A TIME OF GANGSTERS, VAUDEVILLE, AND BIG BANDS!
Do you have memories of
the St. Francis Hotel,
Orpheum
Theatre, or Coney Island? Do you know
someone that does? **Coming Soon** See a poster of "The Last of the Mohicans" shown at the RKO Orpheum Theatre.
What occassion(s) do you
remember? To view the
Lobby and Cafeteria of the St. Francis Hotel -->
Not only did the threat extend just to the historic nature of the buildings listed, but also of the demolition of 130 units of affordable housing in Downtown, St. Paul, located in the old St. Francis Hotel.Other concerns included the businesses in the 7th Place Building (formerly the St. Francis Hotel), which included: Candyland, Bruegger's Bagel Bakery, and Bella St. Paul.
Did your concerns lie with the residents of 7th
Place Residence and/or the small businesses that occupy that site?
To
view how the public responded -->
The fight to keep our homes, as well as our history, has been a long one, but well worth it! The St. Paul Cos. chose wisely to pull out of the deal w/ the Port Authority in the Spring of 1999 - it seems there will be much downsizing in this great downtown employer. Our building could have
turned out to be another of St. Paul's empty buildings, if the company had purchased it, but couldn't expand here. We are grateful to all that have supported us, and stood up for their beliefs.
Much of this website contains the history of the events, and although our fight is over, it is good to look back and see how far we have come! It has been a long year! This dispute started last summer (July 1998), and the 7th Place Building is now sold (August 2, 1999). We have been virtually in limbo, for this past year, wondering
1st when we may have to move, according to the St. Paul Cos. plans to buy the building for demolition (approx. 7 months), then wondering who would purchase the building after they pulled out of the running for the purchase.
Who are the new owners of 7th Place?
Kelly Brothers Investments are the new owners of the 7th Place Building.
There were 3 serious bids in on the 7th Place Building! According to the 2 local papers, the 3 bids were:
The new owners have started to make improvements in the 7th Place Apartments! The lobby and hallways have new carpeting, and the walls were re-painted.
There is now a new sports bar in the 7th Place Building as well (located where Bella St. Paul was previously). It's name is Wild Tymes!
The Orpheum Theatre - I haven't heard what their plans are concerning our Vaudeville theatre - you may want to call and encourage them to keep this important part of our history, and to find new owners/uses for the Orpheum Theatre, one of 2 remaining Vaudeville theatres left in St. Paul.
St. Paul City Council Heritage Preservation Decision
Even though the City Council did not vote historic designation on the 7th Place Buildings, it is great they did so with the Coney Island buildings on Wednesday, June 2nd! The buildings definately warrant historic designation. The land they stand on is as important as the buildings themselves - this was practically main street in St. Paul at one time. I am trying to gain clarification on whether the ordinance for the Coney Island Buildings preservation includes their current site. It feels like they just ignored that question altogether in the Council Meeting. To me it seemed that way since Council President Dan Bostrom brought up the vote for the ordinance to preserve them, without asking 1st if there was any discussion.
7th Place Community Building Design Charette
"We have this opportunity to create a St. Paul of tomorrow that is anchored upon the St. Paul of our past." ---Community Leader - 7th Place ResidentYou are invited to attend the charette on Friday, May 21, 1999 between 1pm - 6pm at City Hall, Lower Level, Room 41 for our "Initial Design Session". The public is welcome. This workshop will give all the chance to express their ideas of what they feel the 7th Place Building can become upon being saved from demolition. You can make a difference! Come share your ideas with us.
Cities across the country have been faced with this challenge in the recent past - many have saved their historic structures - revitalizing their communities, bringing long-term profit - both culturally and economically.
If Friday afternoon will not work out for you, come on Sunday to the "Putting It All Together Session", from 1:30 pm to 4 pm. If you have questions, please call the Community Stabilization Project at: 651-225-8778. See you there! On Sunday you will need to go to the Kellogg entrance of City Hall to enter the building.
Gaining attention of the St. Paul Cos.
The Residents of 7th Place, the Community Stabilization Project, the owners of Candyland, the owners of the Coney Island, as well as other housing advocates, and preservationists were all a part of the Thursday, May 13th gathering outside of the St. Paul Cos. Joan Palm, a spokeswoman for the St. Paul Companies stated that they have repeatedly said that they are no longer interested in the 7th Place properties. Caty Royce of the Community Stabilization Project asked for that statement in writing - she responded that is something she could not offer.
