James J. Hill Reference Library buyer has a creative touch

The historic James J. Hill Reference Library in downtown St. Paul has been purchased by a developer who's planning to renovate the building.

Driving the news: The library board of directors' sale to Peter Remes, who owns the development firm First & First, closed Tuesday.

• The board has been trying to sell its half of the century-old building since 2019, due to financial losses.

Why it matters: Remes is a creative real estate developer whose past projects have been major hits.

• He redeveloped St. Paul's Vandalia Tower, a complex that is now home to Lake Monster Brewing.
• Remes took an ice warehouse on Nicollet Avenue and turned it into a rock climbing gym and The Icehouse restaurant/music venue.
• He turned an old warehouse in the North Loop into the Aria event center, a popular wedding and corporate event venue.

The details: Remes said he may pursue historic tax credits for the St. Paul renovation and he wants "to be completely respectful to the grandeur and the architecture of the Hill Library."

• The building will be used primarily as an event center, with a focus on arts and culture, he said. It'll also host wedding and corporate events.

Of note: Only the Hill Library part of the building was sold. The other side of the building will remain the George Latimer Central Library.