Smurfit Westrock says it intends to prepare its St. Paul paper recycling plant for sale and redevelopment “as soon as possible” following a planned closure this summer.
The company announced this month it would close the plant near Raymond and University avenues at the end of June, after 118 years in operation. Company spokespeople have declined phone interviews, but they recently confirmed the intent to sell the property, as many business advocates have hoped.
The company “has developed a comprehensive plan to remove manufacturing materials from the site, clean process tanks and take other actions to ensure the site is left in a secure and environmentally sound condition,” said a spokesperson for Smurfit Westrock, in an email. “Our intention is to decommission the site so that we can position it for sale as soon as possible.”
The Smurfit WestRock paper mill, seen from Vandalia St. in St. Paul on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Smurfit WestRock, a global packaging company, announced May 1 that it will lay off roughly 189 employees in the permanent closure of its St. Paul coated recycled board mill at 2250 Wabash Ave., off Interstate 94 and Minnesota 280. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Nearly 200 workers will be let go from the facility, which manufactures coated recycled boards, when it shuts down June 30. The core facility spans 25 acres, though Smurfit Westrock owns a total of 40 acres across the site.
The property generates around $300,000 in annual property taxes. Business advocates such as the St. Paul Port Authority are eager to see light industrial redevelopment that could bring in more jobs and a greater tax base.
Meanwhile, some real estate agents see potential for a residential component, given its proximity to Interstate 94, the Green Line light rail and other retail and restaurant amenities. The site is a light rail stop away from the Fresh Thyme grocery on University Avenue.
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