St. Paul poised to buy defunct storefront at former Saxon Ford dealership
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Last updated: June 9, 2026
St. Paul is attempting to redevelop a significant vacant site formerly occupied by a Ford dealership, which closed in 2005. Previous attempts at development have failed, and the city is now acquiring an additional parcel to assemble a larger site for redevelopment.
- The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is considering purchasing a vacant office building at 259 University Ave. W. for $600,000 to consolidate all seven parcels of the former Saxon-Ford property.
- This acquisition, funded by federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, aims to create a contiguous site suitable for high-density redevelopment, with a focus on affordable housing.
- Demolition of some existing structures and environmental reviews will be necessary before seeking developers through a request for proposals.
- The HRA has owned adjacent parcels since 2006-2009 and aims to attract a development team ready to implement a project that positively reuses the site and enhances the neighborhood and corridor.
- Historically, University Avenue was a prime location for new car sales, but urban commercial flight to the suburbs led to the closure of dealerships like Saxon-Ford.
- Advocates have long called for greater density to revitalize the area, with suggestions for vertical development overlooked by former car dealers concerned about property taxes.
- The current plan prioritizes affordable housing development on the site, with a requirement tied to the federal CDBG funding used for land assembly.
