RAMSEY COUNTY, Minn. — On Tuesday, The Minnesota Court of Appeals denied a waiver of bond request by a group of preservationists hoping to stop the demolition of historic St. Andrew's Church in St. Paul.
Members of the Save Historic St. Andrew's (SHSA) failed to come up with the approximately $2 million necessary to have their case to save the church heard by the court.
Twin Cities German Immersion School (TCGIS) will now be allowed to proceed with replacing the church with a new facility for its students.
TCGIS Chairwoman Julie Alkatout issued this statement:
"We are gratified that the appeals court supports the value of educating children for the public good and for the future. We are happy this long, financially and emotionally draining process has come to an end. We can now begin the healing process with all community members in the Warrendale neighborhood.”
TCGIS bought the church six years ago and has been using it as a gym and cafeteria for their students.
School board members wanted to tear it down and build something bigger to accommodate a growing number of students.
The school was originally hoping to demolish the church back in June and says it had cost them thousands of dollars for every week the project was put on hold.
