Another fire, court battles for controversial Kozy

While 2020 proved an eventful year for the former Kozy Bar and Apartments building, the future of the fire-damaged historic structure appears far from certain headed into 2021.

By Peter Passi ppassi@duluthnews.com

The Pastoret Terrace building dates back to 1887, when it opened as an upscale townhome development designed by Oliver Traphagen, one of Duluth’s most revered architects. But the building at the corner of First Street and Second Avenue East was later subdivided into small low-rent apartments with an attached bar.

Following a 2010 fire, the Pastoret and the adjoining Paul Robeson Ballroom buildings were condemned for habitation and languished as the building’s owner, Dr. Eric Ringsred lacked property insurance.

In 2015, Ringsred lost ownership of the properties to tax forfeiture, and the Duluth Economic Development Authority took control, initially seeking to redevelop the property through a request for proposals. However, deeming none of the proposals it received acceptable, the authority sought to demolish the blighted structures.

Ringsred and a group of preservationists called Respect Starts Here sued to block the demolition. But in October 2019, Judge Eric Hylden found that due to the buildings’ deteriorated condition there were no “feasible and prudent alternatives to demolition.”

Ringsred and his supporters filed an appeal, and on Aug. 31, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed

Hylden’s order after determining that city officials had failed to undertake due diligence in evaluating proposals to rehabilitate the historic structures.

It ordered DEDA to “perform all maintenance and repairs necessary to prevent the properties’ further deterioration.”

On Nov. 1, another fire struck the buildings causing yet more extensive damage.

A new structural assessment of the buildings had yet to be completed by early December, due to safety concerns.

DEDA awaits court direction on what steps, if any, it must take to secure the buildings for winter. But the Duluth City Council has approved the expenditure of up to $135,000 to comply with the court’s determination. u