Kathy Cargill’s enigmatic purchase sparks concerns among Park Point residents

In an unexpected twist, Kathy Cargill, part of America’s fourth-richest family and wife of billionaire James Cargill II, has left a tranquil Duluth, Minnesota neighborhood, Park Point, buzzing with speculation after acquiring ten homes and bluntly deeming them ‘pieces of crap.’

Cargill, manager of North Shore LS, LLC, has perplexed locals with her unconventional acquisitions, leaving them uneasy about the future of their picturesque lakeside community. The properties, purchased at a staggering $2 million above the estimated market value, have raised eyebrows and fueled concerns among residents.

Among the perplexed locals is 93-year-old Brooks Anderson, who expressed worries about Park Point transforming into a ‘part-time playground for rich folks.’ Cargill, however, defended her purchases, stating, “The homes that we bought were pieces of crap, I couldn’t imagine living in any of them.”

Several of the homes, some over a century old, hold historical significance for the area. Longtime resident Danny O’Neil, who received a substantial $825,000 from North Shore for his home, expressed conflicting emotions. Despite the financial windfall, O’Neil was hurt by Cargill’s description of his childhood home. “That was my house,” he lamented, adding, “It’s a family home that is an old beach house. That [remark] made me feel bad.”

The uncertainty surrounding the fate of their neighborhood has left homeowners in the dark. Coral McDonnel, an 83-year-old Park Point resident, shared her apprehension: “We wish we knew what was going to happen. They purchased lots next to our house, and they tore down three houses and two big garages.” Concerns extend beyond potential changes in the community’s atmosphere to fears of ground disturbance leading to erosion.

With trees being felled and developments shrouded in mystery, McDonnel expressed her worry about the community’s future, saying, “I feel worried about our community and neighborhood.”

Cargill, when contacted by Pioneer Press in December, emphasized that the properties belong to her and her entity, North Shore LS, not the Cargill family. The billionaire has yet to reveal her plans for the acquired properties, leaving locals on edge and speculating about the future of their beloved neighborhood.