The Columbia Heights City Council on April 13 unanimously approved a variance reducing the parking requirement at 999 50th Ave. NE, clearing the way for a possible cafe or restaurant at the site.
City Planner Ursula Brandt said the property’s last tenant, a dental office, vacated the building in 2016, and it has remained empty since then. Staff have received multiple inquiries about redeveloping the site, she said, but none have moved forward.
The applicant bought the property in 2022 and began evaluating potential uses. The applicant also discussed ongoing constraints and regulations with city staff, Brandt said, noting the building predated the city’s accessibility and fire-suppression requirements.
Brandt said the building must be updated to meet current fire code.
Based on discussions with the applicant and a code review, staff and the applicant concluded that meeting safety standards while also complying with parking requirements would make redevelopment more difficult for the 12,000-square-foot building.
Brandt said A&A Properties was therefore seeking a variance from the city’s off-street parking requirement.
The current concept is for a cafe or restaurant, which city code classifies as a food-service and full-service use, Brandt said. That would require parking equal to 30% of the building’s occupancy load, resulting in a need for 53 spaces. The site has 41 spaces, leaving a deficit of 12.
Council Member Connie Buesgens asked whether the applicant had a specific restaurant in mind. Brandt said no restaurant had been identified and no timeline had been set.
“If this is not approved, they can’t do it,” Brandt said.
Buesgens said the site would be a good fit for a restaurant.
Council Member Laurel Deneen said she was excited about the project and noted that vacant properties can become problematic when left unattended.
“It’s a quieter use,” Deneen said. “People may be going in to and from their cars, but it’s a quieter use and it’s something that will add something to an amenity for people living over there.”
Brandt said nearly all comments during the public hearing were positive, aside from one expressing concern about traffic at the intersection of 50th and Central.
The council also unanimously approved vacating a drainage and utility easement at 1515 44th Ave. NE to help clear the way for redevelopment of the former Royce Place site.
Brandt said Duffy Development Company was selected by Anoka County in 2025 to redevelop the property into affordable apartments.
During discussions with city staff, the applicant identified existing easements that could hinder redevelopment, Brandt said. A land survey reviewed both the easement and the existing building.
Brandt said the applicant told the city the easement had been intended for a fire lane, and staff later confirmed that with engineering staff and the fire department. Because the easement was never further developed for that purpose, removing it will eliminate a constraint on redevelopment of the site.