluff.

Saint Paul's newest park, the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, opened to the public for the first time this spring. A community celebration on May 21 combined family fun and recognition of the many partners who have helped make the sanctuary possible.

While there is still a great deal of work to be done before the sanctuary's entryways are completed, vegetation is restored and its many cultural resources are interpreted, the project is at an important moment in the history of this exciting project.

The $3 million separated pedestrian (8 foot) and bike (10 foot) trail from Randolph to Ontario Street is complete.  A small final segment in front of Upper Landing Park is now finished.

A federal TEA-21 grant of $1.13 million (for 2006) has been announced for river’s edge treatment, similar to Harriet Island, along the trail in front of the Upper Landing project.

A federal TEA-21 grant of $406,000 (for 2006) has been announced for an interpretive overlook at the barge fleeting area.

The new North Quadrant neighborhood park is under construction with the playground already completed.  Additionally, the park will contain a lawn for field play, a fountain, gardens and a dog walking area.  The park should be completed in Summer 2005.

On the old jail site, the builders would tear down the jail and construct about 105 riverfront condos below Kellogg Boulevard. Also, a development team headed by Welsh Cos. would redevelop and lease out about 25,000 square feet of streetlevel space in the remaining county-owned buildings to restaurants and retailers. The developers recently submitted their plans to the city for the estimated $100 million project and intend to close on the jail in August and the “F” building in March.
--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

Nobody seems to know when or if new condominiums will ever be built on a parcel abutting the Bruce Vento
Nature Sanctuary. A land dispute between developer Jeff Wallis and former partner Mark Saliterman has boiled over in court, leaving plans for a 350-unit project hanging in the balance. Wallis and his new development partners recently listed their 2½- acre property for sale. Meanwhile, Bruce Vento park activists worry about the density of the project, saying it appears to be retreating from its original focus of sustainable development powered by alternative energy. 
--Laura Yuen, Pioneer Press

Market rate townhomes and flats by David Bernard/Rottlund Homes.  Construction is complete.

The projects construction started early summer 2002 and was completed in 2003.  The first floor holds several retail locations.

The neighborhood will incorporate principles of traditional neighborhood design and will provide a mix of housing types affordable at many levels of income. Housing units will range from senior assisted living to condominiums and townhomes to single-family homes. The Victoria Park neighborhood is poised to take its place among St. Paul's other venerable neighborhoods.

Vacant for three decades, the historic Lowertown warehouse that once stored pipes and steam fittings will get new life as an affordable apartment complex. This summer, the Central Community Housing Trust will begin renovating the building into about 70 studios with rents affordable to lowincome households. The $11.5 million project, paid for by the
state, city and other sources, should be done by summer 2006.

The West Side Flats project is the first piece of housing to be built within the West Side Flats Master Plan and Development Guidelines.  The project will provide park, open space and other public amenities as called for in the Master Plan.  Lander Sherman is working with the West Side community and City of Saint Paul to determine the height of the building.

Union Depot Lofts are a historic renovation of Saint Paul's 1923 train depot ideally located in Saint Paul's Lowertown District.  The development includes a variety of two and three level units along with a rooftop community room anddeck.  Union Depot Lofts is located near the Farmers' Market, Mears Park and several art galleries and restaurants.

The 162,000 sq. ft. Rossmor building was purchased in June 2003 for $5 million by Pak Properties.  The $8.6 million renovation of the building, on Robert Street, includes 109 condominiums.  All units are sold.

Riverview at Upper Landing is the newest phase of the Upper Landing urban village along the Mississippi River. Construction of two mid-rise buildings is progressing on schedule and apartments will be available for occupancy in fall 2005.

River Park Lofts is 119 units with exposed lumber and brick in Saint Paul’s Lowertown community.  Built in 1905, the development is now connected to Saint Paul's skyway system creating indoor links to grocery locations and the YMCA.  The building is located at 245 E. 6th Street and 60% of the units are accounted for.

The old 1888 James J. Hill office building has been converted into 53 condominium units.  The $23.5 million project includes a new parking ramp at Kellogg and Wall Street.  46 units in the seven story building are currently spoken for.   The location has 137,624 sq. ft. of livable space.