St. Paul Council advances rezoning for Hamm’s Brewery site after contentious public hearing

The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously on a motion of intent to introduce an ordinance rezoning five parcels at the former Hamm’s Brewery site from industrial to a T3 (traditional neighborhood) mixed‑use classification, a step that allows the developer and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to continue toward a housing‑focused redevelopment plan.

The rezoning move, approved as a motion of intent, follows a lengthy public hearing that drew several dozen residents, business owners and neighborhood representatives on both sides of the proposal. Supporters said the project would reactivate long‑vacant historic buildings, add nearly 200 housing units including deeply affordable units, and bring public green space and new customers to nearby businesses. Opponents — including owners of Saint Paul Brewing and other existing businesses on or near the site — warned the rezoning would remove a years‑old shared parking amenity and constitute de facto spot zoning that would harm operating businesses.

The redevelopment proposal discussed in testimony would convert historic brewery structures to housing and add new buildings on an HRA‑owned parking parcel. Developer materials and testimony presented at the hearing said the plan would provide about 147 spaces of structured parking for the housing and more than 140 public surface parking spaces (plus roughly 30 nearby street spaces), and that the site is transit‑ and trail‑oriented with access to the Bruce Vento Trail and Sweet Hollow Park. City and project supporters also cited more than $4 million in competitive outside funding the project has secured, including awards from Ramsey County and the Metropolitan Council.

Opponents, including Saint Paul Brewing owner Rob Clapp and representatives for other nearby businesses, said they were not consulted adequately and that their businesses rely on existing surface parking and the HRA‑owned lot. Attorneys for the property owners argued the requested rezoning would create an “island” of neighborhood zoning and called the change illegal spot zoning. The planning commission recommended approval for three of the parcels but recommended denial for two parcels that contain the core historic brewery buildings; district councils D4 and D5 recommended approval.

Nicole Newton, director of Planning and Economic Development and executive director of the HRA, told the council the HRA had run a 2022 redevelopment RFP, selected JB Vang’s team as the tentative developer and was proceeding to deliver housing, commercial space, and preserved historic fabric. JB Vang’s team representatives said their community engagement website had nearly 2,000 unique visitors and reported broad positive or neutral feedback.

After public testimony and discussion, Council President Johnson (chairing this item) moved the motion of intent to introduce the rezoning ordinance. The roll call vote was Bowie — aye; Johnson — aye; Jost — yes; Provodzinski — yes; Yang — aye; Vice President Kim — aye. The motion of intent passed 6‑0. The council’s vote authorizes staff to prepare the formal ordinance and begin the multi‑meeting adoption process that will include additional readings and public comment.

The meeting record shows broad community interest and a continuing dispute between the desire to redevelop a long‑vacant brownfield with affordable housing and the concerns of existing small businesses that say they will lose critical parking and customers if shared lots are repurposed. Council members repeatedly urged continued engagement between the HRA, the developer and existing businesses as the ordinance proceeds.

If the council introduces the ordinance in future meetings, the matter will return for at least one more public hearing and a final adoption vote; council members noted funding awards to the project are generally contingent on forward progress. No final redevelopment approvals, permits or construction contracts were passed at this meeting.