St. Paul Voice July 2020 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

The St. Paul Artists happy with new West Side digs

River cruises return

Page 8

Page 7

Volume 54 | Number 7

Robert Street Bridge closure begins July 11 Tim Spitzack Editor

If you are one of the estimated 18,000 people who cross the Mississippi River each day on Robert Street, you’ll need to find a new route beginning July 11. That’s when MNDOT will close the Robert Street Bridge to seal coat the deck, add a layer of blacktop and cement, and do other preventative maintenance work to improve drainage. The bridge will be closed through August. The bridge has served motorists for nearly 100 years. It was built in 1926 to replace a wrought-iron bridge that spanned the river since 1885. Noted for its rainbow arch design, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This is the first of several projects along Robert Street from Annapolis Street to Interstate 94 that will take place through 2026. Work will include: • Resurfacing and striping between Annapolis Street on the West Side and 11th Street in downtown St. Paul. • Striping between Plato Boulevard to the intersection at Cesar Chavez Street, reducing the number of lanes from five and four lanes to three lanes. This is intended to improve safety in an area that has seen many accidents involving pedestrians. Robert St. Bridge / Page 5

Your Community News & Information Source

Multi-family housing projects dominate the market

Minneapolis-based developer Reuter Walton Co. is building a 7-story, 136-unit apartment complex at 84 Water St., near Harriet Island. It will feature studio, 1- and 2-bedroom market-rate apartments, a fitness center, pool and community room. Rent begins at $1,100 and occupancy is expected in early 2021. Tim Spitzack Editor

t. Paul continues to see a surge in rental housing projects, and developers remain optimistic that the trend will continue. Proof is easily seen in the growing number of multi-family complexes now underway or scheduled to begin this year in and around downtown.

These projects are a bright spot in a housing market that has seen its share of fluctuation this year. A new report by the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors reveals that the overall housing market in St. Paul was strong for the first quarter of 2020, but the second quarter was a rollercoaster, as expected due to Housing projects / Page 2

July 2020

Summer learning continues online Tim Spitzack Editor

Distance learning for local students is extending into the summer. St. Paul Public Schools is hosting two online instruction sessions to help students who are falling behind, and those who need help with English language development. Typically, the District serves 11,300 students each summer. According to spokesperson Hans Ott, the District had success this spring with distance learning—95 percent of the students used their iPads regularly to connect over the internet. Those without an internet service provider were able to get a hotspot from the District. In addition, support staff have been available for technical help and to assist with distance learning. Help is available in multiple languages. The District is continuing its meal program this summer as well and is delivering free meals to the homes of youth age 18 and under. Curbside pick-up is also available on Fridays at three locations. For times and locations, visit www.spps.org/Page/38722 or call 651-767-8100. Each meal box contains seven meals for breakfast and seven for lunch. Last summer the District served 298,000 meals from June to August. ISD 197 - Typically, ISD 197 serves 400 elementary, 200 middle school, and 200 high school students during its summer session, which is in July. Just like this spring, classes will be held online. Summer school / Page 4

Paddle Share: the perfect social-distancing adventure Ginny Contreras Sawyer Contributor

ack in March when Gov. Tim Walz implored all Minnesotans to shelter in place, I could practically hear the collective plea of the people: “We’ll give you March and April, maybe even part of May, but please don’t take our summer!” Unfortunately, this beast of a virus seems to be doing just that, although restric-

tions are loosening. As a nature junkie who enjoys all things outdoors, by early June I was starting to feel desperate and was drowning in self-pity at the prospect of a lost season. Then a life preserver was thrown in my direction when I learned of Mississippi Paddle Share. “The program has been around for almost five years but not many people know about it,” said Lauren De-

Gennaro, spokesperson for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), a division of the National Park Service that manages the program. “We’re hoping to get the word out better this year.” DeGennaro met me at the Paddle Share station at Pickerel Lake in Lilydale Regional Park to guide me through the process of renting a kayak and to answer my questions. In prepara-

tion for our meeting, I had scoured Paddleshare.org and learned that there are five routes stretching from Coon Rapids to St. Paul: Nature Route, Nature to City, City Plus, City, and Pickerel Lake, which is the one station not connected to the river. It’s an ideal place for novice kayakers to gain experience before venturing further afield. Paddle Share / Page 6

