A Beautiful Wrinkle in Time: How St. Paul is Innovating the Future One Community at a Time

The former Farwell Ozmun Kirk building is now the location of an innovative apartment complex striving to create an environment that highlights community and utilizes history as its foundation. The former manufacturing site, acquired by Buhl Investors in 2019 and renamed “Farwell-on-Water,” had the reputation of being the largest distributor nationwide of goods and lumber to stores like Hardware Hank and Ben Franklin.
Lavender was able to get the scoop on Farwell-on-Water from Buhl Investors’ CEO, Pete Deanovic. He shared that a project at this scale required great attention to detail and “connecting with community leaders and members, in addition to working in partnership with the City of St. Paul, to ensure they received feedback that informed the historical significance of the site and how it could add value today.”
The intention to preserve the historical essence of the community starts with the community. The Farwell Ozmun Kirk building had artist production studios, and the project developers were devoted to curating a plan to preserve them. This meant “getting ADA accessibility and a working elevator, among other improvements,” Deanovic says. ADA accessibility also required getting the building up to code to accommodate any patron utilizing the spaces.

To emphasize the partnership between Buhl Investments and the city of St. Paul, a new sewer system was installed to eventually incorporate residential housing. This project birthed Esox House. The name Esox “refers to the market rate apartment building on-site, named after the genus Esox, or Northern Pike,” Deanovic says.
The location of Esox is unmatched because of its access to nature. What better way to spend the evening than a short bike ride to Pickerel Lake? Along with residential additions, more spaces for open areas were highly encouraged and anticipated.
The area is very connected and aligned with the idea of a green future because of features such as trails that groove the river, spaces full of lush vegetation and views of the Mississippi River. This is a true testament to the growth and intention of this community, as is the Farwell Yard. This space was developed to replace a parking lot “with the intention being to gather people together there,” Deanovic says. Plans to continue to socially develop this outdoor space include movie showings and food trucks that would be regular vendors.

When asked what would make this residential development transformative compared to other communal areas, Deanovic’s response completely captures the essence of a beautiful wrinkle in time. He explains, “This is truly a mixed-use space that’s intended for people to interact with nature and each other. There are two beautiful apartment buildings on the site that each have advantages, one being Esox House (a market rate apartment) and the other is Harbourline, income-restricted apartments. Both offer unique experiences and amenities for residents.”
Features that this community plans to emphasize include social events, gatherings and environmental sustainment. A part of the history that is intricately woven into this innovative project is the vinyl listening room “that features records from many artists who have played at Harriet Island Park, as well as an outdoor sauna from Duluth company Cedar and Stone. Harbourline features an outdoor community garden, community room and mural depicting the neighborhood’s history by artist Ernesto Ybarra,” Deanovic says.
This initiative directly speaks to the preservation of history as well as the advancement of this community. This is only the first phase of development for this project. There are plans to incorporate commercial attractions such as restaurants and recreation spaces in 2025.
Both residential communities, Esox House and Habourline, are inclusive of the LGTBQ+ community and host many resident events. These events are connected to the broader community. This ensures that “residents know about things to do locally (like the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival on Harriet Island) and can find ways to connect with one another and feel a sense of belonging,” Deanovic says.

Great benefits have come from incorporating more residential units that are categorized as market-rate as well as income-restricted. To celebrate such accomplishments, St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter showed his support at the ribbon cutting for Esox and Harbourline.
Farwell-on-Water is the definition of innovating from within; repurposing a vacant lumber and distribution site and creating a colorful and abundant community that focuses on sustainability and unity through history and creative expression. Buhl Investors have centered this project on artistic giveback in the most beautiful ways, from Deanovic sourcing commissioned art for Esox House to even creating a few of the art installations. To add to the personality, there is even a state-of-the-art stone fireplace that is gracefully paired with a community dining table.
All of this would not be made possible without the City of St. Paul, local community leaders and advocates, as well as those who occupied the space prior to it becoming a hub intended for community that stands on the shoulders of its history.
Farwell-on-Water
102 W. Water St.
St. Paul, MN 55107
www.farwellonwater.com

5100 Eden Ave, Suite 107 • Edina, MN 55436
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