The proposed construction of a multi-use facility for hockey and large events on the University of Saint Thomas’ south campus is raising many questions for neighbors, the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee (WSNAC) was told on December 13.
UST plans to host public meetings about the project. When those will happen has not been finalized, but some Macalester-Groveland neighbors want to start talking sooner rather than later. Neighbors worry about the review process and the ability to get additional information on anticipated parking, traffic and other impacts.
Amy McDonough, chief of staff to the university president, said UST is in the process of requesting proposals from design/build firms for the project. A specific south campus site has not been chosen, nor is there a budget or timeline for the project, which will not proceed until UST has the money in hand to cover 75 percent of the costs, McDonough said.
UST men’s and women’s hockey teams currently play at the Saint Thomas Academy arena in Mendota Heights.
Neighbors and WSNAC members raised questions about the review process and how the project changes the campus master plan, which was approved several years ago. That plan was developed before UST moved to Division I sports.
“This is very much a chicken and egg proposition,” said WSNAC member Marc Manderscheid. According to him, using design/build means that completed plans could be ready with not much chance for public comments.
The location is also an issue. Goodrich Avenue residents are worried about having such a facility so close to their homes. However, locating the facility closer to the center of the south campus would likely put the university’s historic Grace and Cretin halls at risk. Other buildings could also face demolition to make room for the new building.
One issue raised at the WSNAC meeting is if Grace and Cretin must come down, the dormitory beds in the two buildings need to be replaced.
“This is very much a chicken and egg proposition,” said WSNAC member Marc Manderscheid. According to him, using design/build means that completed plans could be ready with not much chance for public comments.
Parking is another red flag for neighbors. When the Anderson Student Center was built on UST’s north campus in 2010-2012, part of its required parking was included in the Anderson Parking Ramp at Grand and Cretin avenues.
However, the city recently eliminated parking minimums, which took parking standards out of the longtime conditional use permits that are used to regulate campus development. As a result, the new facility could be built with no additional parking.
WSNAC member Tom Dietsche said it would be important to not have events scheduled at the Anderson Student Center and the new multi-use facility at the same time.
UST has been looking at various sites for new sports facilities. Plans to build softball and baseball fields at the southeastern corner of the 122-acre Highland Bridge site have been discussed for several months. A hockey arena was dropped from those plans this summer.
UST, Ryan Companies and Saint Paul Port Authority representatives are involved in the Highland Bridge proposal. Ryan is the master developer for the site, which was the home of Ford Motor Company’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant for many years.
Converting the former Canadian Pacific Railway yard at Highland Bridge into ballfields and parking space has meant partnering with the Saint Paul Port Authority to work on environmental cleanup.
— Jane McClure
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