3+ day, 12+ hour ago (468+ words) The 12.5-acre parcel of land that has stood between Roseville and its decades-long effort to finish its Twin Lakes development has a new developer. Minneapolis-based Hyde Development will redevelop the site, located at 1945 Twin Lakes Parkway, into a 152,250-square-foot light industrial tech building, Twin Lakes Technology. The project is expected to be completed this time next year. The state Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded the Roseville Economic Development Authority $373,000 for site demolition and public infrastructure improvements, DEED announced last month. The Twin Lakes development spans about 300 acres across the city's northwest section and its 12.5-acre parcel was previously used as a truck terminal, with the original buildings constructed in 1962. Since 2003, the site has sat vacant and soil testing has shown contamination from petroleum compounds from two former underground storage tanks. The Roseville EDA estimates the project will create…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (888+ words) Despite last-minute objections from attorneys for CVS and a mystery property owner, the St. Paul City Council has ordered the demolition of the vacant former CVS building at Snelling and University avenues, an eyesore property that has loomed large over neighborhood discussions and even the recent mayor's race. The seven-member council voted unanimously on Wednesday evening to order the site at 499 Snelling Ave. N. demolished within 15 days. "CVS has done nothing for years," said Ward 4 Council Member Molly Coleman, who noted 600 police visits to the site in the past five years. "The clock has run out." "Everything from graffiti, broken windows, garbage " clean-up of needles," said Moermond, noting that CVS and the property owner failed to provide a nuisance abatement plan during two public hearings held in September and October. "There have been hundreds of police calls in the last five…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (1100+ words) Revalon Wesson spent a lot of time in the R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury as a kid. They remember getting lost in the books, the sound of the waterfall that stood in the middle of Central Park and the lush greenery surrounding it. As an adult, Wesson has used the space to study and connect with friends. Now that the park has undergone a $42 million renovation, adding close to 24,000 square feet to the building since its opening in 2002, Wesson said there's a bit of nostalgia missing from the space, but the update was much needed. "There's much more seating," Wesson said. "I do like the more modern look to it. It just looks a lot cleaner and more accessible." "It's welcoming and I like the integration of the green space, and these community spaces allow in the wintertime for you to…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (205+ words) The Sonder hotel chain " which operates extended-stay hotels in downtown St. Paul, multiple locations in Minneapolis and at least 34 additional cities globally from Nashville to Rome " abruptly shut down on Monday night following a licensing dispute with parent company Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott International issued a statement Sunday indicating that its licensing agreement with Sonder Holdings "is no longer in effect due to Sonder's default. As a result, Sonder is no longer affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, and Sonder properties are not available for new bookings on Marriott's channels." Some guests were given a single night, or even as little as 15 minutes, to vacate at locations throughout the world, according to CNN and other published reports. A statement on the Marriott Bonvoy website encouraged guests "to'take advantage of other'available properties'within our portfolio." Guests with upcoming prepaid reservations were asked to initiate refunds…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (946+ words) A national climbing gym chain is expanding to St. Paul after the success of its Minneapolis location. Bouldering Project officially marks its entrance into the saintly city on Saturday when the doors open to its 36,000-square-foot bouldering facility in St. Paul's West Side neighborhood. The gym, located at 42 W. Water St., features over 10,000 square feet of custom bouldering terrain, fitness and yoga studios, a fully-equipped weight room and sauna. For the uninitiated, "bouldering" is a type of rock climbing that involves short, intense climbs and crash pads instead of ropes or harnesses. In bouldering, climbs are usually referred to as "problems" and an emphasis is placed on problem-solving and technique. Traditional rock climbing, which puts an emphasis on endurance, consists of longer climbs with ropes, harnesses and other safety gear. Based in Seattle, Bouldering Project has 12 locations across Minnesota, Washington, Massachusetts,…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (1724+ words) By Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times JOSHUA TREE, Calif." Many Angelenos dreamed about buying cheap land in the desert during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emmanuel Ruggiero actually did it. On his plot in Joshua Tree, the software engineer built a home specifically as a short-term rental " part of a craze that saw investors seeking to cash in on people fleeing the stress and contagion of cities to isolate in more-remote locales. He equipped his modern cabin with 16-foot ceilings, a swim spa and a private nine-hole golf course. Now, after two years as a top-rated Airbnb host, Ruggiero no longer wants to deal with the stress of managing a rental three hours away. He is hoping to sell his home for about $200,000 less than its appraised value when he first finished construction. "If I had bought stocks instead of putting the…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (127+ words) League One Volleyball, which bills itself as the largest community of youth clubs in the country, is adding a Minnesota team to its nascent professional league, LOVB announced Friday. The Minnesota team is expected to begin play in January 2027. With teams already in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Nebraska and Salt Lake City, the expansion also will include a team in Los Angeles. Keegan Cook, head coach of the 20th-ranked Gophers team, called it "a wise and thrilling decision by LOVB leadership." "Minnesota is not only a thriving professional sports state but a passionate and committed volleyball community," Cook said in a release. "We cannot wait to welcome LOVB to the Twin Cities." No potential sites for games were announced during a news conference on Friday....

2+ week, 4+ day ago (421+ words) The best running back in the National Football League is on bye this week. And that's bad news for about 10 percent of the nation's fantasy football teams. Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor is in the running for NFL Most Valuable Player, along with New England quarterback Drake Maye, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and a few others. He's on pace for 25 touchdowns and could make a run at 2,000 yards for the AFC-leading Colts. So many fantasy league leaders need a RB replacement for this week, and there aren't many decent prospects left. Here's the best you could probably do this week: Sean Tucker (Buccaneers) " He has taken a bigger share of the workload since Bucky Irving's injury. Over the past two games he has 21 rushes for 95 yards and one TD, outshining Tampa's presumed No. 2 back, Rachaad White. And the Bills' run defense he'll…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (1451+ words) As a child, Emma Crawford frequently visited the beloved Irish gift shop, Irish on Grand. As an adult, she helped run the store alongside its longtime owners. Soon, she will open her own Irish shop in the same location. Moloney's Irish Imports opens Saturday in the former Irish on Grand building where it will continue a decades-long tradition of supplying St. Paulites with Irish favorites like Winston's sausages, Irish dance shoes, Claddagh rings and Belleek dishware. "When (Irish on Grand) closed, at the time, we thought it was the end," said Crawford, who began working for the store in 2021. After 35 years of doing business at 1124 Grand Ave., Irish on Grand owners Maeve O'Mara and Liam O'Neill made the difficult decision earlier this year to close their storefront and sell the building, opting to spend more time with family and traveling…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago (211+ words) The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation has purchased the condemned Capital City Plaza parking ramp from Madison Equities with the goal of having it fully reopened by late 2026. The ramp is located at 50 Fourth St. near the Alliance Bank Center, which the nonprofit corporation took full ownership over and site control of in October. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but a spokesperson for the nonprofit said the purchase was fully funded by private investment "and will prevent the city from spending public funds to secure the property." The ramp, situated near the Green Line's Central Station, was condemned by the city in April 2025. The corporation "will immediately begin evaluating the work necessary to correct safety violations, with the goal of reopening it as a public parking ramp by the end of 2026," reads a prepared statement from the…...