Bankruptcy judge OKs plan to sell Twin Cities archdiocese chancery

A federal bankruptcy judge told the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Thursday that it can proceed with efforts to sell the church's Summit Avenue chancery.

Minneapolis-based United Properties, which is owned by the Pohlad family, has offered $2.75 million for the chancery, but the archdiocese expects there'll be higher bids. Ramsey County estimates the market value of the property to be $6.3 million. Other parties have until March 18 to make offers.

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Current zoning allows low-density residential projects, such as single-family homes. It's expected the sloping chancery property could accommodate a five-story building without blocking views of the nearby Cathedral of St. Paul. There is a 1.5 acre parcel of adjacent city-owned land that could be included in a project.

Any proposed project for the nearly 4-acre site would be subject to zoning review and the scrutiny of neighbors. The sale of the chancery property is subject to court review.

The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy about a year ago. The church, sex abuse victims, insurers and other parties are in mediation talks aimed at devising a plan that compensates abuse victims and assures the financial viability of the archdiocese.