Wheelock-Grotto Reconstruction Phase 1

March 24 Tree Removals

UPDATE 4/2/2025

Tree removal has begun in the project area and is anticipated be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting. As a result of the March 20 onsite meeting with residents and neighbors, City staff completed an additional reassessment of trees on Parkview and Ivy for construction impacts and their chance of survival. No modifications were made by the Saint Paul Forestry Division, and all marked trees remain slated for removal because they are in poor health, are being impacted by the project, and/or considered a liability, safety concern, or are at the end of their useful life as determined by city arborists and engineers. Tree replacement remains a critical component of all city reconstruction projects to preserve our urban canopy in Saint Paul. 

UPDATE 3/24/2025

The Wheelock-Grotto Reconstruction project will fully reconstruct several streets in the neighborhood that were estimated to have been built in the 1920s and are long overdue for reconstruction work. The project includes installation of new sidewalks and curbs, making the neighborhood more walkable and accessible for everyone. The entire area lacks proper storm water drainage and requires much needed infrastructure updates to improve the water quality of Como Lake. The current underground water and sewer mains servicing the area are almost a century old and need to be replaced.

On March 20, 2025, Saint Paul Public Works and Parks’ Forestry Division staff met on site with a group of residents to answer questions about trees impacted by the Wheelock-Grotto Street Reconstruction project along Parkview and Ivy Avenue. During this meeting, the city’s survey crew agreed to mark property lines and new sidewalk installation areas on Parkview and Ivy avenues to help residents better visualize the potential construction impact areas. City staff also agreed to re-evaluate certain trees for construction impacts and their chance of survival. Marked trees would be slated for removal because they are in poor health, are being impacted by the project and/or considered a liability, safety concern, or are at the end of their useful life as determined by professional city arborists and engineers. Tree replacement is a critical component of all city reconstruction projects to preserve our urban canopy in Saint Paul. 

City staff have had previous conversations with many residents to discuss the various impacts construction activities can have on adjacent boulevard trees. Curb installation, road/boulevard regrading, utility work, sidewalk installation, and other nearby construction activities may disrupt root systems of nearby trees. Construction impacts, especially to the root system, may not be immediately visible to the tree as a whole but do impact the tree’s health and stability and will only worsen over time. Saint Paul has a tree replacement plan that will re-vegetate the neighborhood with a diverse variety of boulevard trees providing a more resilient ecosystem.

Trees initially marked for removal on both Parkview and Ivy avenues from Como Boulevard to Victoria Street will not be removed until they have been re-evaluated by the city. 

3/19/2025

On Monday, March 17 Public Works conducted a "tree walk" with Forestry staff to do a final assessment of the trees in the construction area. Trees were marked for removal with a red X in preparation for construction in the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 area. Tree removals are anticipated to start on Monday, March 24. As with all construction, schedules may change.

Trees were marked for removal for several reasons:

• Proximity to installation of curbs and/or sidewalk
• Underground utility work conflicts, including lead water service replacement, sewer, and water main installation
• Roadway regrading conflicts with root systems of existing trees
• Overall tree health condition including any pre-existing signs of decline and/or structural defects

Construction activities can be damaging to adjacent boulevard trees. Curb installation, road/boulevard regrading, utility work, sidewalk installation, and other nearby construction activities may disrupt root systems of nearby trees. These root impacts can make a tree unstable, creating a possible public safety hazard. These construction impacts may not be immediately visible to the tree as a whole, but do impact the tree’s health and will only worsen over time.

What to expect during tree removal:

• Roads will be temporarily closed at the locations where trees are being removed
• Road closures will move based on where tree removals are occurring
• Expect to see "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" and/or "Local Traffic Only" signs

Tree stumps will be left and removed during the road construction. New trees will be planted in the boulevard once construction is completed.

2024 Video Presentations

Please watch the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 video presentation (September 2024) to learn more about the project. You can also view the PowerPoint slides used in the video.

