St. Paul: Demolition begins on Hamline-Midway Library

Demolition of the historic Hamline-Midway Library is now officially underway, more than two years after historic preservationists rallied to prevent the 1930s-era building at 1558 Minnehaha Ave. from being torn down and replaced with a more modern structure offering better disability access and other community amenities.

A 16-month legal fight waged by “Renovate 1558” — a group of historic preservationists and other fans of the Henry Hale Memorial Library — ended in late October when a Ramsey County District Court judge gave the city the go-ahead to begin the tear down, despite its new listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Construction had once been scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023. The legal fight has proven costly on all sides.

Courtesy image, circa October 2022, of a proposed design for the Hamline-Midway Library. (Courtesy of the St. Paul Public Library)

During a Jan. 8 meeting of the city’s library board, St. Paul Public Library staff indicated the Hamline-Midway project is now projected to cost $10.4 million, an increase of $2.3 million from the original 2022 estimate of $8.1 million.

“This is largely due to the 16-month delay caused by litigation,” said Stacy Optiz, a library spokesperson, in an email. “The initial $8.1 million in project funding has already been allocated by the city.”

City officials said they would seek funding to make up the budget difference.

Following the judge’s order last fall, library staff removed items from the existing building and salvaged certain materials for re-use. Demolition began Monday with further salvaging of brick, wood and the exterior stone archway, all of which will be incorporated into the new library building.

Construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months.

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