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Monday, January 25, 2010

West St. Paul drops plan for houses for the poor

Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.

posted by Bob at Monday, January 25, 2010

4 Comments:

Anonymous Pioneer Press said...

Vacant Bernard St. homes to be razed
By Nick Ferraro
nferraro@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 01/21/2010 09:36:26 PM CST


West St. Paul officials have scrapped a proposal to open up three city-owned vacant houses to needy families.

Citing issues such as the cost to bring the houses up to code, the city council last week agreed to move ahead with an alternative — demolition.

The Economic Development Authority had been exploring whether the city could partner with local churches or nonprofit organizations that would find families to stay in the homes temporarily and free of charge.

"It's very disappointing," said city council member Ed Iago, who in June proposed the idea to the authority. "To me, those are good homes that could serve our area citizens rather than being torn down. It just didn't work out."

Several local churches and nonprofits showed interest initially, Iago said, but none was in a position to spend the estimated $15,000 to upgrade the electric and plumbing and make minor repairs to the homes.

"I think their hearts were in the right place," city Community Development Director Jim Hartshorn said of the Economic Development Authority, which is made up of city council members. "But cost-effectively, it just didn't work for anyone."

City officials concluded it didn't make sense for them to pay for the upgrades and repairs and be responsible for maintenance and the annual insurance costs of about $8,000, he said.

"Basically, we don't want to be landlords," he said.

The estimated cost to demolish the three houses is $35,000 to $40,000, Hartshorn said.
The city in April took control of 3.4 acres, which includes the three houses along Bernard Street, after making its final payment on a $500,000 contract-for-deed agreement that officials entered into in 2004.

The property had been owned by the Wolters family, which ran a retail garden center and greenhouses on the land for more than 50 years. The city's long-term plan is to use the land to expand Harmon Park, which is adjacent to the property.

The city tried to unload the homes in the fall by putting them up for sale for $1 each with the hope that someone would move them. That sparked initial interest from house-moving companies as well as the county's Community Development Agency, which explored the idea of relocating them to its lots in West St. Paul.

"We basically tried to give these houses away, but in the end, nobody wanted them," Hartshorn said.

Nick Ferraro can be reached at 651-228-2173.

8:27 AM  
Anonymous WestST.Paul Nose Ord.MaryJaneDuchene said...

Remember Alice Krengel won her case, altho across the street from Alice the city Demo another bldg.
Forensic Files google Mary Jane Duchene removal to Federal Court to estopp the City of W. St.Paul,MN re: Zanmiller the Mayor also sits on St.Paul Water Board with one Billion in Reserves:

9:46 AM  
Anonymous PoliticalAnimalCityAmicus said...

City St.Paul to file Amicus Brief in the unallotment Case 62cv09-11693 found at the Countys Web Site www.co.ramsey.mn.us

The "takings" of any propertys TEA at 261-3 Sherburne right behind White Castle, on the same block at Melvin Carter CouncilMan,re: Central Corridor, RE: John Zanmiller W. St.Paul Mayor sitting on St.Paul Water Board with a Billion in reserve then with levander Law Firm as City Attorney Kori Land,
who lost "Big Time" in the Alice Krengel Case, then CitySt.Paul to file Amicus in Unallotment Case, Heinous Conflict, Separation of POwers to Petition, unless the City Council are on Special Diets to have standing?
Posted from Political Animal

10:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They don't want a influx of poor in there town, people like Bill, Eric, chuck might move there, we already have Alice.

7:41 AM  

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