Concerns about the St. Paul apartment raise questions about crime and drugs

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Concerned residents gathered for a meeting Thursday evening to voice their concerns about an apartment complex described in a St. Paul police report as a “hub” of drug trafficking in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood.

Crime, drug problems

Kimball Court, located near Snelling and University avenues, serves people transitioning out of homelessness and often struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

Residents say drug trafficking and other crimes in or near the complex have grown out of control, leaving many of them feeling unsafe in their own neighborhoods.

At the meeting, residents distributed a police report from October that described the complex as a “hub for most drug trafficking” in the area and mentioned other crimes, including robberies and thefts.

“My tenant saw two people throwing meth at the people downstairs and catching it,” said Andrea Suchy-Shinn, a landlord who also lives nearby. “My tenant who lives four doors down from Kimball Court was almost stabbed.”

She said police are doing what they can, but she doesn't feel like the city is adequately addressing the issues.

“It's quite unpleasant because these people don't know how to behave properly,” said Daniel Sarasti, who pointed out that the problems have spread to other areas, including bus stops.

Expansion plans

In October, the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, which owns and operates the complex, secured city funding for the renovation and expansion, sparking intense criticism from residents.

“We are all feeling the impact of homelessness – unsheltered homelessness and the opioid crisis in our community. And Housing First is the solution to that,” said Chris LaTondresse, the organization’s president and CEO.

But not everyone agrees with this.

“Why on earth add that? That doesn’t make any sense,” Suchy-Shinn said.

Beacon said it has posted no trespassing signs and is considering installing surveillance cameras.