E conomic Development Housing projects

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from page 1

COVID-19. As of April, closed sales increased slightly more than 13% compared to last year, and virtually all sellers received their asking price. The median sales price increased about 12%, from $210,000 to $235,000, and new listings were up 11%, from 1,253 to 1,396. Reports continue to abound of sellers receiving multiple offers above their asking price, and low mortgage rates have helped sustain the market. Rates on a 30-year fixed loan are at around 3.24%. “March started off strong, and that strength returned later in April and into May; however, the latter half of March and the start of April saw setbacks due to COVID-19,” said Patrick Ruble, president of the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors, in a statement. “Realtors are busy, and we’ve seen gains for both buyers and sellers in late-April and May.” As of April, the median Twin Cities home price increased just short of 9% to

$305,000, a new high for the metro area. New construction sales rose nearly 5%, and single-family homes were up 11 percent. Townhome sales dipped 5%, and condo sales were the low performer, dropping 33%. In St. Paul, homes in the Summit neighborhood had the highest median sales price at $440,000. The North End had the lowest, at $176,000. Prices in downtown St. Paul increased slightly, from $210,500 to $215,000, and properties sold quicker. Average days on the market dropped from 84 to 63. West Side home prices jumped 10%, from $199,900 to $220,000, with an average of 42 days on the market, down from 57. Prices in West St. Paul rose more than 11%, from $225,106 to $250,837, but homes took longer to sell, jumping from 35 days to 55. In Mendota Heights, median sales prices dropped about 14%, from $383,000

Seven Corners Gateway at 7th and Kellogg - Kaeding Development Group of Bloomington is developing a 144-unit apartment complex across the street from the Xcel Center. The complex will feature studio, 1- and 2-bedroom “plush” rental units, a shared office suite, sky deck, private underground parking and a street level bar and restaurant. A 120-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel and a 40,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza are also part of the project. to $330,000. Days on the market decreased from 85 to 63. For more information, visit www.spaar.com. Here are several multifamily projects underway in our readership area:

Madison Equities Local developer Madison Equities remains bullish on the downtown St. Paul housing market. The longtime commercial developer, which owns 18 office

buildings, has been turning its attention to the housing market recently to meet the needs of millennials and empty-nesters alike. Owner Jim Crockarell has these four projects in the works: Degree of Honor Building, 325 Cedar Ave. - Built

in 1960, this former office complex will feature 80 market-rate studios, 1- and 2-bedroom units. Amenities include a fitness center, lounge and pet spa. A childcare company is also expected to lease space in the building. The $25-$30

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E conomic Development million project will be completed this fall, with occupancy in October. Park Square Court building, 400 Sibley St. - This historic 1880s-era building is one of the last brick-and-timber buildings in St. Paul, according to Crockarell. Work will begin this summer on the $35-$40 million project to convert former office space into 100 market-rate apartments. Occupancy is expected in midto late-2021. Lowry Apartments, 345 Wabasha St. N. - This $25 million project is expected to be completed this fall. Over the past two years, the 11-story building has been converted to 150 marketrate apartments. Most are 1-bedrooms, with rents starting at $850. One of the signature features of the project is a rooftop patio and bar. The building also houses Gray Duck Tavern, owned by Madison Equities. Empire Building, 400 Robert St. N. - Next spring Madison Equities will begin work at the Empire Building and invest $35 million to create 150 units, predominantly studio and onebedroom.

Your community news and information source

The Nicole

386 Wabasha St.

By July 1, the first tenants are scheduled to move into The Nicole, a 226-apartment complex in the former Ecolab University Center Tower at Sixth and Wabasha. Chicago-based Freedom Development Group LLC has renovated the building to include luxury apartments, ranging from studios to twobedrooms. Pets are allowed. Amenities include free WiFi, resident lounge, fitness center, business center, in-unit washer and dryer, attached parking, 24-hour concierge, and a 12,000-square-foot Jet Foods supermarket on the ground floor, scheduled to open in September.

340 Sibley Lofts 340 N. Sibley St.

Commercial Investors Group of Maple Grove is investing $5 million to convert the former Station 4 bar and nightclub building at Fourth and Sibley into 23 marketrate apartments. The historic 1880s-era building will feature studios, 1- and 2-bedroom units and live/work units, along with retail on the main floor. Rents range

from $975-$2,025. Amenities include stainless steel appliances, white Shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, full wall windows, high ceilings and hardwood floors. The building is expected to open July 1.

241 Kellogg Blvd. Minneapolis-based developer Reuter Walton Co. expects to open this 7-story, 93-unit apartment complex this fall. It will feature studio, 1- and 2-bedroom market-rate apartments, a fitness center and community room.

Fitzgerald/ Viking Apartments

467 Wabasha St. Ed Conley of CCI Properties is renovating this 4-story 1890 Queen Anne-style building into 34 studio and one-bedroom apartments, featuring hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Studios begin at $850 and one-bedrooms at $1,095. Seven of the units meet affordable housing criteria. The building will have an

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exercise room and dedicated parking. The $2 million project is expected to open in September.

