For the remaining residents of the downtown Lowry Apartments on Wabasha Street, a long-running saga over deteriorating conditions and poor management came to an abrupt end Monday night when the city of St. Paul cleared tenants from the 11-story building with a few hours notice.
Lease-holders were relocated on buses to at least two hotels, one of which is in South St. Paul. It was unclear how long they will be allowed to stay in their new accommodations.
“I was downstairs when the city posted the condemned sign, and all I remember is saying, ‘What am I going to do now?’” said Jaelynn Hoggard, 23, on Tuesday morning.
Hoggard, who has lived at 345 Wabasha St. since last December, said she and other residents were given about five hours to pack up their belongings, though they’ve been allowed to return to their apartments Tuesday to collect more items.
“Everyone’s out,” Hoggard said. “I was literally in contact with people — people that work with the city and the mayor — yesterday morning, and I didn’t know this was going to happen. It’s going to be rough for a little bit.”
Hoggard said the building suffered a burst water pipe on Saturday and heating issues throughout the winter.
The building, previously owned by Madison Equities, fell onto the city’s radar this year amid escalating maintenance and safety concerns, ranging from broken elevators, key fobs and handrails to squatters occupying empty apartments, piled trash in common areas, roach infestations and dog feces on hallway carpets. Madison Equities, which had put the building on the market, eventually lost it to a lender through a foreclosure proceeding.
The former hotel, which dates to 1928, was recently placed in court-ordered receivership at the city’s request. The popular Gray Duck Tavern — a destination for City Hall workers — closed abruptly last July. The building was condemned in August.