St. Paul Port Authority to purchase building designated as backup morgue

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A building that was a designated backup morgue when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit is now for sale.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The St. Paul Port Authority’s board of commissioners approved the purchase of the warehouse Minnesota bought last year to serve as an overflow morgue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State of Minnesota purchased the former Bix Produce building on L’Orient Avenue in St. Paul for $5.5 million in May 2020. The building would have been capable of holding more than 5,000 bodies, but it was never needed.

State looks to sell COVID-19 backup morgue

Minnesota bought a warehouse last year as the state prepared for the worst case scenario with COVID-19 deaths. The multi-million dollar purchase would have served as a backup morgue in St. Paul, but now the building is for sale and has a potential buyer.

The Port Authority plans to acquire the property for $5.65 million and close by Nov. 30.

After purchasing the building, the Port Authority has said it needs to determine job goals for the site and secure a buyer or partner who can deliver on economic development goals.