On The Park

Features

• 16 townhome style condos
• 4 floors
• All units have private covered brick porches
• One and two-level units
• All units have large windows, some with arches
• Interior 5-story tall atrium w/skylights and windows
• Some units have view of interior plaza
• Most units have "bridges" that lead to the front door
• Part of the St. Paul skyway system
• Connected to the YMCA
• Underground, secured parking
• Extra storage units
• Direct access to garage by elevator

This 1880’s building was originally constructed as rental property for Judson Wade Bishop, a former Civil War brigadier general and engineer who served as the general manager of the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad line. When the two-tower Galtier Plaza was built on the entire block in the 1980’s, the building was razed, but the original façade of the now-On the Park building was incorporated into the new design.

Mears Park was originally known as Baptist Hill – with a church on the site, and the land 50 feet higher than the beautiful park and stream of today’s Mears Park. According to Andrew Earhart’s 1992 publication about the buildings of downtown St. Paul, most of Lowertown was a rocky hill, with Sibley as Lowertown’s highest point.

Once known as Smith Park, the city land was rebuilt in 1973, and renamed Mears Park after Norman Mears, who provided a major impetus for the redevelopment of Lowertown,. Mears Park was re-designed in 1992, with a new stream and more grass & trees for residents’ enjoyment.