The Gallery St. Paul

460 Wacouta St. Burnsville-based Chase Realty began work in June on a $25 million project to construct a five-story building with 140 market-rate studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Rents range from $1,200-$2,200. Amenities include a gym, lounge, rooftop patio, and underground and surface parking. The building is expected to open in August 2021.

Waterford Bay Apartments

380 Randolph Ave. Chicago-based developer Stoneleigh Cos. is constructing a 243-unit building on the site of the former Xcel Energy Island Station power plant. The $60 million development is expected to open in the fall of 2021. It will feature market-rate micro, studio, 1- and 2-bedroom luxury apartments. Rents range from $1,100 to

$2,220. Amenities include 9-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and private balconies. The site will have paved walking and biking trails, a public kayak launch and connections to the regional trail system.

Gateway Place

895 S. Robert St. West St. Paul The Dakota County CDA plans to begin work this summer on a new 54-unit workforce housing complex, featuring 21 studios and 33 1-bedroom apartments. The projected $10 million project will include a fitness room, community room and underground parking. Occupancy is scheduled for late summer 2021.

Oppidan Development Oppidan Development expects to start construction in August on a $28 million 153-unit market-rate apartment complex in West St. Paul on the former Thompson Oaks Golf Course property near Thompson and Oakdale. The complex

will have studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units and open in late 2021. Amenities include a fitness center, community room and patio, rooftop deck, media room with theater seating, concierge area, heated underground parking, dog wash and bike storage.

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The St. Paul Voice is published monthly and delivered to 16,500 homes and businesses in St. Paul’s West Side, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Lilydale & Sunfish Lake. Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack Copy Editor: Leslie Martin Staff Writers: John E. Ahlstrom, Amy Johnson

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St. Paul Voice - July 2020 - Page 3

N ews Briefs Summer school

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“Feedback from students and families during distance learning showed that they valued face-to-face interaction through Google Meets,” said assistant superintendent Peter May. “We have increased those opportunities already this spring and plan for such face-to-face

online interaction to be the primary method of learning this summer. In addition, we will provide more individual support by having lower staff-to-student ratios than we do during the regular school year.” ISD 197 is operating its summer meal program

through Aug. 21. In years past, it has enlisted the help of volunteers but this year it is being run entirely by Child Nutrition staff. Meal boxes with breakfast and lunch are available for curbside pickup 9 a.m.-noon, Monday through Friday (except July 3) at Garlough Elementary School, 1740 Charlton St., West St. Paul. The District expects to serve 15,000 total meals this summer.

Student notes

Tschida, Julia Wang, Jake Wendt, Emiliana Almanza Lopez, Emilee Skadron University of WisconsinMilwaukee: Emma Abrahamson earned a bachelor of science in the College of Letters and Sciences University of WisconsinLa Crosse dean’s list: Ellie Quehl University of WisconsinStevens Point honors list: Joseph Quehl, Vivian Olmstead Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota dean’s list: Thomas Stang, Justine Cobbett and Kathryn Wohlberg Whitman College: Doua-

cha Vue earned a bachelor of arts in religion, graduating cum laude U.S. Naval Academy: Kallman Parry earned a bachelor of science in cyber operations and a commission as a U.S. Navy Ensign. University of North Dakota dean’s list: Augustus Postiglione, Connor Boland, Jordan Reinke, Levi Roggenbuck, Oliver Nordlie Becker College dean’s list: Kangshuang Wang University of Iowa dean’s list: Matthew Richards Northland College: Blake Frost earned a bachelor of science in sociology and social justice

from page 1

University of MinnesotaCrookston: Zakeeyah Taddese earned a bachelor of science in accounting University of Utah dean’s list: Joe Wassweiler Minnesota State and Technical College: Grace Luberda was named to the dean’s list and Rachael Trainor was named to the president’s list. University of WisconsinMadison dean’s list: Max Buell, Eve Meltzer, Adam Tschida, Hannah Weintraut, Sarina Boley, Juliet Dupont, Max Gantman, Josie Hall, Dennis Kelly, Anders Kilen, Joseph Schwirtz, Marina

In late May, St. Paul resident Alexandra Nelson organized a food and supply drive at El Burrito Mercado to benefit people affected by the vandalism and civil unrest surrounding the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. More than $100,000 in goods were collected for people served by nine local nonprofits and organizations, including Neighborhood House, Native American Community Development Institute, All Nations Church, Mujeres Latinas, El Colegio, Sheridan Spanish Immersion School, Mariano Espinosa Amigos de la Lake and Sanford. Volunteers at a May 31 distribution event gave out more than 200 bags filled with food and household supplies.

