The 3-3 vote means the variances will not be granted, unless a council member opts to have their vote reconsidered.

St. Paul’s City Council blocked a request from the developer of the Ford plant site to build a one-story commercial strip at a major intersection, with a tie vote Wednesday from the shorthanded council.

A tie vote in the St. Paul City Council was as good as a loss for Ryan Cos.'s hopes for a scaled-back project at the Highland Bridge development.

“We were so blown away, we didn’t interview anyone else,” said Ellison, addressing St. Paul City Council President Mitra Jalali on Wednesday. “For the constituents that you helped, they fell in love with you. They thought you were their champion.”