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Considering the application of Rody Lageson, of Kraus Anderson Development, for an exception to the general hours of skyway operations for pedestrian skyway bridge which would close the easement-required spaces within 45 10th Street West and the walkway of pedestrian skyway bridge #1, a bridge that is between the Saint Joseph’s Hospital Building and the Gallery Professional Building.
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WHEREAS, Rody Lageson submitted an Application for an Exception to the General Hours of Operation on November 3, 2026, requesting an exception to the general hours of operation within the easement-required spaces within 45 10th Street West and the walkway of pedestrian skyway bridge #1 (Exhibit 1); and
WHEREAS, the buildings on either side of pedestrian skyway bridge #1 are Saint Joseph’s Hospital Building, 45 10th Street West, and the Gallery Professional Building, 17 Exchange Street West; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant requests that the hours of operation for skyway bridge #1 and the easement-required spaced within 45 10th Street West be reduced to zero to facilitate a collaborative effort among the applicant, Fairview Health Services, and the Saint Paul Port Authority to demolish a portion of the Saint Joseph’s Hospital building, including the portion connected to Pedestrian Skyway Bridge #1 (Exhibit 1);
WHEREAS, the Skyway Governance Advisory Committee voted to support the Application for Exception to General Hours of Operation to allow for the temporary closure of skyway bridge 1 and the easement spaces within 45 10th Street West during the construction process at the Saint Joseph’s Hospital Building, but do not support the demolition of the skyway bridge and the permanent loss of the skyway connection; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections does not object to the Application for Exception to General Hours of Operation and supports the temporary closure skyway bridge #1 and the easement spaces within 45 10th Street West; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 140.10(b) states that the Council “shall refer the petition to the skyway governance/advisory committee for a recommendation. The skyway governance/advisory committee shall forward their recommendation to the city council within thirty (30) days. The council shall then hold a public hearing to consider the petition for alternative hours”; and
WHEREAS, the recommendation of the Skyway Governance Advisory Committee was referred to the City Council on November 4, 2026, within the thirty-day deadline provided by Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapter 140;
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 140.10(b) gives the Council the power to grant such exceptions and lays out the criteria for the Council to consider; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a public hearing on the application on November 18, 2026; and
WHEREAS, consistent with section 140.10(b), the Council considered the following:
(1) Whether the portion of the skyway system petitioning for alternative hours leads to another portion of skyway system that has the general hours of operation;
(2) Whether security such as a metal detector or photo identification is required to gain access to the portion of the skyway system requesting the alternative hours;
(3) Whether there is a contract or other legal document between the property and the city outlining alternative hours that cannot be altered by ordinance;
(4) Whether retail or other business activities take place within the skyway system and the difficulty of closing off those business areas from the ingress/egress area;
(5) The reasonableness of the alternative proposed hours;
(6) Other logistical or financial hardship imposed on the building if it Is not granted alternative hours; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council hereby finds that there is sufficient basis to support the request of Rody Lageson to receive an exception to the general hours of skyway operations for pedestrian skyway bridges and the easement spaces within 45 10th Street West; and be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Application for Exception to General Hours of Operation is approved.