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COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES St. Paul College 235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul 651-846-1600 https://saintpaul.edu

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E conomic Development Robert St. Bridge

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from page 1

• The southbound lane will be striped to a single lane between Wood and Congress streets. The northbound lane will remain two lanes from Wood Street to Plato Boulevard. • Wood Street to Congress Street will be one lane in each direction with a two-way left turn lane down the middle. • Repairs to the Robert Street/George Street viaduct. • Reconstruct pedestrian ramps and sidewalk crossings to meet ADA standards.

Capt. Louis Robert, the namesake of the Robert Street Bridge Amy Johnson Staff Writer

he historic Robert Street Bridge that crosses the Mississippi in downtown St. Paul is hard to miss. Its iconic rainbow arches lift 30 feet above the street, and its Moderne architecture can be seen in its smooth curves. Built in 1926, the bridge is nearly the length of five football fields. Its arches are reinforced by multiple concrete ribs, giving them the rainbow effect. The bridge was designed to accommodate cars and streetcars, while allowing railway and river traffic below. The bridge and the street are named after Capt. Louis Robert, a French-Canadian settler who was a trapper, riverboat captain and later

a businessman in St. Paul. Born in 1811 near St. Louis, Mo., he married Marie Rose Turpin in 1839, and they had five children. He trapped and traded furs in the Rocky Mountains, mostly along the Missouri river trade route. From there, he and his family drifted northeast to Prairie du Chien, Wis., and hiked the 150 miles to St. Paul in the blistering winter of 1843, the coldest year on record in the Twin Cities area. Upon arrival, Robert went to work to establish himself as a businessman in the city. He bought Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant’s claim at what is now Lower Landing, along with surrounding acreage. He built a house on the bluff where Kellogg and Robert now intersect and a trading post at the river’s edge on the

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east side of what is now Jackson Street. It is believed that his was the first frame house built in St. Paul. His real estate turned out to be extremely valuable and contributed to his amassing a large fortune. Robert used the landing as a steamboat dock. He owned four steamboats during his lifetime: the Greek Slave, the Time and Tide, the Globe and the Jeanette Roberts,

named after his third daughter. He quit steam-boating in 1860 but still liked being referred to as “Capt. Robert.” He stayed close to the water for the rest of his life and continued to trade along the Minnesota river. Robert played a role in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. When the war began, Little Crow, chief of the lower band of the Mdewakanton Dakota, reportedly sent a letter to

Gen. Henry Sibley declaring his reasons for escalating the tensions between settlers and the Dakota. In the short letter, Little Crow blamed Robert for conspiring to commit financial fraud against the Dakota. According to historical records, Robert was nearly killed by Dakota braves

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during a battle near Fort Ridgely in Fairfax, Minn. He eluded them by slinking into a swamp and submerging himself in the water with only his nose above the waterline. Robert lived to be 63 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery at 753 Front Ave. in St. Paul.

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S ummer Fun Paddle Share from page 1

My first questions centered around safety protocols concerning COVID-19. She assured me that the Park Service and its partners take safety very seriously. “Kayaks are normally rented out every couple of hours but now our turnaround is 24 hours,” she said. “Besides disinfecting all the equipment and life vests, we figured letting the kayaks sit for some time wouldn’t hurt.” The rental station is locat-

ed at the small public boat access just off Water Street in St. Paul. It’s easily recognizable by the long silver lockers—each with its own keypad. If you weren’t looking for the place it might be hard to find, and even then it might not be clear what the lockers are for. As if to underscore the point, within a 15-minute timespan two people on bikes and one pedestrian stopped to talk to DeGennaro, who in her official green ranger uniform ap-

Your community news and information source peared both welcoming and knowledgeable. The passersby all expressed their surprise at never having noticed the lockers. I chuckled to myself, having said the same thing to her just minutes ago. “We’re going to be getting new signage soon,” said DeGennaro after they left. “With everyone hanging closer to home, if we do this well it could be our busiest summer yet.” Normally this is a selfservice experience, similar to the shared bikes and scooters seen around the city, and DeGennaro showed me how simple it is. She punched in

a 10-digit code and opened the door. Inside was one kayak, a paddle and a life jacket. Surprisingly, the locker reminded me of the black box Fisher Price magic set I had as a kid, but instead of a yellow foam bunny magically appearing behind the door it was a yellow kayak. (Perhaps the isolation of a 2-month quarantine has affected me more than I realize.) The Paddle Share website is simple to navigate, even for the non-tech-savvy like me. After clicking on Rent A Kayak, users are prompted to choose a route and pay online. The access code is

