Originally published in the Park Bugle, July 2026.
Ideas shared by St. Anthony Park residents are helping shape recommendations for one of the neighborhood’s most significant redevelopment projects in decades.
Following several months of discussion and community input, the St. Anthony Park Community Council (SAPCC) submitted formal comments to the City of Saint Paul regarding HealthPartners’ proposed new Como Clinic development at Como Avenue and Eustis Street. The comments reflect feedback gathered during public meetings, conversations with neighbors, and review by SAPCC’s Land Use Committee.
SAPCC’s comments note that the site is well-positioned near a planned METRO H Line Bus Rapid Transit station and is generally consistent with long-standing neighborhood planning goals for the property. While committee members expressed strong support for HealthPartners’ investment in the neighborhood and the expansion of healthcare services, the recommendations also identify opportunities to strengthen the project as it moves through the City’s review process.
Among the themes raised by neighbors were preservation of mature trees, safe pedestrian and bicycle connections, attractive landscaping, sustainability features, and ensuring the development complements the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
One of the most distinctive recommendations focuses on the landscaped area between the proposed clinic and Eustis Street. Rather than a conventional lawn, committee members envisioned the area as a neighborhood amenity that could serve both clinic visitors and the broader community. SAPCC encouraged HealthPartners to consider creating a publicly accessible garden and neighborhood gateway featuring native plantings, seating, public art, and other elements that would create a welcoming entrance to St. Anthony Park.
Transportation and mobility were also recurring themes throughout the discussion. SAPCC’s comments support future bicycle connections along Como Avenue, improved pedestrian access to the clinic, and coordination with the planned H Line corridor, which is expected to serve the area in the coming years.
The recommendations also support continued discussions between HealthPartners and Lutheran Social Service regarding a potential shared driveway arrangement. Committee members noted that a coordinated access solution could improve traffic operations, reduce conflict points, and create a more efficient entrance for both properties.
Additional recommendations encourage preservation of mature trees wherever possible, careful attention to stormwater management, shielded lighting that minimizes impacts on surrounding properties, and exploration of sustainability opportunities such as solar energy installations on the clinic roof and parking structure.
The comments also express support for locating the parking structure at the rear of the site, where it will be screened from Como Avenue by landscaping and trees, helping reduce its visual impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
HealthPartners’ proposal has generated significant interest because of the clinic’s longstanding role within the community. Originally opened in 1957, the Como Clinic has served generations of St. Anthony Park residents and remains one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable institutions.
“The discussion wasn’t really about whether the clinic should be built,” said Zev Radziwill, Executive Director of SAPCC. “Neighbors overwhelmingly recognize the importance of the services HealthPartners provides. The conversation focused on how to make a good project even better and how it can contribute to the neighborhood for decades to come.”
SAPCC’s comments also encourage continued conversations about the future of the existing clinic site and nearby parking lots once the new facility is completed, noting that these properties represent important opportunities for future neighborhood investment and planning.
Committee members also emphasized the importance of early community engagement in major redevelopment projects and expressed appreciation for HealthPartners’ willingness to meet with neighbors and answer questions throughout the process.
As review of the project continues, SAPCC leaders hope the recommendations will help inform the final design while strengthening connections between the clinic, future transit investments, and the surrounding community.
More information about SAPCC meetings and neighborhood planning efforts can be found at sapcc.org/.