 CM Coleman alongside other fashion show participants for Planned Parenthood's "Ready or Hot" event.
Dear Ward 4,
The first two months of this year have been unprecedentedly difficult for our city. The City Council has been busy responding to community needs to ensure that our local government is using all of its tools to meet the moment for residents--- more on that below.
While this federal occupation continues and we are far from recovery, civic life marches on. As we look forward to spring, one major Ward 4 development is the demolition of the long-vacant CVS building on Snelling and University. This is a major first step towards a bright future for this important intersection, and it's part of a bigger story of investment in the Midway. Directly across from the CVS, you can see active progress underway on the office building, hotel, and restaurant pavilion at United Village. Later this year, we'll celebrate the opening of the brand-new Hamline Midway Library. Down the road, the new YMCA childcare center will soon be full of activity.
The next use of the CVS site is as of yet unknown, and the property is still owned by an out-of-state LLC. But clearing out a blighted building to make way for a new vision represents real momentum for the Midway, and I can assure you that both the City and the community will stay engaged in the story of this intersection and what comes next.
All the best,
Molly
Molly Coleman, Ward 4 Councilmember, ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Jenne Nelson, Legislative Aide, jenne.nelson@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Kristin Koziol, Executive Assistant, kristin.koziol@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Kaitlynn Fuller, Communications Intern, kaitlynn.fuller@ci.stpaul.mn.us
 The Saint Paul City Council as crocheted dolls, handcrafted by Nichelle Bottko Woods.
Throughout February, the City Council passed three key ordinances:
- Ordinance 26-5, which prohibits law enforcement from staging operations on city-owned properties and limits access to non-public city spaces.
- Ordinance 26-6, which requires law enforcement officers, including federal officers, to visibly display identification on the outermost layer of their uniforms while performing official duties. Here is the ORD 26-6 press release.
- Ordinance 26-7, adding Chapter 268B to the Legislative Code to require law enforcement officers to conduct law enforcement operations without a mask or facial covering.
We then partnered with the Mayor’s Office to redirect $1.42 million towards the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. This will add staff capacity and increase direct support for residents, supporting residents facing housing instability while ensuring the program has the capacity and oversight to serve those who need it most. Here is the press release on this ERA funding.
Then, on March 4th, the City Council introduced a temporary extension of pre-eviction notice (from 30 days to 60 days) to help give renters more time to gather the resources to make rent. This proposal comes in response to the devastating and far-reaching economic impacts of Operation Metro Surge. The public hearing on this item will be during the March 11th City Council meeting. You can watch a video of Authors CM Kim, CM Yang, and CM Coleman speaking about this ordinance here.
Lastly, we'd like to share a resource made by the City Council office to track our action on immigration policies and legislation. Check out the Protecting Immigrant Communities website here.
 Saint Paul’s Neighborhood STAR and Cultural STAR program
Now open for 2026 applications! These programs support capital improvements and programming investments that uplift our neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Both application windows close on Friday, March 13th at 4 pm.
Cultural STAR supports arts and cultural programming and organizations within Saint Paul, helping grow the city’s cultural and economic vitality. Since 1994, it has awarded over $42.6 million to more than 1,450 projects.
Neighborhood STAR supports capital improvement projects that strengthen residential, economic, and commercial development in Saint Paul. Since 1995, it has assisted over 1,120 projects with more than $130 million in grant and loan support.
Immigration-Related Business Resources
The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) launched the Latino & Immigrant Business Emergency Relief Fund, offering emergency grants. Eligible uses include payroll and employee retention, rent and occupancy costs, loan payments and debt relief, and other urgent operating expenses. Owners throughout Saint Paul and across Minnesota are encouraged to apply as the LEDC continues to develop additional grant opportunities. For questions or assistance, contact the LEDC at info@ledcmn.org or call (612) 724‑5332.
The Minneapolis Foundation launched a new small business fund to address urgent needs across Minnesota, including Saint Paul. The fund offers grants to help businesses cover payroll, retain staff and operating hours, pay rent, and maintain inventory.
Here are some additional resources for employers related to ICE activity:
Support Immigrant-owned Grocery Stores!
Our wonderful neighbors have created a list of local immigrant-owned grocery stores, categorized by neighborhood. If you have corrections or additions, contact immig.grocers.list@gmail.com.
 The empty CVS building on Snelling and University.
On November 5th, 2025, the Saint Paul City Council ordered the demolition of the vacant CVS building at 499 University Ave. The City determined it as a nuisance property, and the LLC that owns the building was unable to bring the building back to satisfactory condition to change that determination.
The FAQs below are meant to provide more context to community members about what to expect before, during, and after demolition.
FAQs
What is the process now that the City Council has ordered demolition?
First, the City put the demolition out for bid. The lowest qualified bidder (Veit) won the contract. The contractor has since applied for permits, which require internal approval and also sign-offs from partners for requirements such as sanitary and utility shutoffs. Once the contractor has the demolition permit in hand, the demolition will happen on their timeline and likely take one day (permits allow demolition to begin as early as 7:00 a.m. and end as late as 10:00 p.m.). Typically, demolition triggers a 10-day notice to neighboring buildings or homes. In this case, because it is an emergency order, the 10-day notice will not happen. The concrete slab will be left intact. The property will be fenced off, jersey barriers will be placed at the parking lot entrance, and erosion controls will be put in place. Hauling away materials will likely take another few days. The demolition is tentatively scheduled for mid-March.
