Major West St. Paul Redevelopment Moves Forward With $145 Million Investment
A Long-Stalled Site Finally Gets a Plan
The former YMCA site at 150 Thompson Avenue in West St. Paul has been one of the city’s most complicated redevelopment challenges. After the YMCA closed, Hy-Vee purchased the property, demolished the building, and then abandoned plans for a grocery store. The land sat unused for years until the city purchased it in 2022. Now, after multiple rounds of planning, a full redevelopment plan has finally been approved.
Details of the $145 Million Project
Greco and Swervo Development will lead a multi-phase project that brings 476 new homes, a restaurant, commercial space, and public amenities to the 9.58-acre site. Phase one includes 272 apartments, 19 townhomes, and the renovation of the former AutoZone building for commercial use. This phase also prepares the site for future park features and public improvements.
Phase two adds 185 additional apartments. Construction begins in spring 2025 and is expected to wrap up by 2031. For a site that has remained idle for years, this marks a significant shift in activity and investment for West St. Paul.
Why TIF Support Was Necessary
City leaders approved two “pay-as-you-go” TIF notes to make the project possible. The property includes complex challenges: environmental contamination, steep grade changes, and groundwater management. These conditions made the project financially unrealistic without public support. The city determined the redevelopment would not proceed without TIF because the costs of improving the land exceeded what private financing could cover.
What This Means for the Community
This project brings new housing options to an area that sits near the South Robert Street retail corridor, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, and downtown St. Paul. Its location makes it especially attractive for people who want suburban convenience with quick access to urban amenities. The redevelopment also restores activity to a high-visibility site that has been waiting for a solution for years.
For Twin Cities residents watching local development trends, this project signals a continued push toward mixed-use, higher-density housing in first-ring suburbs. As West St. Paul grows, real estate values and neighborhood dynamics will evolve along with it.
If you’re thinking about moving within the Twin Cities metro or want to understand how new developments could affect your property’s value, reach out anytime. I’m here to help you navigate your options.
