ST PAUL, Minn. — Governor Tim Walz and his family will trade their historic St. Paul neighborhood for new digs on Sunfish Lake starting this summer.
The temporary change of address is due to an upcoming renovation of the Governor's Residence, a 111-year-old English Tudor-style home located in the Summit Avenue neighborhood.
While the 14,000-square-foot residence gets some much-needed updates on the interior and exterior, the Walz family will move into the Dakota County property starting in late May.
The lakefront property, located at 25 Sunny Side Lane, was built in 1990 and last sold in 2004 for $1.3 million, according to Realtor.com. The 7,952-square-foot home has five bedrooms and sits on a 3.53 acre lot.
The Department of Administration agreed to lease the property for a total of $314,662.50. The lease began on March 27, 2023, and continues through Sept. 2024.
Outside of the prorated March rent, that breaks down to about $17,000 per month – a price tag Minnesota Republican Rep. Paul Novotny took issue with Tuesday.
“There are hundreds of much more affordable options that the governor could have pursued that would have saved taxpayers money," he said in a statement. "This move by Walz and his administration is the wrong message to send taxpayers and is out-of-touch.” Novotny represents Legislative District 30B, which includes portions of Anoka, Wright and Sherburne Counties.
In response, the Department of Administration said "proximity and the ability to provide security" were "decisive factors" in the governor's temporary house hunt. "There were very limited options with our criteria available during the necessary time period. The current lease was negotiated with the owner with a rate of return based on market value and the limited comparable rates available on potential properties," a spokesperson for the agency said.
Projects on the docket for the $6.3 million Governor's Residence renovation include:
- Revitalizing interior finishings
- Replacing plumbing fixtures
- Modernizing mechanical systems to be more energy efficient and meet energy codes
- Upgrading security systems
- Floor plan alterations "to improve food service operations, accommodate State sponsored receptions and to improve the livability of the Residence"
- Repairs to improve site drainage, stormwater compliance and foundation and tunnel leaks
Construction is scheduled to start in June and be completed no later than September of next year.
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