4R Program - Reuse, Recycle and Renovate for Reinvestment Program
Ramsey County is required by Minnesota state statutes to hold, manage and sell tax-forfeited properties on behalf of the state in a manner that enables the highest and best use of those properties. In addition, state and county solid waste management policy includes a preference that waste products be recycled instead of landfilled whenever possible. As a way to address both responsibilities, Ramsey County established the Reuse, Recycle and Renovate for Reinvestment Program - the 4R Program for short - in April 2010.
Its mission is two-fold:
- Promote productive reuse of old building materials from deconstructed buildings in order to keep those materials out of landfills, thereby minimizing the effect on our natural resources and environment.
- Renovate dilapidated structures back to being appealing, taxable properties with an emphasis on using sustainable building practices and incorporating sustainable components in each renovation project.
Through this mission, the 4R Program reduces the county's eco-footprint and promotes livelier, healthier neighborhoods.
Program goals
- Give durable building materials from deconstructed buildings a second life by reusing them in other projects.
- Break down the components of worn-down materials from deconstructed buildings for them to be remade and reused in another form. The county's goal is to salvage, reuse, recycle and recover no less than 75% of eligible building materials available.
- Where applicable, renovate dilapidated buildings for productive use instead of deconstructing them. Renovation saves money, effort and resources and represents the pinnacle of reuse and recycling.
- Reinvest in the community by making neighborhoods safer and more cohesive through the improvement of individual properties.
Process
If a tax-forfeited property is not repurchased or conveyed to a governmental agency, it takes one of two paths: building removal and land restoration, or renovation. Sometimes this decision is made early on in the tax forfeiture process in order to preserve the county’s investment in a property due to an enforcement action being taken by a city.
If the property is a candidate for renovation, the intent is to correct code violations, at a minimum. Typically a structure is renovated to a level that will ensure that low to moderate income home buyers will not be burdened with major repairs, such as a new roof, furnace or hot water heater, within the first five years of ownership. The structures are typically renovated from top to bottom (or attic to basement) with Energy Star rated windows, HVAC systems and new paint, floor coverings, kitchens, baths and exterior siding. The property is made safe and livable utilizing as many green product components and practices as possible for sustainability, energy efficiency and low environmental impact.
In cases where it is not cost-effective to remedy the code violations or circumstances dictate the removal of the house, the structure is removed or dismantled in a way that allows for the maximum amount of building materials to be recycled or reused.
Eventually the property is sold by public auction, whether it's a vacant lot or a fully-renovated home. Revenue coming from the sale of tax-forfeited properties is used to replenish the fund for costs incurred and is also used in future forfeited property projects.
Current projects
All addresses listed are in Saint Paul, unless otherwise noted.
Building renovations
- 735 Margaret St.
Building removals
None scheduled at this time.
Completed projects
Renovations
2019
- 221 Belvidere St. E.
2018
- 776 Lafond Ave.
- 1561 Beech St.
2017
- 668-670 Conway.
2015
- 806 Edmund Ave.
- 989 Burr St.
2014
- 869 Fuller Ave.
- 175 E County Road B2 #227.
- 5775 Otterview Trail.
- 24 George St. E.
2013
- 754 Case Ave.
- 297 Ivy Ave. W.
2012
- 1005 Iglehart Ave.
- 936 Sherburne Ave.
- 653 Marshall Ave.
- 617 Virginia St.
- 548 Charles Ave.
- 994 Reaney Ave.
2011
- 922 Westminster St. (pilot renovation project)
- 509 Edmund Ave.
- 570 Iglehart Ave.
Building removals
2020
- 474 Curtice St. E.
- 908 Jefferson Ave.
2019
- 2198 Second St. N., North Saint Paul.
2018
- 910 Central Ave.
- 797 Duluth St.
- 204 Front Ave.
2017
- 621 Jessamine Ave. E.
- 549 Van Buren Ave.
- 1954 Case Ave. E.
- 2037 Nokomis Ave.
- 684 Stockdale Road.
- 265 Curtice St. W.
- 759 Cook Ave.
- 841 Burr Ave.
2016
- 966 Central Ave.
- 413 Sinnen St.
- 743 Pierce Butler Route.
- 604 Jessamine Ave .E.
- 776 Lafond Ave. (garage only)
- 503 Winona St. E.
- 1563 Beech St.
- 1310 Pacific St.
- 926 Galtier St.
2015
- 187 Acker St.
- 382 Jessamine Ave. E.
- 994 3rd St. E.
- 841 Magnolia Ave. E.
2014
- 869 Selby Ave.
- 1027 Iglehart Ave.
- 1036 Bush Ave.
- 888 Desoto St.
- 499 Hatch Ave.
- 797 Park St.
- 1162 Reaney Ave.
2013
- 820 Concordia Ave.
- 709 York Ave.
- 1075 Jessamine Ave. E.
- 1151 Ross Ave.
- 1166 Ross Ave.
- 663-665 Elfelt St.
- 983 Cook Ave. E.
- 836 Burr St.
- 950 Edgerton St.
- 549 Jenks Ave.
2012
- 949 St. Anthony Ave.
- 763 Fourth St. E.
- 1180-1184 Seventh St. E.
- 107 Litchfield St.
- 591 Mackubin St.
- 215 Winona St. E.
- 663 Edmund Ave.
- 742 Pascal St. N.
- 873 Rice St.
- 286 Burgess St.
- 389 Sherburne Ave.
- 767 Waterloo St.
- 890 York Ave.
2011
- 927 Jordan Ave. (pilot building removal project)
- 568 Maryland Ave. W.
- 1100 Albemarle St.