After 16 months of litigation, a Ramsey County district judge gave the city of St. Paul the green light to demolish the Hamline-Midway Library and replace it with a modern library, better accessible to people with disabilities and designed specifically for online access. learning and other community needs.

The proposed demolition of the 1930s Henry Hale Memorial Library, located at 1558 Minnehaha Avenue, had been hotly contested by defenders of historywho came together under the title Renovate 1558 to save and renovate the establishment, its distinctive red brick facade and grand arched entrance. The group successfully listed the library on the National Register of Historic Places despite the city’s objections and attempted to block the demolition in court, calling the library a natural resource and its loss a violation of the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act.

On Thursday, Ramsey County District Judge Stephen Smith issued a 26-page opinion and court order authorizing the demolition “in consultation with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office.”

He noted that the building lacks modern ventilation and insulation and falls well short of modern building codes, and that the city has made reasonable efforts to explore alternatives, such as selling the library and moving its services elsewhere. The new building will incorporate elements of the old one in its facade and in its exhibition space.

Smith wrote: “There is no doubt that the extraordinary deterioration of the library, unabated, presents a significant risk to the health, safety and welfare of the public. These risks include exposure to mold, poor air quality, falling structures, illicit and harmful activities and collapsing ceilings, as well as the consequences of any resulting mechanical damage.

He went on to write that the court finds the city’s plan “is consistent with public safety and the State’s overriding concern for its natural resources.” Features of the library will be replicated in the novella, including a prominently displayed interpretive exhibit touting the importance of its “social history” and “education,” the very reason it was placed on the historic register .

Mayor Melvin Carter’s office released a statement Thursday evening saying the city would work with construction partners to set a demolition date. The city had already set aside $8.1 million to build a new facility, initially expected to start in fall 2023.

“I applaud this decision and look forward to finally delivering on our promise of an accessible, safe and modern public library that all of our Hamline-Midway families can enjoy,” Carter said in a written statement.

“The Midway deserves a major investment by the city in vibrant public spaces for the future of our diverse community,” Council President Mitra Jalali said in the same release. “I am thrilled that the Hamline-Midway Library will be rebuilt to better serve our neighborhood. This is a victory for all our residents.

Originally published: October 31, 2024 at 9:18 p.m. CDT