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The Paddle Share website is easy to navigate. Users choose a route and pay online, then the access code is emailed to them. sent to your email. Once you reach your destination, you punch in the code and voila, a day of paddling the river or lake is all yours. Pickerel Lake has some advantages. For one, the fee is about $10 cheaper: $20 for a single and $35 for a tandem. The station also has a kayak with adaptive equipment for paddlers with accessibility needs. Because each kayak is disinfected and left overnight, you can leisurely explore the lake for the entire day for the same price as the normal 2-hour rental window. As I paddled away from shore, I quickly noticed the monstrous powerline poles that cut across the northwest side of the lake. I couldn’t decide if they were kind of cool or just plain ugly. I leaned toward the cool end of the spectrum when I saw a bald eagle’s nest perched on top of one. On my outing, I also spotted a beaver’s dam, some painted turtles sunning themselves on a partially

submerged log, and more than a few large fish breaking the surface to feed on algae and insects. Paddling under a wooden railroad bridge on the north end of the lake was also fun. Honestly, I was just happy to be out of the house and away from my neighborhood for an extended period of time. The east side of the lake was my favorite. It was woodsy and quiet and far away from bike trails, roads and powerlines. I faced the kayak toward the east shore and tuned out the distant hum of traffic on I-35 to focus on melodic bird song, honking geese and the rustling of wind through the leaves. I closed my eyes and imagined I was kayaking in the Boundary Waters, and after a few minutes started grinning like an idiot. Boy was I desperate for nature! Although this wasn’t pristine wilderness, I had to admit it might be the perfect socialdistancing activity to get me through summer.

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S ummer Fun

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Explore regional parks While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of outdoor festivals, concerts and most other summertime entertainment options, it has not kept us from exploring the great outdoors. Those who have grown tired of visiting parks in their city have many options to branch out and visit the metro area’s re-

gional parks for hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking and a host of other activities. The 7-county metro area

has 56 regional parks and park reserves encompassing nearly 55,000 acres, and a regional trail system totaling about 400 miles. St. Paul alone has six regional parks—Battle Creek and Indian Mounds, Como Zoo and Conservatory, Hidden Falls-Crosby Farm, LilydaleHarriet Island and Cherokee Heights, Mississippi Gorge, and Phalen-Keller—and three regional trails: Bruce Vento, Sam Morgan and

Trout Brook. Nearby are the Mississippi River Trail, River to River Greenway Trail and the Big Rivers Trail. For specific regional park uses and locations, visit the Parks page at https://metrocouncil.org and view the Maps and Activities link. While most parks offer free admission, some require a daily or annual pass to enter by vehicle. Entrance by bike or on foot is always free.

Capital City Bikeway expands The St. Paul City Council has approved the second leg of the Capital City Bikeway. It will supplement the first section, which is on Jackson Street between Kellogg Boulevard and 11th Street. The new segment will run along 10th Street from Dorothy Day Place to Jackson Street, and on Ninth Street from Jackson to Broadway. The Bikeway, a top priority of the St. Paul Bicycle Plan, adopted by the St. Paul City Council in March 2015, will connect to existing trails and on-street bikeways. Artwork courtesy of the City of St. Paul

Padelford Riverboats, moored at Harriet Island, is operating its narrated 90-minute public sightseeing cruises at noon and 2:30 p.m. daily, and 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. most other days. Cost is $18, with discounts for students and seniors. Themed cruises are also offered, including the lunch-and-lock, rib dinner and sunset cruises. For more information, call 651227-1100 or visit www.riverrides.com.

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A rts Displaced artists finally feel secure in their new digs

Your community news and information source

Nigel Parry Contributor

ncertainty, displacement and questions of affordability have dogged the Lowertown artist com-

munity for most of the last decade, primarily the result of an explosion of new residential development. Artists Barbara Evan, Tom McGregor and CeCeile Hartleib each were

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negatively affected yet have found a new home to continue to practice their craft. Two of the three formerly had studios in the JAX Building in Lowertown, which offered affordable studio space for nearly 40 years before the building was purchased in February 2016 and converted into market-rate apartments, part of the mid-2010s “gold rush” in the historic artists’ neighborhood. Anxiety among the JAX tenants was high as they approached the move-out deadline that spring. Roughly 80 individual artists and members of smaller artist collectives who also used the building were forced to scramble to find affordable studio space in a downtown area where rents had skyrocketed. Ten members of the JAX found a home in the basement of the nearby Northern Warehouse and dubbed themselves “Lowertown Underground Artists.” Others hopped the river and moved to the ACVR Warehouse, located at 106 Water St. W., on the edge of Harriet Island

