Title
Authorizing the disposition of City-owned property to Macalester College.
Body
WHEREAS, in 1928 the City of Saint Paul ("City") acquired property in the block bounded by Cambridge Street, Summit Avenue, Macalester Street and Grand Avenue for public alley purposes; and
WHEREAS, over the years the alley was vacated and the underlying land accrued to the surrounding abutting properties except for a 100 square foot section of Lot 4, Ecke's Addition, which is owned in fee by the City (the "City Property"); and
WHEREAS, the City's department of public works, which has jurisdiction over the City Property, has determined that a public alley is no longer needed in this location and has declared the City Property to be surplus to its needs; and
WHEREAS, the owner of all surrounding abutting property, Macalester College ("Macalester"), has requested to purchase the City Property to further its plans to redevelop the land surrounding and including the City Property; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Sec. 51.01 A. (1) of the Disposition of City Property Ordinance, Chapter 51 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code (“Ordinance”), the City’s director of Public Works has requested the Office of Financial Services Real Estate section to prepare a report (“Staff Report”) to the Mayor and the City Council with information regarding the proposed disposition of the City Property to Macalester, as provided in Exhibit A attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Sec. 51.01 A. (2) of the Ordinance, the resolution to dispose of the City Property shall include the following information:
1. Reason for disposing of the property - to develop the Macalester owned block with a welcome center for the college;
2. Whether a public purpose remains - There is no longer a public purpose for the City to continue to own the City Property; and
3. Method of disposition - In accordance with Sec. 51.01 B (3) of the Ordinance, the City Property is proposed to be disposed of via “sale to contiguous owner," as Macalester owns all of the land surrounding and abutting the City Property; and
WHEREAS, the City Property has been appraised by the Office of Financial Services Real Estate section at $500; and
WHEREAS, in 1971 the City acquired an easement for slopes, cuts and fills for alley grading adjacent to the City Property ("Slope Easement"), recorded in Ramsey County property records as Document Numbers 561080 and 561081 (Torrens); and
WHEREAS, the Slope Easement remains as an encumbrance on the City Property but is no longer needed by the City, as evidenced by the Reply to Vacation Inquiry 06-2023 filed voluntarily by the department of Public Works; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council hereby:
1. Authorize and direct the proper city officials to convey the City Property to Macalester via Quit Claim Deed in accordance with the terms and conditions provided in the Staff Report; and to prepare and execute any documents necessary to complete the transaction; and
2. Release and terminate all city rights in said Slope Easement.