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Local grocer offers to grant vacated 3rd Street if St. Paul paves it; council to seek cost estimate
Summary
Blake Schwartz of St. Paul Grocery told the council he would grant vacated 3rd Street to the city if the street is paved and offered to pay half the paving cost; Utilities Superintendent Helzer will request an Olsson estimate and the council placed the matter on the Aug. 19 agenda.
A local business owner told the St. Paul City Council on Aug. 5 he is prepared to convey ownership of a vacated stretch of 3rd Street to the city if the municipality paves it.
Blake Schwartz of St. Paul Grocery said access via the vacated 3rd Street north of '0' Street is critical for further development and that he would absorb 50% of the paving cost if the City covers the remaining 50%. Utilities Superintendent Helzer replied that storm-sewer work is a city general obligation cost, which complicates how expenses should be split.
Helzer said he will contact Brian Friedrichsen at Olsson to obtain an estimated cost breakdown separating storm-sewer work and paving costs. The council directed staff to return to the Aug. 19 meeting with cost estimates so members can consider whether and how to accept the proposed transfer and whether to fund paving.
Why it matters: The proposal touches on public-right-of-way management, potential private–public cost-sharing, and future subdivision development. If the city agrees to pave and accept the right-of-way, it would create an 80-foot public right-of-way the city would maintain.
What’s next: Utilities staff will seek cost estimates and report back to council at the Aug. 19 meeting. No commitment to fund the paving was made on Aug. 5.