Regional Park. It was affordable, close to downtown and already had a few resident artists there who had relocated from the JAX years before the sale. Plein air, portrait and still life painter CeCeile Hartleib, along with her husband Terry Kayser, a pastel art-

ist, were two of the early JAX pioneers, moving into the ACVR Warehouse in 2007 and organizing the Art Crawl at the building. The ACVR (American Crane-Victor Reim) Warehouse is the historic Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co. Warehouse No. 2, the sister

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A rts

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company owner Bert Sandberg and his neighbor Victor. Sandberg and family were fixtures in the Twin Cities and long-time supporters of the arts community, offering affordable workspaces to artists and craftsmen in the gigantic Water Street warehouse. After Bert passed away in 2003, his daughter Leslie and son Nels took over management of the building. As the siblings approached retirement age, they announced to their tenants in the fall of 2018—just two short years after the JAX sale—that they were entertaining offers from two new ownership groups that were looking to buy the building and use it primarily for storage. They told tenants that the new investors expressed a desire to keep artists in the building, but the details were vague. As New Year’s Day 2019 approached, it remained unclear how the parallel histories of two 40year artists’ refuges across the river from each other would turn out. “Buhl Investors tried to

reassure us—but with no specifics, we didn’t believe— we’d be allowed to stay,” said abstract painter Barbara Evan, who was then still skittish from her experience at the JAX, and two previous gentrification experiences. The new owners told ACVR artists they would be given a 90-day notice if there was a change to the status quo. Fearful that timeframe was insufficient to successfully relocate, many began looking for new studios and holding moving sales. Ultimately, 11 moved out. Barbara Evan and 11 others had long scheduled a moving sale for Feb. 21 but had good reason for second thoughts around the time of the event. In an email in late February from the management company, things finally began to solidify at ACVR and Buhl delivered the good news to the artists, along with a 3-year lease that included rent increases, ranging from about one-third for more recent tenants to double for some long term tenants who had previously

enjoyed rent stability. Nonetheless, the studios remained affordable compared to the market-rate alternatives. “Most of us decided to stay when we found that even though the rents would be higher, it wouldn’t be prohibitive or as high as some of the places we had looked at—some without any windows, which is not good for artists who need natural light to work,” said Hartleib. Evan added, “We hadn’t known who we would be dealing with but when the contract came there was someone’s name buried in it so I looked him up, contacted him and found that he was very pleasant to deal with, letting us know that he would work something out and get back to us. His manager was also supportive of artists so there may have been some sympathy on both of their parts. I don’t know. There may have been other factors but we had been terrified of having to leave up to that point. We had been assuming that we would be kicked out.”

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Hartleib, now able to chuckle at the memory of it, said, “It seemed from what I heard that they thought the artists were kind of cool. The whole idea of having the St. Paul Art Crawl there was kind of cool and they wanted to keep that.” An article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that February highlighting the plight of the artists may have helped their cause, although Evan now concludes it was likely much ado about nothing. “It was kind of embarrassing in a way,” said Evan. “I told Fred (the reporter) that I had built this thing up as a drastic thing and then his story kind of went a bit flat (because the artists weren’t displaced).” Plein air painter and West Side resident Tom McGregor

moved to the ACVR warehouse from the Northwestern building in Lowertown following news of an expected rent increase. Just before moving, he sent an email newsletter to his subscribers to inform them that this would be his last Art Crawl. “I had ten times as many sales as I usually had at the Art Crawl,” McGregor said, laughing, “I felt guilty when I landed on my feet in ACVR.” McGregor occupies a section of ACVR called “Old Town Artists,” inhabited by 15 artists. Each has a 225-square-foot bay to create, and they also share a larger community area that can accommodate 10-15 painters for different events, such as live modeling and drawing classes.

Despite the optimism today, it wasn’t all one big happy ending at ACVR. In its heyday, 50 artists and craftspeople occupied space in the Warehouse. Today, just 30 remain. “We are grateful to have decent studio space that isn’t as expensive as a lot of them,” said Evan, “Unfortunately it is practically off the grid in the minds of the general public. The last two Art Crawls both saw under 250 people.” Hartleib agreed. “Yeah, it was pretty darn low.” To explore their art, find Barbara Evan at BarbaraEvanArt.square.site, CeCeile Hartleib at www.CeceileHartleib.com, and Tom McGregor at www.McGregorArt.com.

