District 10
Community Council
Sholom Home renovation project inches forward
Renovation of the former Sholom Home into rental apartments moved one step closer when the St. Paul Board of Zoning Appeals, on identical 4-0 votes, approved density and parking variances for the proposed project.
The BZA approvals followed the recommendation of the Como Community.
Midway Community Group LLC wants to renovate the former nursing home at 1554 Midway Parkway to create 150 rental apartments.
Variances are necessary because the redevelopment plan does not meet the city’s existing zoning code. Existing formulas allow no more than 82 units, although the site—which has been vacant for more than a decade—previously had a conditional-use permit for up to 170 units.
For the proposed mix of apartments, current zoning also requires 166 off-street parking spaces. However, the redevelopment plan includes only 80 off-street spaces—51 surface spaces on its Canfield side, plus 29 new indoor spaces. That leaves the project 86 parking spaces short.
Meeting changes, event cancellation
District 10 has cancelled its in-person elections for its community board of directors and, at press time, was exploring alternatives. Details will be announced on the District 10 website as soon as they are available.
Meanwhile, applications are still open for candidates. The board is seeking people for, among other things, vice chairperson, treasurer, one representative each from the neighborhood’s four sub-districts and two representatives from the neighborhood at-large. To learn more, see https://tinyurl.com/tmwp7jo. To get on the ballot, apply no later than Tuesday, April 14.
In related news, District 10 has cancelled its “Swap Till You Drop” free clothing exchange originally scheduled for April 19.
And lastly, the Community Council will use video conferencing and conference calls to conduct all of its meetings in April. For further news, please check the “Board News” section of District 10’s website, http://www.district10comopark.org/, for updates.
Submitted by Michael Kuchta, executive director of the District 10 Como Community Council.
