Rondo land trust purchases long-empty St. Paul Sears building
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A St. Paul community organization is taking over the long-vacant former Sears site across the street from the Minnesota State Capitol.
The Rondo Community Land Trust announced Friday that it’s finalized a deal to buy the 17-acre site. The building on the lot has been empty since the department store closed in 2019.
Community Land Trust president Mikeya Griffin said the organization is in the early planning stages for the site.
“The former Sears site holds deep historical weight, and we approach this responsibility with care, humility, and a commitment to the people and legacy of Rondo,” Griffin said in a statement.
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She said the land trust is also excited to take over a site next to the State Capitol.
“We see an opportunity to advance district-level development that both honors Rondo’s history and community-centered future, but also creates meaningful value for the thousands of people who work each day in service to the State of Minnesota,” Griffin said.
The land trust runs an affordable homeownership program in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. It also owns several commercial spaces, with an aim to increase business ownership for communities of color.
The former Sears plot has changed hands several times since the store’s closure. It’s currently owned by the nonprofit Asian Media Access, which bought the site for $8.2 million in 2023. The organization has held community meetings and shared goals to redevelop the site, but had not finalized plans. The large parking lot has played host to festivals and community events, but the building remains empty.
“As this transition takes place, we recognize the importance of local leadership and are proud to complete this sale to Rondo Community Land Trust as the next steward of the site,” executive director of Asian Media Access Ange Hwang said in a statement.
The organizations did not immediately share details of the terms of the sale.
