St. Paul orders demo of former CVS at Snelling & University; 15-day deadline

📌 Key Facts

The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously to order demolition of the former CVS at 499 Snelling Ave. N. (Snelling & University) and set a 15-day deadline for the demolition.
Legislative Hearing Officer Marcia Moermond reported severe building deterioration — including missing ventilation and compromised electrical systems — and an extensive nuisance history for the property.
Council Member Molly Coleman said the city had recorded roughly 600 police visits to the site over five years and declared, “the clock has run out.”
CVS still holds a lease on the building through January 2031; a CVS attorney asked the council for a 120-day delay to pursue potential buyers and argued that demolition would hinder a sale.
Neighborhood and civic groups (Hamline-Midway Coalition, Midway Investment Cooperative, Union Park District Council) urged demolition but expressed concern about the implications of leaving an interim empty lot.

Social media users highlight how the CVS originally displaced several local businesses when it was built, contributing to ongoing retail blight in the neighborhood once it vacated, a historical context not emphasized in mainstream reports.
Posts on X frequently describe the site's parking lot as a severe homeless encampment resembling a 'third world warzone,' underscoring community frustration with visible decline and safety issues beyond just police visits.
Some X discussions point out that claims of crime driving the closure have been disproven, suggesting instead that the property is being acquired by developers for redevelopment, shifting focus from nuisance to economic motives.
Users express concerns about outdated zoning laws, like the 'Traditional Neighborhood' designation, which limit building density and complicate revitalization efforts for the site post-demolition.
There are perspectives on X worrying that the resulting empty lot could lead to new problems, such as informal structures or encampments, and potentially drive up local rents if redeveloped into unaffordable housing.

Based on 2 sources

Twin Cities by Frederick Melo November 06, 2025

New information:

St. Paul City Council voted unanimously to order demolition of 499 Snelling Ave. N., with a 15-day deadline.
Council Member Molly Coleman cited roughly 600 police visits in five years and said “the clock has run out.”
Legislative Hearing Officer Marcia Moermond detailed severe building deterioration (missing ventilation, compromised electrical) and extensive nuisance history.
CVS still holds a lease through January 2031; CVS attorney sought a 120-day delay to pursue potential buyers and argued demolition would hinder a sale.
Neighborhood and civic groups (Hamline-Midway Coalition, Midway Investment Cooperative, Union Park District Council) urged demolition; concerns remain about an interim empty lot.

Twin Cities by Frederick Melo October 29, 2025