Robert J. Oneil and Another v. R. G‪.‬

This case arises out of appellants judicial challenge to the respondent City of Minneapolis (City) heritage preservation designation of two of appellants buildings. Appellant, Handicraft Block Limited Partnership (Handicraft), owns the Handicraft Guild Building and an adjacent building (Buildings) located in downtown Minneapolis. The City designated the exteriors of both Buildings for heritage preservation. Handicraft argues that the designation was arbitrary. Handicraft filed a writ of certiorari in the court of appeals seeking review of the designation pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 606.01 (1998) and Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 115. The court of appeals analyzed the factors we delineated in Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy v. Metropolitan Council, 587 N.W.2d 838 (Minn. 1999) (MCEA). See Handicraft Block Ltd. Partnership v. City of Minneapolis, 598 N.W.2d 420, 422-24 (Minn. App. 1999). Under MCEA, the court of appeals determined that the Citys decision was not quasi-judicial but rather quasi-legislative, and because quasi-legislative acts are not reviewable by writ of certiorari, the court discharged the writ, citing a lack of jurisdiction. See Handicraft, 598 N.W.2d at 424. We granted review of the court of appeals decision and must now decide only the narrow question of whether the Citys decision to designate the Buildings is quasi-judicial and therefore reviewable by writ of certiorari. We reverse and remand.