Trains in toyland

Pioneer Press Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:04:18 -0600
University Avenue at a crossroads

The green-tiled Spruce Tree Centre at the southwest corner of University Avenue is made of white plastic foam. At least, that's what it's made of in the 40-or-so-foot-long scale model of how University might look in several decades, on display at the offices of the Central Corridor light-rail project. If the federal government approves funding, the $909.1 million line linking St. Paul and Minneapolis via tracks down the middle of University Avenue promises to transform the character of the street and its businesses and neighborhoods. No one's sure how, but they're talking. At a meeting last week, two things caught the eye of Midway history buff Steve Bailey as he peered into the model: that the building, unaffectionately known as the "bathroom tile building" is there at all, and that the white color signifies it's an unchanged existing building. "It's the ugliest building around, but they want to leave it there?" he asked. A short while later, architect Steve Beutow, board member of Historic St. Paul, found himself defending the structure. "It's high-density; it fits," he said. "We're concerned about history and use. I'm not the aesthetics police."

[[keywords: PublicWorks;Living;Ramsey;Metro;]]