In May 2023, the State of Minnesota Department of Administration received authorizing legislation to demolish the Ford Building on University Avenue just east of Rice Street. In June 2023, project architects filed an application with CAAPB. The proposal includes demolition of existing vacant Ford Building (State of Minnesota) and existing site elements and also includes construction of tunnel access and new secured enclosure building, green space, public access walkways and parking at the site on University Avenue located in G1 (State office) zoning district and CCO (Central Corridor overlay zoning district) in the Capitol Area zoning jurisdiction.
On Wednesday September 13th, at 4:30-6pm, design team representatives will be available in person to address questions and explain the proposed demolition and proposed site improvements. The informational event precedes a statutorily required board member vote on the project (as a substantial change to public lands and buildings in the Capitol Area), and also consideration by the Board of a Conditional Use Permit that would certify the larger zoning lot to function primarily as a state-owned surface parking lot. CAAPB will host the walk-in event in the ground floor conference room 116B of the Administration Building at 50 Sherburne. No RSVP or advanced registration required. Contact Peter Musty, CAAPB Principal Planner, for more information: 612-743-5994 or peter.musty@state.mn.us.
Formal Application Information Submitted to CAAPB:
Letter to CAAPB from Christ on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church on October 2nd, 2023:
"A brief addendum to our letter of September 11, 2023:
We appreciate of Wold's commitment to adhere to the SHPO recommendations for Protections for Existing Buildings Adjacent to Demolition, and the State's commitment to hire a third-party agency to conduct vibration monitoring and to do a building condition assessment prior to demolition to establish a baseline standard for all parties. Christ on Capitol Hill representatives would want to be present and a part of that process to ensure we are all on the same page regarding the building's condition.
We reiterate our request to be provided with the contractor’s proof of insurance, guaranteeing the welfare of our property during demolition and construction.
Christ on Capitol hill, as a non-profit and community hub, relies on a variety of income streams to fund our building and our mission. With the anticipated project length and uncertainty around delays/start times, we are worried about the potential loss of income from building partners needing to temporarily office elsewhere and/or potential lost income from cancelled legislative session rentals. We anticipate the financial impact on our congregation could range from $8,000-$25,000. What compensation can be made in this regard?
As plans progress for projects all around our property, our congregation must be in close communication with State leaders responsible for the projects and each party that will be doing work around our property. We will continue to be a place for community gathering and discernment about how to be the best neighbors possible to those who daily live and work in the Capitol Area.
Thank you to the Capitol Area Improvement and Planning Board for setting conditions appropriately to respond to these and other neighborhood concerns. We appreciate your partnership and advocacy.
Sincerely on behalf of the leadership of Christ on Capitol Hill,
The Rev. Dr. Joy L. McDonald Coltvet"
Letter to CAAPB from Christ on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church on September 11th, 2023:
"Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill has been at 105 University Ave West for over 105 years, fully utilizes our building sharing space with many non-profit partners, offers space and hospitality to neighbors coming for their day at the Hill from throughout the state, and is deeply committed to our closest neighbors in the Capitol Area/Metro.
On the whole, the leadership of Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill feels passionate about being on a block that is vibrant, intentional, and well maintained. That could look like well-designed and maintained green space or mixed use redevelopment of the Ford Building.
We support the vision of the Comprehensive Plan.
Given that the demolition is on track to be completed this fall with some initial rebuilding scheduled for spring 2024, we have had an initial meeting with Wayne Waslaski and his team about impacts to our building, grounds and community. We are concerned about the intense noise and disruption to work for our weekday building partners (who are anticipating an inability to work at this location during the demolition; we raised questions about State compensation for fiscal losses during this year of the demolition. We are concerned about parking and outdoor food ministry; we raised questions about whether the State will offer the corner lot for our use during the demolition. We are concerned about the way the work will literally shake the foundations of this historically designated property. We are concerned about the health impact to neighbors who live and work in the area of lead, asbestos and other pollutants that will be released/present in the dust, the air and water for years to come. We continue to be concerned that the Ford Building's impending demolition will be followed by a long period of stagnation and/or a lack of follow through to the next steps of development.
We want to be sure the contractor undertaking the demolition will adhere to the recommended Protections for Existing Buildings Adjacent to Demolition compiled by Natascha Wiener, State Historic Preservation Office Historical Architect & Design Reviewer (attached). We would also ask to be provided with the contractor’s proof of insurance, guaranteeing the welfare of our property during demolition and construction.
As plans progress for projects all around our property, our congregation must be in close communication with State leaders responsible for the projects and each party that will be doing work around our property. We will continue to be a place for community gathering and discernment about how to be the best neighbors possible to those who daily live and work in the Capitol Area.
Sincerely on behalf of the leadership of Christ on Capitol Hill,
The Rev. Dr. Joy L. McDonald Coltvet"
Letter to CAAPB from Christ on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church on May 9th, 2023:
“Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill has been at 105 University Ave West for over 105 years, fully utilizes our building sharing space with many non-profit partners, offers space and hospitality to neighbors coming for their day at the Hill from throughout the state, and is deeply committed to our closest neighbors in the Capitol Area/Metro.
On the whole, the leadership of Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill feels passionate about being on a block that is vibrant, intentional, and well maintained. That could look like well-designed and maintained green space or mixed use redevelopment of the Ford Building. We support the vision of the Comprehensive Plan.
We are concerned that the Ford Building's immediate demolition will be followed by a long period of stagnation and/or a lack of follow through to the next steps of development.
I will also add that our members question the proposed expense of over $4 million to fund the demolition of the Ford Building, given the broad community consensus that the building should only be torn down as part of a larger plan for a vibrant block. Could that money be better used to redevelop/repurpose the existing structure?
As plans progress for projects all around our property and as this legislative session comes to an end, our congregation would like to be in close communication with each party that will be doing work around our property.
We will continue to be a place for community gathering and discernment about how to be the best neighbors possible to those who daily live and work in the Capitol Area.
Sincerely on behalf of the leadership of Christ on Capitol Hill,
CAAPB has requested a building record (following documentation standards (set by State Historic Preservation Office) similar to Minnesota Historic Property Records), showing documentation of historic resource such as condition reports, photography, floor plate drawings, sectional and elevational drawings, etc.
For More Information
For more information on any project, please contact Peter Musty at 612-743-5994 | peter.musty@state.mn.us
(Both images below show University Avenue looking east; above taken from Google Earth, image below furnished by Wold Architects and Engineers.)