If indeed there is no interest in the properties - why is Doug Leatherdale, CEO of the St. Paul Companies still treating the Coney Island owners as if this is not over. Why are the City Council and the Mayor not ready to declare the properties as Heritage Preservation sites? Why would the City want to declare the Coney Island Buildings, but not their site as historically significant? If there is no interest by the St. Paul Companies - why is the City acting as if there is?
Let's all challenge the City to look at other options - selling the 7th Place Building to Doug and Brenda Lamb - the owners of Candyland, or another owner which has a vision for the property. Helping the City become a unique, thriving place that will attract not only tourists, but people around the Twin Cities - to want to come downtown to enjoy a nightlife, community, cultural, and civic events. THIS VISION CAN HAPPEN! Let's look to other cities around the U.S. to see how they have used their history to thrive!
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota has announced the St. Francis Hotel, Orpheum Theatre, and the Coney Island buildings to be on their 10 Most Endangered Historic Properties List! I think this gives credence to the fact that these properties are in fact important to our community. Many, many more applications were taken by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.
Support for the Coney Island buildings
CONGRATULATIONS, ARVANITIS FAMILY, FOR STAYING STRONG, AND NOT ASSUMING YOUR LAND AND BUSINESS HAVE NO CHANCE OF STAYING RIGHT HERE, ON ST. PETER ST., IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL! IT IS FAMILIES LIKE YOURS THAT KEEP OUR CAPITAL CITY STRONG!
Folks, if you read the newspaper, whether the Pioneer Press or the Star Tribune, you found that Louie Arvanitis attended the annual St. Paul Cos. shareholders meeting. You also would have read how he was treated by the CEO, Doug Leatherdale. Louie got a chance to express to ALL of the shareholders the fact that they ARE NOT SELLING their Coney Island property!
Tom Mischke - AM 1500 - [weeknights, 8 pm to 10 pm] broadcast once again tonight the facts about the developments of the tensions surrounding the Coney Island owners and the St. Paul Cos. Mr. Mischke encourages everyone once again, to contact the St. Paul Cos. PR person, David Monfried, to discuss your concerns surrounding the Coney Island buildings. The Residents of 7th Place, as well as preservationist would like to ask you to include the St. Francis Hotel and Orpheum Theatre in your efforts! [Tom Mischke's call in no. at the radio station is: 651-646-TALK]
Now is the time to call your councilmembers! On Wednesday, April 28, 1999 the City Council had 2 Resolutions before them to determine if the Coney Island properties, as well as the St. Francis and Orpheum should be preserved. For more info -->
It seems that the Councilmembers and the Mayor are in agreement on one fact - that the Coney Island buildings deserve historic designation. The catch? The buildings would be the only thing designated, not the land. They still want to push the Arvanitis family off of their land on St. Peter Street. The Arvanitis are NOT going to sell, and that includes thier land, they will not let BIG BUSINESS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT take over their site! And I know YOU and ALL St. Paulites that feel they have the right to keep their land, will be calling the St. Paul Cos., as well as the City! This may be their problem today, but it could be your land in question tomorrow! To ensure OUR city is not ruined forever, ALL OF US need to speak up! We all are "shareholders" in this City. We need to act as if we own it, instead of believing that whatever the Mayor wants, the mayor gets. We all deserve to be heard, and actions taken upon the voice of the citizens!
The 7th Place Building as well deserves heritage preservation. We hope many of you will call, and have your friends & family call the Mayor, City Council, and other City offices to express your support for historic preservation! Many of you have done so for the preservation of the Coney Island buildings, and your voice is being heard - keep it up, and include the St. Francis & Orpheum in your contact w/ the City. I really believe that supporting the preservation of all of them is the key to keeping them on 7th Place!
Orpheum Theatres that are Revitalizing Cities
Spring brings hope and a sense of new beginnings...I have been surfin' the 'net about how different cities have renovated thier Orpheum's! Check out these URL's:
The Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis
Orpheum Children's Science Museum, Champaign, Ill.
The Orpheum Theater - Memphis, Tennessee
The Coleman Theatre Beautiful - Miami, Oklahoma
Check out the sites to see how other cities have benefited from restoring thier Orpheums, instead of demolishing for new structures! Write an Opinion piece or a Letter to the Editor in the St. Paul Pioneer Press or the Star Tribune, or the Skyway News, City Pages, your local paper. You can get involved, it is not too late, but soon it may be!
Call your Councilmembers, and make your views known to them! You can help them help you!
Another kind of hope belongs the the folks trying to find a home in St. Paul, MN. Here are some developments the Mayor says have been started, or will be built within the next 3 years-->
Development vs. Preservation
See a great newspaper article in City Pages which brings attention to the 7th Place issue! Even after months and months of debate - the City has not got it! The people of this fine city have spoken! No matter what they do - the media will not go away - they will continue to tell our story.
