Should the City of Maplewood, through its City Manager and its council, be engaged in land speculation and “wheeling and dealing” land purchases, with taxpayer dollars, for non-governmental purposes?
While all of the below information is available as a matter of public record (if you dig in and research the data), the council has been less than forthright about their “spending spree.”
SPENDING SPREE TOTAL: $1,635,095.50 MILLION DOLLARS
SUBSEQUENT TO THIS SPENDING SPREE, the council voted to close the Gladstone fire station. Additionally, they have de-funded and closed our Maplewood Nature Center after 40 years. It’s like buying caviar and throwing a big party but forgetting to buy milk and eggs to feed the kids. Look at their track record:
1160 Frost Avenue East, St. Paul, 55109 (vacant land)
- May 2017: City purchased property for $250,000 (Market Value $144,500)
- Today: City owns property, Market Value currently unchanged at $144,500
0 Frost Ave East, Maplewood, MN 55109 (vacant land)
- July 2017: City purchased property for $59,095.50 (Market Value $23,400)
- Today: City owns property, Market Value currently unchanged at $23,400
0 Frost Ave Parcel CRV July 2017
2494 Harvester Ave. East, Maplewood, MN 55109
- Nov 2017: City purchased property for $151,000 (Market Value $150,500)
- July 2018: City sold the property to Grant Management, LLC for $105,000 (Market Value $151,400)
- Grant Management, LLC was formed August 2017
- October 2019: Grant Management sells property for $260,000 to HPA US1 LLC, based out of Chicago, IL
- Grant Management, LLC no longer exists and was dissolved by the MN Secretary of State.
1 2017 Market Value
2 Harvester Property CRV Nov 2017
4 City Sale-eCRVId 841980 July 2018
6 Grant Management eCRV sale Oct 2019
1375 Frost Ave. E, Maplewood, MN 55109 (Gladstone House)
- October 2018: City purchased property for $275,000 (Market Value $209,800)
- Today: City owns property, Market Value currently unchanged at $209,800 minus demotion costs of approximately $75,000
Building vacant since 2004, requires demolition. Purchase price to City NOT reduced to reflect the costs of demotion.
1946 English St. N, Maplewood, MN 55109 (former Moose Lodge)
- May 2019: City purchased property for $900,000 (Market Value $751.200)
- Today: City owns property, Market Value currently unchanged at $751,200 minus demotion costs of $100,000
- Demolition Costs: Ramsey County Assessor estimates cost to raze the structure is 22,104 SF x $4.50/SF = $99,468, rounded to $100,000.
- City over-bid to out-bid a private party who offered to purchase the Moose Lodge property for use as a banquet center. City council held a closed meeting to authorize city staff to bid up to 25% over market value.
See and hear: Audio of Closed Meeting Where Council Decides to Buy Moose Lodge & Out Bid Competition