Thanks to The North 40 Tavern for their support. A north woods tavern somewhere in the middle of a big city. They regularly rotate tap beers, so stop in to see what’s currently flowing.
Last night’s West St. Paul City Council meeting included an update on the 150 Thompson project, approving a significant Council pay raise, and a discussion on affordable housing.
150 Thompson Update
During the Economic Development Authority (EDA) workshop, the Council heard an update on the 150 Thompson project (former YMCA/Hy-Vee) from the developer Greco.
- Delays: Interest rates and construction costs have delayed the project, though Greco is seeing more stability in the market and struck an optimistic tone.
- Project: Greco is proposing about 450 units of market rate apartments to be built in two phases, 27 market rate townhomes, an 8,000 square foot restaurant/brewery, 6,500 square feet of commercial space (coffee shop and fitness center were mentioned as possibilities, though nothing is final and this is the first item in line to be cut if necessary), and a plaza and public amenities.
- Cost: Total project cost is $134 million. Greco is asking for $18.3 million in tax increment financing (TIF). There are two phases to the TIF, one with a 26-year term and one with a 17-year term. The city argues that TIF is necessary to make the project possible, it will be a catalyst for future development, it allows for the public amenities without cost to current tax payers, and when the TIF eventually expires it should add a significant boost to the tax base. Without TIF, the city would have little control over the project and there would likely be no restaurant or public amenities.
- Timeline: A five month environmental assessment will now start while the developer begins official planning and the city finalizes the public amenity piece (with more public engagement to come). The city expects formal agreements to come in late 2024 or early 2025, followed by site plan reviews, with construction starting as early as summer 2025.
- Action: The EDA unanimously approved an amended preliminary development agreement, extending the deadline from the end of July to next March.
Affordable Housing
During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), Council covered affordable housing policy. They reviewed a draft report on affordable housing and considered potential steps forward.
- The report covered why affordable housing is important to the city, the difficulty of defining “affordable,” and current realities.
- The city has added 783 units of affordable housing in the last seven years, and 475 units of market rate housing in the same time frame. That’s more affordable housing than any other city in Dakota County by far, almost more than every city combined. Since grouping affordable housing together is not recommended, City Manager Nate Burkett said that would impact his recommendations going forward.
- Potential solutions included continuing to strategically add housing to balance the mix of housing and supply and demand, exploring inclusionary zoning to add affordable housing units to a market rate project, exploring an overlay district to allow more density in certain areas of the city (for example, along Robert Street with the coming bus rapid transit line), and developing a program to use state sales tax funds earmarked for affordable housing.
- Next: Council was supportive of all the potential solutions, though they need more research and will come back to the Council for more input in the future.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Council salary: After tabling the vote at the last meeting to an absent Council member, the Council unanimously approved a pay raise effective in 2025. It amounts to a 26% increase in the first year, and was approved unanimously by the Charter Commission.
- Wendy’s: The Council unanimously approved an amendment to the planned development for the proposed Wendy’s, allowing for three drive thrus in the Cub Foods outlot as opposed to the two originally approved back in 2010.
Engage
- Watch: City Council meetings are archived online. You can also watch a video recap from Council Members Robyn Gulley and John Justen.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
We believe in government transparency and provide these West St. Paul City Council recaps with the support of our members.
