A small, but key, piece of the Whole Foods mixed-use development in St. Paul's Union Park neighborhood fell into place recently with the sale of a low-slung building on busy Snelling Av. N.

According to a certificate of real estate value filed Sept. 5 in Ramsey County, Associated Bank bought the Getten Credit Co. building at 202 Snelling Av. N. from Dennis and Kathryn Getten for $525,000. Associated Bank has hired Ryan Cos. and The Excelsior Group to redevelop that parcel and several others nearby, including Associated's current bank branch at the corner of Selby and Snelling avenues.

The Getten Credit building will be demolished so Associated Bank can build a new branch near Snelling and Dayton Av. That will be the first building to be constructed in the project, beginning early next year. Once the bank is completed, probably by early next summer, work will begin on the Whole Foods grocery complex, which also includes 208 upscale apartments and several townhomes. That portion of the project will be called The Vintage on Selby.

Founded in 1961, Getten Credit "is one of a handful of independent finance companies remaining in Minnesota," according to its website.

Janet Moore covers commercial real estate for the Star Tribune.