The Ramsey County Board on Tuesday picked Los Angeles-based AECOM’s plan to develop the former West Publishing site in downtown St. Paul over two other proposals. If successful, the project would transform St. Paul’s skyline and provide access to the Mississippi riverfront from downtown.
The board officially moved to continue talks with AECOM for the site, choosing the developer’s vision over other proposals. Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates and Bloomington-based Frauenshuh Inc. presented a joint plan for the site, and Prairie Island Community also expressed interest. The board agreed to a six-month due-diligence period with AECOM.
AECOM is proposing to build up to four buildings along Kellogg Boulevard on a nearly 12-acre site. The buildings would include upscale apartments and condominiums, offices, a hotel and retail space — and possibly a waterfall feature cascading down the bluffs toward the Mississippi River.
“The Achilles’ heel isn’t St. Paul,” said Brian Dusek, managing principal of AECOM. “There hasn’t been a demand because there hasn’t been development.”
The project would include a terrace that would step down from Kellogg Boulevard across the railroad tracks and Shepard Road to the river. Towers would rise above the terrace, which would have parking ramps below. Two towers — including a boutique hotel and 250-plus apartments and condominium units — would be included in the first phase, set to be complete by 2021 at a total cost of $200 million to $280 million.
Phase Two would include a 12- to 20-story office tower with an estimated completion date of 2023. It would cost between $150 million and $220 million. An even taller tower — up to 36 stories — would be part of Phase Three, with an estimated completion date of 2026. That would cost between $270 million and $400 million.
Ramsey County is hoping to finally get the site developed after several failed attempts over the past 20 years and a $17 million demolition and cleanup of the former publishing office and jail.
“When we first invested in preparing this site for development, we knew we had a unique opportunity to bring vibrancy to downtown St. Paul in a way that has never been done before,” said Ramsey County Board Chair Jim McDonough in a news release. “AECOM has an innovative, sustainable vision for the site and shares our goal of increasing access to downtown Saint Paul’s incredible natural asset – the Mississippi River.”
The county board was steadfastly against providing tax increment financing (TIF) for the project, and representatives for AECOM are planning the project accordingly. The board said it would consider different funding opportunities, such as tax abatement, during the six-month due-diligence period.
