There will be talk of progress and growth and jobs and high-end grocery items at Monday’s long-awaited ground-breaking on the Penfield project in downtown St. Paul.
Mayor Chris Coleman will speak at the 2 p.m. event, when the shovels come out at the site of the old downtown police headquarters and fire station on the block bounded by 10th, 11th, Minnesota and Robert streets.
The $62 million building will be six stories high, and have 254 market-rate apartments (high-end, not subsidized) atop a Lunds grocery store.
Also attending today’s event:
- HRA Board Chair Dave Thune
- Tres Lund, CEO, Lund Food Holdings
- Harry Melander, president, St. Paul Building and Construction Trades
- Andrew Schlack, chair, Capitol River Council
The project has evolved over the years, shrinking from an $130 million private, 33-story project in 2004 to the smaller effort built by the city with help from a $41 million HUD loan.
Wow!
As a Saint Paul taxpayer, I guess I own an apartment building now. When can I expect my first dividend check?