Citing ‘Deep Divisions,’ Thune Ends Tri-Council Process for Bridges Project

St. Paul City Council Member Dave Thune on Monday ended the Tri-Council planning process for the Bridges of St. Paul. This will send the $1 billion project back to the developer, who could try reapplying for rezoning or could ask the city to look at a new small area plan for the area. The next steps for the project are unclear.

“I am calling a halt to the Tri-Council collaborative process,” Thune wrote in an e-mail sent to Tri-Council members. “I believe that there are simply too many deep divisions to productively go forward. I have no criticism of anyone at all.  I still believe passionately in the communities involved — West Side, West Seventh and Downtown. This collaboration simply wasn’t meant to be.