Luther Seminary will not move forward with negotiations to lease Stub Hall (2329 W. Hendon Ave., St. Paul) to Ramsey County as an emergency overnight shelter. A plan to relocate the Safe Space Shelter from downtown St. Paul to Stub Hall for three years starting this summer had previously been announced. The community town hall meeting with representatives from Ramsey County and Model Cities that was originally scheduled for May 21 at 5:30 p.m. on the seminary campus has been canceled.
The seminary previously leased Stub Hall—a vacant dormitory on its campus—to Ramsey County from December 2020–June 2022 as a temporary shelter for women and couples experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stub Hall has remained vacant since that lease expired on June 30, 2022.
The county approached Luther Seminary earlier this year about the possibility of leasing Stub Hall a second time due to the closure of the Government Center East building at 160 E. Kellogg Blvd. The City of St. Paul and Ramsey County determined such an emergency overnight shelter was an allowable use for Stub Hall based on federal law pertaining to land owned by religious organizations.
After receiving feedback from its neighbors, Luther Seminary has decided to cease its negotiations with Ramsey County. Stub Hall will remain vacant as the Seminary continues its plans to sell the property.
“As a gospel-centered community, we felt this opportunity to meet a need in our region aligned with our values,” said Heidi Droegemueller, vice president for seminary relations. “At the same time, our primary mission is theological education. While we are grateful for the welcome extended by our St. Anthony Park neighbors to shelter residents during the pandemic, it has become clear in recent days that moving forward with Safe Space Shelter is not a constructive path for the seminary or the neighborhood at this time. We remain grateful for the commitment and dedication of Ramsey County’s Department of Housing Instability and Model Cities as they work diligently to solve our community’s housing crisis.”
Community members with questions can contact Heidi Droegemueller at hdroegemueller001@luthersem.edu. Please direct any external or media inquiries to Rachel Farris at farrisr@augsburg.edu.