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Join our Tribe... Support Your Community Newspaper! A tribe is defined as a group of people having a common character or interest. In today’s day and age it has also come to mean supporters and we invite you to be one of ours. Since 1966, we’ve proudly and effectively covered the issues most important to our community. We ask our loyal readers to consider donating a small amount to help us continue publishing community news that informs, entertains and inspires. Could you send $10 a year...or more? Every dollar helps. To contribute, mail your check to St. Paul Publishing Co., 1643 S. Robert St., Suite 60B, West St. Paul, MN 55118, or call us at 651-457-1177 with your credit card number. Mailed subscriptions are available for $21.50 per year.

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N ews Briefs

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Johnson enters WSP mayor’s race Kimetha “KaeJae’’ Johnson has filed to run for mayor of West St. Paul. She is a career community and labor organizer and founder of Residents of Color Collective, a West St. Paul-based community organization that gives voice to groups of color living in West St. Paul and South St. Paul. In a statement announcing her candidacy, she said she seeks to create deeper relationships among residents to build a city that is “culturally aware, inclusive, and that is determined to break down any form of systemic racism and discrimination

of any kind, while bridging gaps in resources available to our communities.” She pledges to engage all communities in city affairs, ensure new building projects offer living wages and provide local jobs, support programs that benefit small businesses and mental health care programs, and to fight for the rights of renters. “West St. Paul has, historically, benefited white people more than any other racial or cultural group and I want to ensure that Black, Indigenous, Latinx, immigrant, and other unheard communities in West St. Paul are

Postscript

A little awkward

It’s harder to keep in touch with people these days. Things are opening up but it’s going to be a while before we hop in a car and visit people the way we used to. I met the pastor of my church while walking. She told me the youth group had been meeting via Zoom and the kids were overcome with shyness, seeing their faces on MERRIAM PARK

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heard and supported equitably, and are not afraid to live here,” she said. “I want my family, particularly my daughter and granddaughter, to want to move near me because resources are available to them and they feel accepted.” For more information, visit www.kaejaeforwsp.com. Johnson is one of three candidates challenging Mayor Dave Napier this fall. The others are Jonathan Diamond and Jeramie Torkelson. A primary will be held Aug. 11. More information on each candidate will be featured in our August issue.

When my husband, Peter, and I tried Zoom for the first time it was a little awkward. “Shouldn’t the camera be higher?” I asked. “You can see right up our noses!” We found a cardboard box and adjusted the laptop angle. “Why is it so smudgy?” “I had sticky tape over the camera,” Peter told me. Peter cleaned the tape residue off the lens and I realized I looked a lot better smudgy. We’ve been trying to make a point of calling people up more often. (Peter calls it “drunk dialing,” although we’re not.) Sometimes it takes some effort. Sometimes I’ve wondered if these unexpected phone calls are more a bother than a pleasant surprise to the folks we call. Yesterday, I got a surprise call myself from Geri. Branch and Bough Tree Service and Landscape Care

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I haven’t seen Geri since I moved 1,400 miles away years ago. She’s quite a bit older than me and not someone I knew well, so when I saw her name pop up on my phone yesterday I was very surprised. I didn’t know I even had her phone number, to be honest. “Geri,” I said, “this is Carrie.” There was a moment of awkward silence. “Geri, did you butt-dial me?” “Carrie? This is Carrie Classon?” “Geri, you butt-dialed me, didn’t you?” “No. I was trying to call someone else. Someone to clean my house.” Geri has a huge old wooden house sitting on a hill. It even has a turret on one corner. There are nooks and crannies and stairs ev-

erywhere. I would not want to clean Geri’s house. “Geri, I am not going to clean your house.” “Oh no. But it’s so good to hear your voice. How are you doing?” I knew Geri was getting up in years and her husband, Clarence, was older yet. I asked, somewhat timidly, “How’s your family?” “Oh, we’re fine. But we’re old. I am 88 and Clarence is 95.” “Only 95? He’s a pup!” “He parks in the spot reserved for WWII veterans they still have at the grocery store and I think he’s the only one who uses it.” Geri and I chatted for quite a while. We both had news and a lot of shared memories. “You and Peter have to come and visit sometime,”

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The Humboldt High School Class of 1946 cancelled its annual reunion, scheduled for June 5 at the Cherokee Tavern in West St. Paul, and chose instead to connect via the Zoom video conferencing app. Eight members of the class participated in the virtual meeting. The group has scheduled its next reunion for June 4, 2021 at the Cherokee Tavern.

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Geri said. I promised we would next time we were anywhere near. “Clarence is going to be mad when he finds out you called me up to clean your house and ended up inviting us over,” I told her. “No, no, we would love to see you. It was great talking with you.” “It was good to hear from you, Geri.” And it was. Talking to Geri made my day. I suddenly felt less worried about those “Hi! We were just thinking about you” calls Peter and I have been making. Yes, it’s a little awkward making conversation with someone you haven’t talked to in a long time, but sometimes a little awkward is okay, I decided. Sometimes a little awkward is a lot of fun. Till next time.

