The idea behind the $35 million Payne Maryland Town Square development is to help change the direction of the St. Paul East Side neighborhood, for the better.
It's a public-private collaboration that's been several years in the making, bringing together
St. Paul Parks and Recreation and
libraries,
Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, and the
Bradshaw Funeral Home, according to Chris Gibbs, who is a principal with
HGA, the architecture firm that's working on the project.
Named for the streets it'll intersect with, the town square will be
built on a lot that pieces together land from various collaborators,
along with a couple of privately owned duplexes.
As of right now, the facility's 110,000 square feet will be split between three levels, including one that will be partially below grade, he says.
The development's preliminary design includes a public library; rec areas such as a gym, exercise room, and walking/running track; meeting rooms for 75 to 300 people; classrooms for big and small groups, and office space. Ultimately, the community will determine what happens in the building, he says.
Groups will share resources, which will improve their efficiency. "The final outcome will be exponentially greater than any of them can do on their own," he says.
At this point, the building's aesthetic is still coming together. "The keys are to balance fitting in with the neighborhood and yet trying to set a new direction that will start a new beginning."
Development will be phased, with construction of the library and recreational center to start in the spring of 2012.
While it won't solve all of the area's problems, Gibbs hopes the town square will be a catalyst for change. "All of the entities are stepping outside of their comfort zones to do something to make the neighborhood better," he says.
Source: Chris Gibbs, HGA principal
Writer: Anna Pratt