Please watch the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 sidewalks video presentation (October 2024) to learn more about the layout of new sidewalks in the project area. You can also view the PowerPoint slides used in the sidewalks video. Please note that some of this information has changed with the Revised Sidewalk Plan shared on February 19, 2025.

See the sidewalk section below to view the detailed sidewalk layout map used in the sidewalk presentation. Use this sidewalk map to view the layout of the sidewalk along specific streets or properties.

Sidewalks

The city is committed to making Saint Paul a pedestrian friendly, walkable community for everyone. In February 2017, the Saint Paul City Council adopted a policy of installing sidewalks where none exist as an integral part of all reconstruction projects. 

The project will incorporate sidewalk recommendations from the 2023 Como Park High School and Como Park Elementary Safe Routes to School Plan within the project limits. The plan was developed by Saint Paul Public Schools staff and students along with the City of Saint Paul. It includes recommendations for street improvements near the two schools with the goal of increasing the number of students and families who walk and bike to school. The plan recommends sidewalks where there are none.

Update 2/19/25: Revised Sidewalk Plan

Engineering staff analyzed the survey data of existing topographic conditions and have made revised recommendations for placement of new sidewalk within the project area. The revised map shows the recommended placement of sidewalks. The revised sidewalk plan still follows existing city policy. 

Public Works analyzed the existing terrain. Sidewalks are not recommended in areas that would require the installation of a retaining wall. Placing the sidewalk at the bottom of the slopes would reduce boulevard width, impact trees, and reduce available snow storage space. The revised sidewalk plan provides adequate space for snow storage, future tree plantings, and concurrent sidewalks on every block while preserving as much existing tree canopy as possible. 

The standard placement for sidewalk installation is at the private property line. The city will work around existing trees and infrastructure where possible.

Detailed Sidewalk Layout Map

Use the revised  detailed sidewalk layout map to view the proposed layout of new sidewalks and location of existing sidewalks in the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 area. 

Detailed Map Sections

• Detailed Sidewalk Map for Orange St. (446.54 KB)
  Detailed Sidewalk Map for Osage (423.47 KB)
  Detailed Sidewalk Map for Parkview (357.56 KB)
  Detailed Sidewalk Map Ivy (Part 1) (356.21 KB)
  Detailed Sidewalk Map for Ivy (Part 2) (453.69 KB)

Please note that this map is for informational purposes and may not exactly reflect the existing infrastructure or final construction.

Understanding and using the sidewalk layout map:

• Zoom in to the specific street or property address (property lines are in green and buildings are in turquoise with addresses on them)
• Map key
  • Green lines = property lines and recorded right of way (green lines along the street and alley)
  • Yellow = existing sidewalk
  • Dark orange = existing fence or wall
  • Green bubbles with number = existing tree and number is the size of the tree's trunk in inches
  • Blue lines = proposed curb for reconstructed street
  • Light orange with dots = proposed sidewalk
  • Olive green with number = width of the public right of way and proposed street in feet
  • Black boxes with a letter = driveways
    • A = asphalt driveway
    • B = brick driveway
    • C = concrete driveway
    • G = gravel driveway
• 

Utility Work

Lead Water Service Line Replacement

Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) will replace lead services to properties that participate in the Lead Free SPRWS Program. If you have a lead water service, you will receive notice from SPRWS with details. For additional information go to www.stpaul.gov/water/lead-free, call 651-266-6820, or email lead@stpaul.gov.

Sewers

Property owners are responsible for their private sanitary sewer lines that are under the roadway and connect to the city’s main sewer line. Because the street is being reconstructed, it is a good time to undertake needed or preventative work/repairs on your private sanitary sewer line. The project encourages everyone to have their sanitary sewer connection inspected to verify its condition. For questions, contact the Sewer Utility service desk at 651-266-6234 or PW-SewerCounter@ci.stpaul.mn.us.