On October 31, the Second Judicial District Court ruled the City of Saint Paul may demolish the existing building, which makes way for the City to proceed with building a new Hamline Midway Library. We are excited to share that after a 16-month delay, we are now moving forward with pre-construction efforts.
If you go past the building in the next few weeks, you may see some activity as we begin preparing for a new building by safely removing remaining items and hazardous materials, thoughtfully salvaging equipment, and deactivating old building utilities, like water heaters and boilers.
This preparatory phase will last through December. We will keep you updated as project timelines and next steps are finalized for the construction process.
We are excited to soon deliver a new neighborhood library that meets community member needs while fostering belonging and connection! For more information about the Hamline Midway Library and for ongoing updates, please visit the project webpage.
About the recent court ruling
Saint Paul Public Library is deeply committed to building a city where all people feel seen, safe, and welcome. The critical roles libraries play in providing access to vital, transformative resources and technology can only be met in spaces designed to provide those needs.
Shortly after the library closed for decommissioning to prepare for the start of construction in fall 2023, a lawsuit was filed in Ramsey County District Court to preserve the building. The Second Judicial District Court ruled in October 2024 that the City of Saint Paul may demolish the existing Hamline Midway Library building, in consultation with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, making way for a new Hamline Midway Library on the site where the existing library is located. This decision came after 16 months of litigation, which delayed the project. Once construction begins, the project is anticipated to take 18 months for completion.
Hamline Midway Library is one of three libraries slated for transformation through Saint Paul Public Library’s Transforming Libraries initiative. Community engagement and analysis informed the decision to fully replace the Hamline Midway Library in order to provide a library space that meets the accessibility, safety, and flexibility needs and desires community members shared with us.
For more information about Transforming Libraries and for ongoing updates, please visit www.sppl.org/transform.
