A Week of Good News for Saint Paul

Historic Win: Congratulations to Sherman Associates for earning the Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation award for Landmark Tower at the Rethos gala last week. Strong field of competitors. Sherman leveraged historic tax credits to create an inspiring place – preserving history while fostering innovation and community connection. ​

Downtown Development:  The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) has acquired the Alliance Bank Center building from Madison Equities, securing full ownership of this key downtown site after purchasing the property’s bank note earlier this year. A 12-month redevelopment evaluation is underway, with a robust community engagement process launching this fall to shape the vision for Saint Paul’s downtown core.

Public Safety Progress: St. Paul is on track for a 70% drop in homicides in 2025, and solving more than 70% of crimes overall. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi credits a new non-fatal shooting initiative.
United Village update: At last week’s Midway Chamber event, Dr. Bill McGuire shared progress on the project.  
Project Highlights

• Construction: 1,200 jobs currently on site.
• Traffic Impact: 11M cars annually on Snelling; 5M on University.
• Community Use: Playground and PK’s Place attract 4K–5K monthly (seasonal variation).

Key Features & Timeline

• Restaurants: Midway Diner (all-day meals) and pizza/coffee/gelato concept; target opening March 2026.
• Office Building: “Tree House” with retail (bank, bakery) and 300 office tenants; MN United likely moving in.
• Hotel: Boutique, community-focused; major partner secured; opening Spring 2027.
• Amenities: Community hall (150 capacity), daycare, greenspace (Bailey Gardens), skating rink/farmers market space.
• Housing: Accessible, affordable, aspirational design inspired by Peter Barber.

Culture & Activation

• Public Art: Murals by Ta-coumba Aiken, Seitu Jones; centerpiece by KAWS; multiple local artists engaged.
• Entertainment: New music venue (3,500–4,500 capacity), inspired by Prom Ballroom.
• Community Engagement: Goal is mix of local and regional visitors; emphasis on partnerships and cultural identity.

And did you know… the federal government is stopping production of pennies?  
See you in the trenches,
B

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