St. Cloud City Council Delays Action Again on Planned Downtown Office Building

ST. CLOUD - The St. Cloud city council continues to struggle with the plan to bring a large new office building to the downtown. After a long discussion during tonight's (Monday) meeting, the council decided to table the General Development Plan for a four-story 60,000 square foot office and retail building at the intersection of Highway 23 and 5th Avenue South.

The developer, Inventure Properties, and city staff was recommending the city vacate 3rd Street South to make way for a parking lot. However, the council voted 4-3 to keep the street open.

Council Member Steve Laraway says it's difficult to reopen a street, once it's closed.

Once you vacate a street you're probably not going to unvacate it at some point later. And the thought to me is that whole neighborhood may change with additional parking may open in the future.

This is the second time the city council has delayed a vote on the project. Last month they approved the rezoning of the property, but they declined to take action on the PUD and whether to vacate 3rd Street.

They're expected to continue the discussion on their next city council meeting.