3 October 2024
Hundreds of housing units could be coming to the former YMCA site in West St. Paul that was once earmarked for a sprawling Hy-Vee grocery store.
Nearly 10 acres of the former YMCA site at 150 Thompson Ave. E., just east of South Robert Street, could be redeveloped to include a variety of housing types, retail, outdoor space and a 12,800-square-foot restaurant, per the city’s project page.
Still in the early planning process, the city of West St. Paul is working with Minneapolis developer Greco Properties to redevelop the area to potentially include 461 market rate apartment units and 27 townhomes.
As for outdoor space, current plans include a playground, splash pad area, a pavilion and stage area with connections to the regional trail system.
The project also could include retail like coffee shops, a fitness center and a new restaurant at the former AutoZone site.
Previous plans fell through
The YMCA was razed after Iowa-based grocer Hy-Vee bought the building and surrounding acreage for $3.8 million in 2019.
Hy-Vee’s plans at the time were to construct a 68,400-square-foot store complete with a liquor store, restaurant, pharmacy and gas station.
Those plans were scrapped just a few years later in 2022 when the grocer said the site did not fit into a new company strategy that centered around building larger stores and putting more distance between future locations.
In the aftermath, the city of West St. Paul agreed to pay Hy-Vee $5.2 million for the site.
Community feedback
Following the redevelopment project’s first public open house last November, community members expressed an interest in development that prioritized nature, accessibility and a place for community members to connect.
Potential amenities including garden space, lighting, music in the park and walkability were popular among community member’s responses.
The developer is currently working on a formal site plan for the city to review, said Community Development Director Ben Boike in an email, but there will be more opportunities for public feedback in the coming months.
Related Articles
MN attorney general files fraud lawsuit against developer behind Lakeville housing project aimed at Somali-Americans
Haunted mazes, jack-o’-lantern festivals, fall arts: A roundup of Twin Cities Halloween events
Eagan City Council backs state assistance for Solventum, 3M’s health care spin-off, as it eyes BCBS site
Reward increased for ongoing Dakota County missing woman investigation
Have questions about home buying? Get answers at Thursday’s housing fair.