Residents and history-lovers hoping to save St. Paul’s first fire station from demolition now have a few more months to try to accomplish their goal.
Developer and building owner David Brooks and a coalition of four community groups and historical nonprofits he was seemingly at odds with last month have now agreed to work together to try and find a plan for the building that is “amenable” to both sides, according to Ariel Howe, an attorney representing the community groups.
Brooks had planned to raze the facility at the corner of Leech Street and Grand Avenue near United and Children’s hospitals to make way for a 109-unit Marriott. Construction on the hotel was expected to start this summer.
When community members got wind of the plan, a coalition banded together and filed a civil suit in Ramsey County Court last month that aimed to halt the tear-down by way of having the property declared a “protectable natural resource” under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act due to its historic value.
Plaintiffs include the Little Bohemia Neighborhood Association, the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation and other community groups.
The fire station — also the oldest standing building that once served a municipal purpose in St. Paul — was built in 1871 for the Hope Engine Company, a volunteer firefighting unit. It was the city’s first fire station.
Brooks and business partner Jim Kelly bought the property from Kraus-Anderson Construction Co., which annexed the former fire station into a warehouse built on the site years ago.
A hearing on the civil suit scheduled to take place Monday was canceled as the parties spend the next 90 days trying to reach an agreement on the building’s future, Howe said.
“Essentially what this gives us is more time for the building to remain standing while we can discuss options with (Brooks),” Howe said.
The ultimate aim is to find a way to expand the site the station sits on to create enough room for it to remain standing while a Marriott is constructed next door, according to Dave Thune, a former St. Paul City Council member who has been involved in efforts to preserve the building.
Thune said he doesn’t know which adjacent buildings would be affected to accomplish that plan but said the involved parties have had discussions with city staff to explore options
“At this point, everyone agrees we want to do it, we just have to make sure it works and the devil is in the details,” Thune said. “Brooks has an (agreement) with Marriott and that presents a challenge because they have a formula for success, so we have to make sure that whatever the solution is, it accommodates that.”
He commended Rebecca Noecker, his replacement on the council, and Brooks, who has a history of historical redevelopment in St. Paul, for working together on behalf of historical preservation.
Noecker said she’d met with city staff and a representative for Brooks at the station recently to talk through various scenarios.
“Right now it’s about figuring out how to reconfigure the site so you can still accommodate the Marriott and (save the station),” Noecker said. “It fits, but it leads to issues with the other properties that are there… That’s why I am spending my time talking to all the parties involved to see what we might be able to work out.”
Noecker said she couldn’t go in to further detail due to the “sensitive” nature of the negotiations underway.
She too thanked Brooks for his willingness to work with the community.
“I am thrilled Dave Brooks is the developer on this project… His respect for history is truly commendable and it is great to have a willing partner in this situation,” she said.
Brooks did not respond to requests for comment.
If the parties can’t reach a solution over the next 90 days, the civil suit will proceed in court, Howe said.