A former demolition landfill in South St. Paul could soon sprout a modern, environmentally friendly new neighborhood using modular construction, under a developer's plans recently approved by the City Council.
But the project, called Bryant's Ridge, is full of challenges. The 8-acre site includes a steep ravine, requires screening for methane soil gas and will need to be surveyed by the state archaeologist's office to ensure it doesn't contain Native American artifacts before developer TJ Hammerstrom's team can proceed.
Hammerstrom, a South St. Paul resident whose company is called Hopewell 360, said he isn't daunted by the site's potential problems: "These are [the] inner-city infill sites that we're attracted to," he said.
The project will be green and net-zero — meaning the amount of greenhouse gases it creates will be offset so there are essentially zero emissions. Hammerstrom said his company now builds only net-zero projects.
"It's time we start paying attention to the details of what's going on with our planet here," he said.
The development narrowly received approval from the City Council last week on a 4-3 vote, after previous plans were voted down in April. Some on the council are skeptical it could actually be built.
Mayor Jimmy Francis, who voted against it, said the developer and the timing weren't right for the project.
"It seems to me it's a bit of an experimental project, and I don't like South St. Paul to be the object of their experiment," said Lori Hansen, a council member who also voted no.