Big Daddy’s Old Fashioned Barbeque is under the new ownership of a longtime employee. And the 30-year staple of St. Paul’s restaurant scene could get a fancier home.

That’s among other big changes on the horizon for one of St. Paul’s busiest intersections.

Along the Green Line corridor, a St. Paul-based nonprofit is moving forward with plans to replace a series of two-story commercial buildings — including the current home of Big Daddy’s — with a six-story commercial and residential structure in the northwest corner of Dale and University avenues.

The Neighborhood Development Center plans to create a more robust face for the business district, with construction to start in March 2019 if financing comes together.

“Fingers crossed,” said NDC spokeswoman Elisa Pluhar.

NDC has alerted the city that it plans to buy an empty lot it leases from the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority at 489 North Dale St.

NDC also secured a Met Council grant for $1.45 million to buy two-story commercial buildings at 631 and 633 University, as well as a residential structure at 628 Sherburne.

The goal is to create a single structure, with two levels of retail, four levels of affordable senior housing, adjoining green space and parking.

Manuel Tacuri, who bought Big Daddy’s three months ago from restaurant founders Ron Whyte, Bob Edmond and Gene Sampson, said he would likely move the restaurant into the new structure.

“I’d like to keep the restaurant in the same location,” Tacuri said on Wednesday. He said he spent 10 years working for Whyte, Edmond and Sampson as a lead chef and plans to keep the menu the same.

“Absolutely nothing (will change),” Tacuri said. “Everything will stay the same.”

The new building will replace several commercial properties owned by NDC.

The nonprofit already owns 625 University Ave. to the west of the HRA lot, where Big Daddy’s is currently located, and a commercial building at 501 North Dale St. to the north.

“They’ll be demolished for the new project to go up,” Pluhar said. “This is something we’ve been talking to our tenants for years about.” That includes a possible temporary space for Big Daddy’s.

The plans call for between 40 to 60 senior affordable housing units, Pluhar said.

Across Dale Street, the nonprofit manages the commercial level of Frogtown Square in the northeast corner of the intersection, below where Episcopal Homes runs Kings Crossing, which offers 49 affordable one-bedroom homes for seniors.

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St. Paul man threatened another man with a sword, charges say NDC also has a purchase agreement with Ramsey County for a grassy lot at 507 North Dale — the former site of the Rock of Ages church — that neighbors have used as a community garden. The center has not finalized plans but is studying using the lot for green space.

“We want to get really heavy neighborhood input on that space,” Pluhar said.