There is always an exception to the rule - here is an editorial submission that did not get printed -->. Have you tried to voice your concern in the Press? Let me know - I'll make sure your views are known right here!
This is my own view, but I believe we need to maintain the integrity of our Capital City!!! Are you thinking the same? Go to the Contacts page - and make a call or write that e-mail to get involved. You can help, and there is no time like the present to preserve the past, and preserve what little affordable housing we have left.
Even though some of the Heritage Commission Members changed since the Mayor dismissed them in January, the Commission still supports the preservation of the St. Francis, Orpheum, and Coney Island buildings!
The city has laid low for a while, but now that the decision comes up soon for the St. Paul City Council to vote to historically preserve the 7th Place Building (St. Francis Hotel & Orpheum Theatre), and the 2 Coney Island Buildings, one part of this battle has just begun - the Planning Commission voted to NOT preserve these historic sites due to further development of the city being hindered - or so they say! Others have ideas for the site which include not only preservation, but further development to bring our Capital City alive again! I think these ideas need to be heard.
More newspaper articles have come out recently - visit the What's New Page for those dates, and visit your on-line newspapers - the St. Paul Pioneer Press , as well as the Star Tribune to know exactly what is going on, whether you got to read the paper yesterday or not. Go to the Archives section and type in 7TH PLACE, ORPHEUM, HOUSING, ST FRANCIS, CONEY ISLAND for just a few ways to track down those older articles.
Should the city be able to develop that 1/2 block by tearing down these buildings for future development by one of St. Paul's largest employers? Or should the buildings remain for historical reasons as well as to provide affordable housing that is so needed downtown.
I don't believe that many people see the vision that a few people have to preserve the 7th Place Building for housing, to start retail development, and to revitalize the Orpheum Theater to bring this City to life again!
Lets think of the future - where will all these new employees that will be working in the new Lawson Software building live? Seventh Place is ideal - just about as close to work as you can get - and you know that many of those jobs will be for office support folks, as well as people in the new retail/restaurants they plan to have in the building. These are folks that need an "affordable" place to live - or in other terms "a place to live within thier means" - that is 7th Place!
Time for a Residential & Business Co-op at 7th Place? Or perhaps another owner that will include the residential and small businesses as well as the Theatre
An idea is stemming to turn 7th Place Building into a housing and retail cooperative! Others have put in bids to the Port Authority for the purchase of 7th Place Building. For More Info...
Now is the time to call your City Council Members to let them know that you want them to vote to preserve the 7th Place Building as well as the Coney Island Buildings! The HPC did their job, now they go before the City Council for designation.
Have you discussed this issue with the Mayor? You may want to contact the Mayor to discuss your concerns! To contact the Mayor -->
The St. Paul Companies delivered the residents of 7th Place a memo on January 22, 1999 of their decision not to exercise its option to purchase the Seventh Place property...for More Info
The Public Meeting on Thursday, January 21, 1999 at 5 p.m. was in regards to the Nomination of the New Palace Theatre/St. Francis Hotel (1-33 W. 7th Pl.; a.k.a. Orpheum Theater/Seventh Place Residence) and of the August Botzet Building/Minnesota Arsenal and City Hotel (448 and 444 St. Peter St.; a.k.a. Original Coney Island buildings) as heritage preservation sites. To see the content of the Meeting see More Info
To find out the City's Legislative Code, Designation of heritage preservation sites, ...see More Info
Prior to the heritage preservation commission recommending to the city council any building, district or object for designation as a heritage preservation site the commission shall hold a public hearing and seek the recommendation of the concerned citizens.
The residents have asked the
St. Paul Cos. to explore the option to build on top of one or both of their
existing structures! This would create a win-win situation for all parties
involved.
Your views are
important as the city
needs to hear from its' Citizens to make an informed decision. The
St. Paul Companies stated at the beginning of this proposed sale that they
would hear what St. Paul Residents had to say about the importance of the
7th Place Building for its History and Affordable Housing needs, as well
as the Coney Island Buildings for their Historical significance to the
Community. They listened to the Public!
There have been many GREAT opinions
voiced. Although I am obviously biased and wish the 7th Place Building
to remain, this is a forum to hear ALL opinions about the proposed sale,
whether for or against it!
Annette can be contacted at: annie@mm.com
(This is my
personal homepage. Any ideas reflected are mine, unless I specify that
they have been given to me to add to the page.)