St. Paul: Hill's pact with city haunts resident Stairway from Summit Ave. at heart of dispute

A century-old agreement between railroad executive James J. Hill and the city of St. Paul has become the center of a dispute between one homeowner and the city.

A public staircase connecting Summit Avenue to downtown St. Paul is in need of repairs that could cost up to $800,000. Homeowner Richard Nicholson of 260 Summit Ave. says it's up to the city, not him, to fix it.

"Until recently, the city had kept up with replacing bricks," Nicholson said. "They (have since) decided that was my responsibility, but I'm contending it's not."

The disagreement stems from 1901.

Hill bought the property adjacent to his 240 Summit Ave. property in 1898 to build a house for his son, Louis. That home at 260 Summit is now Nicholson's home.

Hill petitioned then for the city to vacate the street.

The St. Paul Board of Aldermen reached a resolution on Aug. 6, 1901, that granted Hill's request with one condition. The city required that the Hills pay for and construct a public staircase.

The resolution says the Hills are to "grant to said city for public use of the right to maintain said stairs on the easterly ten feet of said vacated street for foot travel theron as herein provided."

In an Aug. 3, 2011, letter to the city council, Nicholson's attorney, Michael Fleming, noted that the current dispute with the city began as early as 2004, when part of the stairway's retaining wall collapsed. After the city and Nicholson failed to reach an agreement, the city issued a

The city did contribute -- about $47,000, roughly one-fourth of the $182,687 cost of the project.

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St. Paul: Hill's pact with city haunts resident Stairway from Summit Ave. at heart of dispute