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Your community news and information source Nancy Brady President

Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO

I have a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. on my computer desktop that reads, “It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” Earlier this summer, our community was shaken by the murder of a black man at the hands of a white police officer. George Floyd’s death, like countless others, is tied to the

This summer we are offering fresh produce pickups at three sites. From July 8-Oct. 14, anyone in the community can visit a site to receive fresh fruit, vegetables and bread at no cost. Drive-up or walk-up service is offered at the Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. E., Dayton’s Bluff Elementary, 262 Bates Ave., and John A. Johnson Elementary, 740 York Ave. Participants are asked to wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others. We ask that you review the drive-up

instructions available at www.neighb.org prior to arriving. This will help us run our events as smoothly as possible. Produce boxes are offered for walk-up service during regular shopping hours at our Francis Basket food market, 1293 Maynard Dr. E. Hours are 9-11:30 a.m. Monday and Friday, and 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Tuesday. We need volunteers to help at these pickups. Shifts range from two hours to two-and-a-half hours. To register to help, visit www.neighb.org.

institutional racism that plagues our country. The garment of destiny that MLK refers to makes no distinction between race or life experience. It is a powerful statement that what affects one affects all. As a white person, I find myself reflecting on my own experience with race, and struggle to find answers. However, I also recognize that silence and ignoring past experience is not an option. I grew up in southeastern Minnesota. During my formative years, it was rare for me to meet a person of color. Race was dealt with in an ignorant manner that was normalized in small town Minnesota. However, being normal does not make it right, just or acceptable. At Neighbors, our vision is to have communities where all are nourished, and our core values are respect, generosity and inclusion. To fully live the values and achieve our vision, systemic racism must stop. We have taken steps during the past few years to update policies and handbooks. We have discussions about the importance of treating everyone with dignity and providing our guests with respectful, affirming experiences. We lean into our belief that we value all people, that every story matters and that diversity makes communities stronger.

I admire the team at Neighbors because they are always looking for ways to lower barriers and improve our service to the community. We do this best when we engage in listening to concerns of all those we interact with, regardless of who they are or why they are here. This is an ongoing process. Employees and staff receive annual training on civil rights, and our board of directors and staff continue to have training on diversity, equity and inclusion. These actions are a small step toward recognizing how interrelated our lives are and working for not simply justice, but racial justice for all. Transforming our communities takes constant care, nurturing and vigilance. One individual person or organization cannot accomplish it alone. It must be a group effort, and we all bear responsibility for committing to a just, fair and equitable world where all neighbors have the opportunity to thrive and are nourished. Let us acknowledge the inescapable network we all live in and work together to ensure that our common destiny is free from racism and full of peace, justice and prosperity for all.

NeDA working to close the homeownership gap for Latinos Neighborhood Development Alliance (NeDA), a fixture on the West Side of St. Paul since 1988, continues to support affordable housing opportunities for both homeowners and renters. Its team of bilingual housing advisers and financial coaches offer education and guidance to help close the homeownership gap for households of color, especially Latinos. Staff work one-on-one with clients to develop a plan of action for buying a first home, and walk them through the entire home buying process. Despite working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they still find creative ways to assist their clients. “I have a lot of passion for what I do, and more than anything hearing ‘thank you for taking the time’ from one of our clients is really special to me,” said Graciela Mendez, home ownership adviser and foreclosure prevention specialist. Home ownership adviser Alma Sanchez, added, “I love the positive attitude of my clients and the way we can continue to work together remotely as a team toward the same goals. I’m looking forward to meeting with them again in person

one day and sharing a cup of coffee.” Much of NeDA’s work revolves around ensuring their clients’ goals are manageable and to provide a “safety net” of support, said homeownership adviser Mariana Scott. To accomplish this, NeDA also offers monthly homebuyer education workshops called Home Stretch. The 8-hour workshops feature real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, home inspectors and others to explain the home buying process from start-to-finish.

They are now being held on Zoom. NeDA also offers financial counseling to economically disadvantaged people. Financial coach Roxanny Armendariz teaches monthly financial literacy workshops, which oftentimes deal with difficult financial topics. All of NeDA’s financial coaches are certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to provide expert advice on managing debt, building a budget, improving credit scores and other

topics related to personal finances. “NeDA has a number of tools to guide individuals and families toward their financial goals, whether that goal is paying down credit card debt, establishing credit to secure better rental housing or buying a first home,” said Associate Director Maritza Mariani. The nonprofit does not charge for its counseling services. For more information, visit nedahome.org or call 651-292-0131.

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