What impacts will neighbors notice during demolition?
The demolition will not require any street closures, nor will it impact Metro Transit schedules. It is likely that the sidewalk will be closed. For information about hazardous material mitigation, please connect with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, who leads this part of the process, at 800-657-3864.
Who is responsible for the vacant lot once demolition is complete?
The property owner remains responsible for the property and its maintenance. It is not a city-owned property.
What is replacing the CVS building?
Right now, the owners of the property have not indicated that they will replace the building. It is possible that the property will be sold in the future. For now, community members should expect the lot to remain vacant until future development or a sale occurs.
If community members have concerns about the property, who should they contact?
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911
Emergency Number
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- Crimes in progress
- Medical emergencies
- Any incident requiring immediate
officer response
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651-291-111
Saint Paul Police Department
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- Any non-emergency police response, including suspicious or disorderly people
- Parking complaints
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651-266-898
City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections
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- Graffiti, abandoned vehicles, skyway issues or violations, vacant buildings, or illegal dumping
- HART Team (homeless outreach)
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651-266-6100
City of Saint Paul Public Works
651-266-7569
Snow Emergency Hotline
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- Sidewalks, streets, storm sewer
drains, lighting, garbage and
recycling, or animal issues
- Snow emergencies and winter parking rules
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612-349-7200
Metro Transit Police Dispatch
612-900-0411
Metro Transit Police - Text Only Line
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- Suspicious or criminal behavior on
any Metro Transit property, platform,
train, or bus
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Where can I get updates about the demolition permit for the CVS?
You can look up 499 Snelling on the City of Saint Paul’s new PAULIE system.
How do I contact the Ward 4 City Council office if I have further questions?
Email the Ward 4 staff at ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
The official public comment period for Rethinking I-94 has been extended until March 23rd to give residents additional time to review the documents and provide feedback. Commenting is an key way to make your voice heard and a critical component of state and federal environmental review processes.
The Scoping Document / Draft Scoping Decision Document (SD/DSDD) and the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) outline potential impacts and options for the future of I-94 and are both open to comments.
Comments can be submitted online, or residents can review printed copies and submit comment forms available at select libraries and MnDOT offices.
To view the documents and get more information about submitting comments, visit the MNDOT site here.
If you personally witness ICE activity, please report it to one of these rapid response lines:
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Immigrant Defense Network, 612-255-3112
Monarca Hotline to Report ICE Activity: 612-441-2881
Other Community Resources
Keystone Community Food Center: Visit the food center at 1800 University Ave W. No appointment or advanced registration is required. Food shelf participants are served on a first come, first served basis during the hours listed below. Please call 651-917-3792 if you have any questions.
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Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
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Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
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Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
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Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
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Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Housing Rental/Emergency Assistance: If you need help paying help for rent, mortgage, utilities or car repairs, contact Ramsey County Emergency Assistance at (651) 266-4884.
MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families is tracking federal actions that may affect programs serving Minnesota children and families. Visit the DCYF site to see updates.
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On Thursday, March 12th, from 3-5pm, Merrick Community Services is hosting a Spring Mini Job Fair. There will be 12 employers that have immediate need and seasonal jobs. Come interview and headshot (if desired) ready!
Contact Alison Hruby for more information, at ahruby@merrickCS.org or 651-243-6725.
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On Saturday, March 28th, from 5-9pm, the Hamline Midway Coalition is hosting their March Midway Meet Up at Urban Lights. Since 1993, Urban Lights has been a gathering space for music lovers, DJs, and national recording artists. It’s also one of only 32 Black-owned record stores in the country— and the only one in Minnesota.
The event will have live music, local DJs, and vendors. Check out the Facebook event page here.
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Arts on Lafond is hosting many great events this March!
Wednesday, March 11th at 6pm - a contemplative singing session.
Thursday, March 12th at 7pm - Experimental Jazz on Lafond series: featuring JC Sanford, Jeremy Ylvisaker, and Sivan Cohen Elias.
Sunday, March 15th at 4pm - Fundraising concert to benefit the food justice programs at Zion Community Commons: with Pat Donohue and Dan Newton's Café Accordion Orchestra.
Sunday, March 22th at 4pm - The Classical Guitar series, curated by Maja Radovanlija, featuring performer and teacher J. Cutis Thomson.
Tuesday, March 24th at 4pm - Marc Anderson's soundbath meditation.
Thursday, March 26th from 6-8pm - "Darkness into Light" a special early evening opportunity to rest and center with visuals of abstract stained glass and gentle instrumental music. Come and go as you wish!
Sunday, March 29th at 4pm - Musika Medica's session.
All events are hosted at Zion Community Commons, 1697 Lafond Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Contact John Marboe, johncharles2@gmail.com, or Mira Kehoe, miratomkehoe@gmail.com, with inquiries.
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Get these April events on your calendar! More info to come in our social media posts and April newsletter.
April 10th-12th - Saint Paul Art Crawl, Wards 1, 3, & 4
Sunday, April 19th, 6-8pm - The Midway Cabaret All Ages Variety Drag Show @ The Hive Collaborative
Saturday, April 25th from 12-4pm - Como Art Crawl Pop-Up
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