Over the last few years, a number of potential locations for the planned Minnesota Irish Cultural Center have been identified and investigated.Such sites have included closed elementary schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul, vacant commercial buildings, unoccupied “historic” structures, and various other currently-unused or underutilized properties.Many of these sites had some attractive features, but all of them presented significant redevelopment challenges, such as inadequate parking, poor structural condition, excessive rehabilitation costs, an unrealistically high sale price, or an inconvenient location.
However, a property has been identified that offers many of the desired features and few of the shortcomings that have eliminated other sites from consideration.The property in question is a vacant two-story commercial building located at 1399 Eustis Street in the attractive St. Anthony Park neighborhood of western St. Paul (near the Como Avenue exit from northbound Highway 280).Representatives of various local Irish organizations that have toured the property have commented favorably on its convenient and central location (right on the border between Minneapolis and St. Paul, a short distance north of I-94 and University Avenue), its large on-site parking lot, and its adjacent athletic fields.
Click here to see aerial photos of the property, and here to see photos of the exterior of the building.
The building itself is well maintained and entirely handicap-accessible, has five bathrooms, and features a wide variety of room sizes ranging from 8’ x 10’ spaces (suitable for small offices or classrooms) to medium-sized rooms (ideal for activities such as conferences, group meetings and dance practices) to a 3300 square foot ballroom with an adjacent kitchen area. Click here to see photos of the interior of the building, and here to see floor plans that identify possible uses of the various spaces in the building.
Photo courtesy of IMDA
We encourage you to take a look at the Eustis Street location at your convenience.Click here for Google Map directions.Representatives of Irish organizations that would like to take a tour of the interior of the building can arrange to do so by calling 651-983-6384.
During the 2008 Minnesota legislative session, Minnesota Irish Cultural Center staff and volunteers were successful in getting bills introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives that would have provided funding for the acquisition of the building in question.However, despite the support of a number of important elected officials, the progress of the bills stalled, primarily because of the state’s budget crisis. Ultimately the vast majority of the “arts and culture” funding that was potentially available pursuant to the Legacy Amendment (which was approved by the voters last November) ended up being allocated to larger organizations such as the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Humanities Center.
Accordingly, the Minnesota Irish Cultural Center [MICC] is now exploring interim options regarding the Eustis Street property, including leasing and improving portions of the building for the benefit of Irish organizations until arrangements can be made to acquire it.Funding assistance has been (and will continue to be) sought from the City of St. Paul, foundations, grantors, corporate sponsors and others, and MICC is working closely with local Irish interest groups such as Fáilte Minnesota to continue promoting the concept of an independent, affordable, user-based nonprofit facility that can effective serve the needs of the broad spectrum of Minnesota organizations involved in Irish arts, culture, sports and commerce.
If you are interested in assisting with this initiative, either financially or by volunteering, click here for more information!
