St. Paul will see a rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot. Ballot initiatives can be a powerful tool for democracy, but they often are the wrong vehicle for complex policy. St. Paul’s proposed “right-to-repair” ordinance is a good example of why.
 
My thinking: complex housing policy deserves careful crafting—not a yes-or-no vote on Election Day. The last housing-related ballot initiative was rent control in 2021, and we’ve experienced its disastrous wake.
 
On its surface, the idea sounds simple: if a landlord doesn’t fix a problem within 14 days, tenants could hire someone and deduct up to $500 or half a month’s rent, whichever is greater, to cover repairs. But the details quickly get complicated. The measure would cover everything from minor fixes to major structural issues, while also creating new rules around inspections, disputes, and reimbursement. 
 
That complexity matters. Questions about what qualifies as a necessary repair, who is qualified to do the work, and whether permits are required aren’t trivial—they’re central to safety, liability, and housing quality. These are exactly the kinds of technical decisions best handled through deliberative policymaking, where experts, regulators, and stakeholders can refine language and adjust over time. 
 
Even critics of the proposal aren’t necessarily opposed to better enforcement; they’re concerned that layering new rules through a ballot measure could create unintended risks or discourage investment in housing. 
 
Mayor Her is championing the notion that Saint Paul is open for business, including building more housing at all price points. To reach that goal, we need policies that encourage private investment, not another red mark to our already burdensome regulatory environment.

​See you in the trenches,
B

Last week the Minneapolis Federal Reserve published a paper reviewing Saint Paul’s housing/zoning policies over the last few years – and unveiled  its new Saint Paul Housing Dashboard.  Excellent data points.  This city must figure this one out – how to woo back private investors into housing development and turn around the current trajectory of declining rental property tax base.
 
Conclusion: mixed results. 

• 2026 zoning changes allowing for up to four to five units on formerly single-family lots. The outcome of that change will take time to play out, though is a positive opportunity to expand the “missing middle” market.
• 2021 rent stabilization: Saint Paul experienced a major drop in overall housing construction, from its peak of 2000+ units per year in 2020 and 2021, to 404 units in 2024 and 357 units in 2025.  Developers report ongoing and multiple headwinds, with financing being the biggest. 

 
Key takeaways for me: 

1. The city went from a construction boom to a sharp slowdown with the advent of rent stabilization (even with ensuing modifications), and its chilling effect on development continues.
2. The market shifted away from private market-rate development (80%+ pre-rent stabilization) toward subsidized housing (over 40% subsidized after implementation of rent stabilization). 
3. The data shows that after adjusting for inflation, typical rents in Saint Paul are falling. 
4. Higher property taxes/insurance/insurance costs matched with declining property values is a lose-lose economic environment (-36% drop in property value per unit from 2020 to 2025).
5. The city is now adjusting policies to regain balance between affordability and housing supply growth; time will tell. 
6. The city can turn this around. One affordable housing developer said they were “struggling to get a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investor because syndicators are not interested in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.” This interviewee believes that syndicators, investors who purchase the tax credits, are “turned off by rent control and uncertainty over local governance and policies.” On the other hand, another affordable housing developer said that if the structure and underwriting are right, “[tax credit] investors will come to Saint Paul.”

 
See you in the trenches,
B

Please consider this my personal invitation to join us at this year's InterCity Leadership Visit to Kansas City, September 28-30, a 3-day experience for senior leaders focused on what it takes to build a strong, connected metropolitan region! Kansas City offers a powerful example of regional collaboration across state lines, sectors, and institutions in competing with other regions throughout the country. During the visit, we will engage directly with civic, business, and academic leaders to explore how the region aligns around downtown vibrancy, major sports and cultural investments, transit, healthcare, and public policy to drive growth.​

From the historic Jazz District at 18th & Vine to emerging entertainment corridors and marquee global events like this year's FIFA World Cup, Kansas City shows how identity, culture, and investment can strengthen a business climate while navigating growth and public safety in real time.
You will leave with practical insights, new relationships, and a clearer perspective on how we can build momentum and position the MSP Region more effectively.

​Space is limited, so register early to secure your spot!

See you in the trenches,
B

Overall, this session delivered targeted but limited wins for Saint Paul. While key projects received partial funding—particularly within the bonding bill—larger transformational requests and policy changes largely stalled. The consistent theme is incremental progress rather than sweeping investment, leaving several major priorities unresolved and likely to resurface in the next session.
 
The Star Tribune published a helpful recap of the legislative session. Below are highlights from the priorities we’d been tracking: 

• Grand Casino Arena, RiverCentre, and Roy Wilkins Auditorium investments
  • The City of Saint Paul requested $200M for needed renovations. The legislature approved $40M for Roy Wilkins and $10M for Grand Casino Arena (well short of the $200M Mayor Her requested).
  • The City also sought an extension of its half-cent sales tax to help cover project costs; that extension was not approved.
  • Catalyzing Underutilized Buildings (CUB) Tax Credit: Intended to support the conversion of downtown commercial space to housing, this proposal did not pass for the third straight year.
• Small Business Economic Relief (post Metro Surge): a proposed $100M relief fund was not passed.
• Paid Family Medical Leave modifications: no changes were passed.
• HCMC emergency funding: $205M in direct funding + $500M hospital reserve account for HCMC and other eligible hospitals.
• Banning local governments from signing nondisclosure agreements: failed to pass.
• Property tax relief: A $125 million property tax refund, that will go to some 600,000 homeowners who qualify for the homestead tax credit, passed. 
• $1.2B bonding bill investments included:
  • $40M - Roy Wilkins Auditorium renovations
  • $10M - Grand Casino Arena 
  • $1M - CHS predesign
  • $3.6M - Latino Museum
  • $630K - Saint Paul Port Authority, Capitol Area economic development grants
  • $1M - Saint Paul Port Authority, The Heights Redevelopment Site
  • $13M - City of Saint Paul, West 7th St improvement project (utilities)
  • $250M – Reduction of car-tab fees for one year 

 
See you in the trenches,
B