Latest news with #AllianceBankCenter
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Paul condemns, closes downtown Capital City Plaza parking ramp
The city of St. Paul has condemned the downtown Capital City Plaza parking ramp by the troubled Alliance Bank Center, shuttering another Madison Equities property and its skyway connection. A notice of immediate condemnation was posted following an inspection on April 2. The notice orders all drivers and vehicles to vacate the premises. The mayor's office publicly announced the condemnation and closure of the ramp at 50 Fourth St. in a statement on Monday, noting a lack of maintenance and long-term non-compliance with code enforcement 'threaten the public health and safety of guests and neighboring properties.' Among areas of concern, city inspectors found blocked exits, exposed electrical circuits, inoperable equipment and water leaks. The city also noted that Madison Equities failed to routinely test its fire suppression systems, the structural integrity of the ramp and the water backflow prevention system, which separates contaminated water from clean water. The lack of testing, according to the city, poses a risk to the shared potable water supply for all nearby properties. The closure of the skyway connection will begin at Fourth Street and end at the Press House at Fifth Street, according to the statement from the mayor's office. The intersecting skyway to the Ramsey County Sheriff's office on Cedar Street also will be closed. There are no businesses or direct street access routes within the two connections and residents of nearby towers will not be impacted, it reads. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter noted in the statement that Madison Equities, previously considered downtown's largest property owner, has lost or neglected a number of properties in recent months, and 'their chronic neglect has caused serious harm that will impact our city for years.' The Capital City Plaza ramp is located near the Alliance Bank Center, which Madison Equities continues to own but stopped maintaining last month. Without a property owner paying for maintenance, utilities and security, all tenants have relocated and the city has stepped in to cover essential services and keep its skyway open weekdays. Angie Wiese, director of the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections, said in the statement her department is working with 'impacted community groups to ensure our community remains safe and welcoming.' Madison Equities and its lender has also been ordered to get the parking ramp up to code, according to the city. St. Paul now oversees utilities, skyway access at Alliance Bank Center Cue the FalconCam: Downtown peregrine falcons are starting to lay eggs Downtown St. Paul: Alliance Bank Center now vacant Folk rock trio Mumford and Sons will play St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in October Back-to-office order could be 'shot in the arm' for downtown St. Paul
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Paul now oversees utilities, skyway access at Alliance Bank Center
Downtown St. Paul's largest property owner has abandoned the Alliance Bank Center, leaving basic management — from elevator and skyway access to security patrols — entirely to the city. In a written statement Wednesday, the St. Paul mayor's office and the city's Department of Safety and Inspections announced they are limiting but not closing skyway access through the now-vacant office building, a major skyway link that stretches from Wabasha Street, over Cedar Street and onto Minnesota Street. Interior skyway connections through the Osborn370 building and Treasure Island Center will remain open until 9 p.m. weekdays and be closed on weekends, as will access from the portions of an adjoining parking ramp operated by Interstate Parking. All other exterior connections to the Alliance Bank Center have been closed. Madison Equities, which has lost multiple downtown buildings to foreclosure, has stopped paying the utilities for the Alliance Bank Center, as well as maintenance and security. On March 10, the building's 14 remaining commercial tenants were alerted they had two days to move, though the mayor's office quickly negotiated with Xcel Energy and District Energy to keep electricity on through March 31. Under state statute, even unoccupied high-rise buildings must have functional utilities to maintain both fire suppression and fire alarm systems for the protection of first responders and neighboring properties, according to the mayor's office. Because Madison Equities is no longer the acting landlord, the city is now operating as an intermediary to ensure minimal compliance, while also assuming additional maintenance of escalators and elevators. The St. Paul Police and Fire departments will continue to patrol the Alliance Bank Center. In its written statement, the mayor's office said the decision to limit skyway access was made 'in collaboration with downtown stakeholders and business partners' and will allow the city to 'protect the integrity of the building until a future use has been determined.' Officials with the CapitolRiver Council, a downtown nonprofit, said Wednesday they've been informed the city will condemn the property. For now, Madison Equities still maintains property rights as the legal owner, and the Royal Credit Union still holds the bank note for the structure. Visitors and drivers with contract passes to the Alliance Bank Center ramp still have access from the Cedar Street entrance. The portion of ramp parking owned by Madison Equities is now cordoned off and closed to the public. Pedestrians looking to avoid the building may travel through Treasure Island Center, Securian Center, Town Square, and a short outdoor stretch between Treasure Island Center and the Lawson Building. Cue the FalconCam: Downtown peregrine falcons are starting to lay eggs Downtown St. Paul: Alliance Bank Center now vacant Folk rock trio Mumford and Sons will play St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in October Back-to-office order could be 'shot in the arm' for downtown St. Paul St. Paul downtown: Lunds, Alliance Bank retailers close up shop
