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It’s been almost seven years since the West St. Paul YMCA closed, and redevelopment is finally moving forward with site work on the 150 Thompson project now underway. The project includes apartments, townhouses, retail space with a restaurant, and a new city park.
Why it matters: This is a major redevelopment opportunity that’s been years in the making. The project pulls together several vacant properties and creates a new public park on the River-to-River Greenway trail with the library nearby. The city stepping in to purchase the property ensured public space and a sit-down restaurant would be part of the deal.
Project Details
- Where: The project is at 150 Thompson Avenue, the former YMCA site, stretching south to Crawford Drive and west to Robert Street and incorporating the former AutoZone building.
- What: The 11-acre site will host multiple developments:
- Housing: Two five-story apartment buildings with 457 market rate apartments and 19 rental townhouses to complete the existing townhouse development on Crawford Drive.
- Retail: The 7,100-square-foot former AutoZone building will be rehabbed to include sit-down restaurant and other retail space. No restaurant has been identified yet.
- Park: The city is in the process of finalizing the design of a new 2.48-acre public park as part of this project. Located in the southeast corner with views of the pond, it’s envisioned as a community gathering space with an amphitheater.
- When: The timeline has been pushed back by roughly a year, with retail and townhomes to be completed by the end of 2027, the first apartment building by 2028, and construction on the second apartment building starting after that (with completion potentially by 2030).
- Cost: Total project cost is around $145 million. The city approved nearly $20 million in tax increment financing (TIF) for the project over two phases.
- Trees: 156 quality trees will be cut down for construction, but they will be replaced with at least 217 new trees.
Park Details
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee met last night to refine details of the park design. So far the concept includes an amphitheater and open lawn for events, picnic shelter, play area, urban beach, splash feature, restrooms, and more.
- Input: The public will have additional opportunities to give input at the upcoming Night Market, city open house, and an online survey.
- Cost: When the Council approved the project last December, there was a $5-7 million gap in park funding. Since then, the state offered $1 million. City Manager Nate Burkett has proposed closing the remaining gap with multiple sources, though City Council hasn’t officially approved that approach.
- Timing: Burkett hopes the park can be done by the summer of 2028.
Project History
Here’s a timeline of this property since the original sale of the YMCA back in 2018:
- Late 2018 – Hy-Vee finalizes purchase agreement with YMCA, sale closes in early 2019.
- October 2019 – YMCA’s original building closes.
- 2020 – YMCA building demolished.
- April 2022 – Hy-Vee abandons redevelopment plans.
- June 2022 – City reviews conceptual plans and makes an offer for Hy-Vee land.
- August 2022 – EDA approves purchase agreement with Hy-Vee (though plan is to transfer purchase to a developer) with detailed conceptual plan.
- September 2022 – Developer presents preliminary proposal.
- December 2022 – When the city couldn’t finalize a developer agreement in time, the city bought the Hy-Vee/YMCA land to control development.
- May 2023 – State gives TIF approval, an issue that was holding up redevelopment.
- June 2023 – Preliminary development agreement approved.
- October 2023 – Project update for City Council.
- November 2023 – Public open house and survey results.
- January 2024 – Preliminary development agreement extended.
- April 2024 – Project update for City Council.
- July 2024 – Preliminary development agreement extended.
- February 2025 – Environmental review and public comment.
- March 2025 – Development agreement extended.
- May 2025 – Parks open house and update for City Council.
- June 2025 – Park survey and open house.
- July 2025 – Full project details, plus this project triggered a prevailing wage change and debate.
- Fall 2025 – The project dominated City Council meetings: August, September, October, and final approval in December.
- May 2026 – Delays and cost increases as Greco struggles to secure financing, plus state bonding for the park.
- September 2026 – Financing is secured and construction begins.
Why did YMCA close?: This entire project started after the YMCA decided to sell their aging building in the midst of an evolving approach to community services.
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