Mixed-Use Redevelopment Planned for Long-Vacant St. Paul Sears Site

This article highlights the Rondo Community Land Trust’s purchase of a 17-acre former Sears site in St. Paul for about $10 million. This marks its largest acquisition to date.

Plans are underway for a mixed-use development guided by strong community engagement. The project aims to reconnect history, neighborhood identity, and local economic activity.

A landmark acquisition for the Rondo community

The Rondo Community Land Trust has bought the 17-acre former Sears site in St. Paul, a block from the State Capitol. The site has stood vacant since the Sears store closed in 2019.

The land was once part of the historic Rondo neighborhood. It is set to host a mixed-use development that will prioritize community input throughout the engagement process.

The purchase, made for about $10 million, is described by the land trust as its largest to date. It is a crucial step toward restoring land stewardship based on local needs and history.

Founded to serve the Rondo community’s interests, the land trust will work closely with residents and stakeholders. The goal is to shape district-scale development in meaningful ways.

The project’s aim is to connect history, community, and economic activity. It seeks to honor the neighborhood’s legacy and create lasting benefits for locals.

Community engagement and design intent

Executive leadership, including Mikeya Griffin—the trust’s president and CEO—emphasizes a thoughtful, ongoing process. The plan calls for broad community input to inform decisions from site layout to programming.

This approach ensures that the development mirrors the area’s character and serves residents first. Griffin underscored the potential to turn vacant land into a model of community-centered stewardship and inclusive district development.

Historical context and development lens

The site’s history adds complexity and opportunity. Before it housed the Sears, the parcel was part of the historic Rondo neighborhood.

The Rondo neighborhood was a predominantly Black community that suffered displacements when Interstate 94 cut through the area in the 1960s. The acquisition represents a chance to rewrite land-use outcomes in a way that honors that history and avoids repeating displacement patterns.

The land trust’s leadership frames this project as a way to ensure future development benefits local residents. The focus is on serving the community rather than outside interests.

Opportunities and design principles

Key considerations for the project’s design and implementation include:

• Reflecting Rondo’s character in the site’s programming, aesthetics, and public realm to honor memory and identity.
• Ensuring equitable access to housing, services, and employment opportunities created by the development.
• Facilitating ongoing community input throughout planning, design, and implementation phases.
• Coordinating with Asian Media Access, the current owner who had started planning but had not moved to development, to align the site’s reuse with community goals.
• Integrating sustainable design and resilient infrastructure to support long-term value for residents and the city.

What comes next for design, policy, and practice

For architects, engineers, and planners, this project signals a shift toward community-led development anchored in place-based history.

The upcoming engagement process will shape pedestrian-first public spaces and accessible transit-oriented amenities.

Mixed-use components will balance housing, retail, and civic functions.

Practitioners can expect governance challenges common to large urban sites, such as zoning alignment and funding strategies.

Phased construction will require close collaboration with community groups, city agencies, and the land trust.

The St. Paul project also offers a practical case study in historic preservation through development.

Design solutions will honor memory while delivering contemporary performance and economic vitality.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mixed-use development planned for long-vacant St. Paul Sears site