Local Brief
St. Paul skyway users frustrated by prolonged closure
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Photo: Nick Halter/Axios
Nancy Kehmeier typically walks from her Landmark Tower condo to the east side of downtown St. Paul two or three times a day, but for the past 13 months, that has meant leaving the climate-controlled skyway system.
Why it matters: The closure of the Alliance Bank Center has cut off a key connection in the city's 5-mile system of glass bridges, forcing residents like Kehmeier to navigate around the building and putting additional pressure on people with accessibility challenges.
Driving the news: Kehmeier's frustration isn't unique. She co-founded a Friends of the Saint Paul Skyway group during the winter that has grown to roughly 575 members.
- A survey of nearly 700 users found the Alliance Bank Center closure was their top concern.
Catch up quick: Alliance was one of several buildings in Madison Equities' portfolio when founder Jim Crockarell died in 2024. The company essentially abandoned the complex last spring, prompting the city to take control.
- The city closed the building, citing security concerns.
- The nonprofit Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) acquired the property in October, using money from a fund backed by Securian Financial and the Bush Foundation.
Between the lines: City ordinance requires that skyways be open from 6am to midnight daily. A landlord wanting an exemption needs City Council approval.
- City spokesperson Casey Rodriguez said that since the fire marshal condemned the building last year, it's not subject to the ordinance.
- The SPDDC has active permits for electrical work, fire alarm installation, and elevator repair, Rodriguez added.
What they're saying: SPDDC CEO Dave Higgins declined to comment on the skyway closure but said that, at the time of the acquisition, an evaluation of redevelopment would take 12 months.
- A 2024 study said the building is a candidate for conversion to apartments, but others have wondered whether a teardown will be on the table.
What we're watching: The slow pace has been frustrating for skyway users like Kehmeier, but she's optimistic that meetings spearheaded by City Council Member Rebecca Noecker and Mayor Kaohly Her's office have gotten the ball rolling.
- "We do expect to have it open sometime," she said. "We still don't know the date."