Documenters report: Plans on track for affordable housing at St. Paul’s Hamm’s Brewing complex

MinnPost’s Twin Cities Documenters program trains and pays community members to take notes at local government meetings. Below are Documenter Matt Wells’ summary and observations from the St. Paul Planning Commission’s Aug. 14 meeting. You can find Matt’ full notes here, which include links to the agenda and audio recording.

Summary: 

• The commission approved a permit allowing for a potential apartment building by developer JB Vang Partners on the east end of the historic Hamm’s Brewing property to be up to 71 feet tall.
  • The approved permit only concerns the height requirement. The site plan review is scheduled for within the next month. 
  • The 110-unit apartment is classified as affordable housing, with income and rent limits planned to range from 30% to 60% of the Area Median Income. 

• The commission approved a plan to create a Commercial Development District around the intersection of University and Snelling Avenues, which would enable the city to grant additional and expanded liquor licenses in the area.

Observations and follow up questions: 

Accessibility: Did you face any challenges that made it harder to document the meeting or that may have made it difficult for others to attend?

•  No accessibility issues

Scene: About how many members of the public attended the meeting? If watching virtually, what was the livestream count (if applicable)? Was anyone protesting outside? 

• Jane McClure from MyVillager, eight people from JB Vang Partners, seven city staff (most city staff and all JB Vang folks left after the Minnehaha Conditional Use Permit was approved)

Notable: Do you have any follow up questions or other observations to share?

• Nothing particularly interesting; commissioners seem to be in favor of the building at the former Hamm’s site, but are concerned that the initial design drawings show a sidewalk frontage that is more opaque than the regulations permit (which was unrelated to the height variance granted today).

How to get involved:

When is the next meeting for this board/committee? Any upcoming public hearings? Online surveys? 

The next meeting is Aug. 28. It’s anticipated that some of the site plans in the review stage will come to the Planning Commission.

Related: There’s finally hope for new life at the former home of St. Paul’s Hamm’s Brewery

More context:

Read Documenter Matt Wells’ full notes here, which include links to the agenda and audio recording. View our full database of notes here.

Want to become a Documenter? You can start by making an account here.

You can also follow Twin Cities Documenters on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky.

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