St. Paul neighbors rally to save Tangletown house from demolition

St. Paul residents of the tight-knit Tangletown neighborhood near Macalester College gather every Fourth of July for a house party, a tradition that stretches back three decades. That's followed by a fall block party, a chili cook-off in the winter and knitting clubs, reading clubs and other excuses to enjoy each other's company.

But several dozen protesters gathered on the front porch of 1721 Princeton Ave. on Friday evening for a candlelight protest, chanting "Save this home" and "Don't tear it down." And a follow-up meeting is planned for Saturday afternoon at Don Arnosti's house. He lives directly across Princeton Avenue from the 2,000-square-foot house that's slated for demolition. The home recently sold for $475,000.

To the surprise of neighbors, the new owners at 1721 Princeton plan to subdivide the lot and build two houses, each about 4,000 square feet, according to plans submitted to the city by contractors. They also intend to build two garages, one for two cars and the other for three. It's not clear whether the new owners would occupy either house.

Tangletown residents say they're dismayed, and they're worried the pending lot subdivision is a sign of things to come. Another home demolition in the neighborhood, said Arnosti, recently resulted in a new structure "pushing right up to the lot lines ... out of character with everything."

Built in 1910, the three-bedroom Dutch Colonial at 1721 Princeton carries no historic designation, either local or federal.

Nevertheless, neighbors point out that one of the new owners, Sherelyn Ogden, is a book conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society, and they're hoping to appeal to her interest in preservation. A reporter's email and phone call to Ogden were not returned this week.

Victoria McCurdy, who grew up next door to 1721 Princeton, said a Facebook page dedicated to saving the house from demolition has drawn more than 1,100 "likes" and 88,000 post reads.

"This is an iconic house in a historic neighborhood," McCurdy said. "It's one of the nicest blocks in the city of St. Paul."

Her parents' Princeton Avenue property is home to a 100-foot-tall American elm on the property line bordering 1721 Princeton. She worries construction will damage the root system, leading to the tree's slow death.

The city granted preliminary approval for the lot subdivision on Oct. 23, and a 10-day appeal period has since passed. Neighbors learned of the imminent demolition Sunday and are asking the city to intervene. City officials, however, say they have limited authority over private real estate transactions and the demolition would violate no ordinances.

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St. Paul neighbors rally to save Tangletown house from demolition