Grand Avenue Salvage: Preserving St. Paul’s Architectural Treasures

The article chronicles a century-old St. Paul building at the corner of Victoria and Grand. This building, originally a 1920s car dealership known as Victoria Crossing East, is being demolished for a six-story mixed-use development with 90 apartments and street-level retail.

Before demolition, a salvage effort funded by a deconstruction grant will recover valuable materials. These materials can support startups, nonprofits, and neighborhood businesses while keeping waste out of landfills.

Developer Ari Parritz of Afton Park Development expects the project to finish by fall 2027. The project aims to show how reuse and responsible demolition can work with new urban growth.

Project overview and redevelopment plans

This initiative signals a shift toward sustainable urban renewal in St. Paul. It balances the preservation of local history with the need for modern housing and retail.

The new building will be six stories with 90 apartments and ground-floor storefronts. The project will activate the Victoria/Grand corridor and support walkable, mixed-income living.

The approach focuses on reducing embodied energy and diverting building materials from landfills. Demolition becomes an opportunity to recover and reuse materials from the site.

Salvage-led deconstruction and grant support

The salvage operation started before demolition and is funded by a deconstruction grant from Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy. Jeremy Marshik of LumberStash led the salvage work, removing valuable components for reuse, resale, or donation.

This effort shows how salvage can benefit the community and local economy.

Notable salvaged materials and their current paths

• Rooftop HVAC units
• Water heaters
• Stained-glass windows
• Tongue-and-groove ceilings
• Solid steel beams
• Light fixtures
• Toilets
• Bar cooler

Salvaged items are being resold through LumberStash. Some are donated to nonprofits and Buy Nothing groups, or repurposed by small businesses and entrepreneurs.

This reuse keeps valuable items in circulation. It also reduces waste and supports local businesses.

Community benefits and local entrepreneurship

Salvage success stories are already emerging. Salena Murphy and her father recovered track lighting for Murphy’s upcoming Salon and Stop and Go Market on Arcade Avenue, reducing fixture costs.

At Tiki Tom’s Thai, manager Jeff Gleisner collected kitchen and bar equipment, speakers, and lumber for the Lake Street restaurant. Victory Mobile Welding founder Andrew Klosowski removed roll-up doors and Detroit steel beams, noting the craftsmanship is irreplaceable and should be reused.

These examples show how salvage creates savings for new ventures. It also preserves skilled trades by reusing and reapplying materials.

History, heritage, and a forward-looking approach

The old building’s historic character is valued, but developers and salvagers agree it “had given all it had to give.” This led to a practical reuse plan.

By focusing on salvaged materials and traceable reuse, the project honors the site’s legacy. It enables a new block that blends housing, retail, and community services.

The salvage effort demonstrates that preservation can happen through material reuse, even if the building itself is replaced.

Environmental and economic impact: a scalable model

This project models how deconstruction can be part of urban redevelopment as a best practice. By prioritizing salvage, the team reduces landfill disposal and lowers embodied energy.

This approach also creates a supply chain for local startups and craftspeople. The result is a more resource-efficient development that retains value within the community.

The Victoria Crossing East redevelopment shows how a century-old landmark can become a modern, vibrant neighborhood. It honors history through salvage and reuse while supporting a forward-looking vision for St. Paul’s urban fabric.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Salvagers save the best of old St. Paul building before demolition