Port Authority drops effort to condemn St. Paul business

The St. Paul Port Authority has ended its effort to seize land from a longtime North End business.

The agency wanted to condemn property at 1400 Jackson St., owned and used by Advance Shoring Co., which rents heavy construction equipment and fought hard against the Port Authority's effort.

"We're thankful that they changed their minds," Advance Shoring CEO Karen Haug said Wednesday. "My employees are definitely relieved."

Port Authority officials shifted their strategy because "we decided we'd rather negotiate face to face." said spokesman Tom Collins. "We're still interested in the land if they're willing to talk," he said.

Haug said she wasn't sure.

Her father started the business in 1960 and it currently employs 42 people.

The Port Authority wanted the land because it said it's polluted and underused. It wants to clean and redevelop the land to lure new businesses as part of a 15-year-old plan for the area. Neighbors and the District 6 Planning Council supported the condemnation effort.

The Port Authority needs City Council approval to condemn properties.

A public hearing on the matter last October drew more than 50 opponents, and the council held over the issue for a month.

The parties entered into a confidentiality agreement in November so the Port Authority could try to find suitable replacement property for Advance. None of the suggestions was workable, Haug said.

The Port Authority would have needed to notify the City Council by Wednesday if it wanted to pursue condemnation.

Council Member Lee Helgen, whose Fifth Ward includes the North End, said Wednesday that he was disappointed there wasn't more talk of redevelopment of the site.

The Port Authority said the site is eligible for eminent domain because the cleanup cost, estimated at $4.8 million, is more than the property value. The property's 2009 taxable market value is $3.2 million, according to Ramsey County Property records.

But that appears to be moot now. "Condemnation is totally off the table," Collins said.

Said Haug: "I hope that's the case."