Bankruptcy judge OKs plan to sell Twin Cities archdiocese chancery

The chancery of the archdiocese
The chancery of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is made up of two connected buildings. This one, located at 226 Summit Ave. in St. Paul, includes the archdiocese offices.
Regina McCombs | MPR News 2015

A federal bankruptcy judge told the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Thursday that it can proceed with efforts to sell the church's Summit Avenue chancery.

Minneapolis-based United Properties, which is owned by the Pohlad family, has offered $2.75 million for the chancery, but the archdiocese expects there'll be higher bids. Ramsey County estimates the market value of the property to be $6.3 million. Other parties have until March 18 to make offers.

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Current zoning allows low-density residential projects, such as single-family homes. It's expected the sloping chancery property could accommodate a five-story building without blocking views of the nearby Cathedral of St. Paul. There is a 1.5 acre parcel of adjacent city-owned land that could be included in a project.

Any proposed project for the nearly 4-acre site would be subject to zoning review and the scrutiny of neighbors. The sale of the chancery property is subject to court review.

The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy about a year ago. The church, sex abuse victims, insurers and other parties are in mediation talks aimed at devising a plan that compensates abuse victims and assures the financial viability of the archdiocese.