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Saint Paul’s City Council ratified the Pelham Boulevard reconstruction assessment on October 14, 2026, by a 7–0 vote. The city reported that the project estimate had dropped from $18.45 million to about $11.75 million and that assessments represented less than 12% of the final cost—well below the city’s 25% maximum. Only parcels with frontage on Pelham Boulevard are assessed under the city’s project FAQ, but owners continue to dispute whether the work provides enough special benefit to justify their individual charges.
Why am I being assessed for Pelham Boulevard?
The assessment is tied to reconstruction of Pelham Boulevard between Mississippi River Boulevard and Franklin Avenue. Saint Paul says only properties fronting Pelham receive charges; the state-owned freeway property is the listed exception. Businesses with Pelham frontage are treated like other property owners.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFunding combines the voter-approved 1% Common Cent local-option sales tax with assessments to owners abutting the street. The city says estimated rates were developed using a third-party special-benefit analysis of property values. An assessment is therefore parcel-specific, rather than a uniform bill to every resident or every property in the surrounding neighborhood.
What work is included?
The project replaces pavement, sidewalks, street lighting and underground utilities. It also replaces the existing bikeway with a separated bikeway at sidewalk level. The city says bikeway costs and limited side-street sidewalk work are included in the overall project and in Pelham assessments. Some sewer replacement costs are assessable and some are not.
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How much will my Pelham assessment be?
Your exact amount is on the mailed assessment notice for your parcel. Saint Paul reported that the final Pelham assessment share was below 12% of project cost, even though city policy allows assessments of up to 25% of project cost. The 25% figure is a ceiling, not the amount each owner pays.
For a parcel-specific explanation, owners can contact the Saint Paul Office of Financial Services at 651-266-8858. Ask the office to identify the project-cost components assigned to your parcel and how the special-benefit analysis was applied.
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Examples in the council record
The October 14 council record illustrates the range of objections. Zafar Khan of 383 Pelham objected to a $14,109.50 assessment. Attorney Craig Hardie, representing 2446 University Avenue LLC and Pelham Parking LLC, asked that assessments of $84,610 and $31,375 be removed or reduced. Andrea Kish told the council that the assessment at her home was $8,300.
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Can the city charge more than my property benefited?
Owners argue that a special assessment cannot exceed the special benefit to the property. Objection filings from 295 and 325 Pelham describe special benefit as an immediate increase in market value resulting from the project. That language is an argument made in the council record, not a court ruling or an established finding that property values declined.
The dispute is especially pointed because the final design changed features some owners considered valuable. Staff reported that the roadway narrowed from 32 feet to 24 feet, shifted about 14 feet in one section, moved 22 boulevard trees and removed 61. Owners also cited lost parking, mature trees and landscaping when arguing that the charges exceeded their properties’ benefits.
What the city says about the design
Saint Paul’s FAQ says the westward shift was intended to fit a missing sidewalk and that the design sought to preserve trees where possible. The city’s position is that the complete reconstruction—including drainage, utilities, sidewalks and the separated bikeway—creates the project benefits used to support assessments, even when individual site features change.
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Did the City Council approve the assessment?
Yes. The council ratified the Pelham Boulevard reconstruction assessment on October 14, 2026, in a 7–0 vote. Staff told the council that the estimated cost had fallen from $18.45 million to approximately $11.75 million and that the final assessment share was under 12%.
Ratification makes the council action the operative decision recorded for the project. It does not resolve every owner’s argument about special benefit; those arguments were presented as objections during the assessment process.
How do I respond if I think my assessment is wrong?
Start with the notice and the city’s parcel-specific explanation, then choose a response that matches the issue you are raising. Current public materials identify the available subjects of dispute but do not establish a current filing deadline or payment schedule, so confirm timing directly with the Office of Financial Services before relying on any date.
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| Response focus | Useful evidence | Likely objective |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment amount | Parcel notice, frontage facts, valuation or benefit analysis, project-cost allocation | Reduction or correction of the charge |
| Project design | Documentation of parking changes, tree removal, sidewalk placement or access impacts | Challenge to the claimed benefit or a request for design relief |
| Payment guidance | Assessment notice and account information | Clarification of how and when to pay |
| Judicial review | Complete administrative record and advice from a Minnesota attorney | Review of the assessment through court procedures |
- Read every line of the mailed notice, including the parcel identification and stated assessment basis.
- Call the Office of Financial Services at 651-266-8858 to request clarification of the calculation.
- Collect property-specific evidence rather than relying only on neighborhood-wide concerns.
- If you plan to make a formal challenge or seek court review, verify the applicable deadline and procedure with the city or qualified Minnesota counsel.
What is happening on Pelham Boulevard now?
In the city’s October 23 update, Pelham was closed from Franklin Avenue to the I-94 bridge. Work generally ran from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; parking was prohibited in the construction area, and detours and intermittent intersection closures could change with the schedule. Those conditions are construction updates, separate from the calculation of an individual assessment.
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What should owners verify before deciding?
- That the parcel actually has frontage on Pelham, since the city FAQ limits assessments to frontage properties.
- Which portions of paving, sidewalks, bikeway, utilities and sewer work are included in the parcel calculation.
- Whether the notice reflects the final project figures rather than an earlier estimate.
- Any deadline for an administrative objection, payment choice or judicial review, because current public materials do not state those dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does living near Pelham Boulevard automatically trigger an assessment?
No. Saint Paul’s project FAQ limits these assessments to properties with frontage on Pelham Boulevard. A nearby parcel without Pelham frontage is not identified as assessable under that rule.
Are all sewer replacement costs charged to Pelham owners?
No. The city says some sewer replacement costs are assessable and some are not. The parcel notice or an explanation from the Office of Financial Services is needed to determine which items were assigned.
Can an owner dispute the bikeway portion separately from the street work?
The city treats the bikeway as part of the overall project and Pelham assessments, rather than as a separate bill. An owner questioning that allocation should request the project-cost breakdown and explain why the claimed benefit does not apply to the parcel.
Where can I confirm whether my notice uses the final project estimate?
Compare the notice with the city’s reported final project cost of about $11.75 million and ask the Office of Financial Services to identify the figures used for your parcel. The council record says the earlier estimate was $18.45 million.
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