Saint Paul Downtown Investment Strategy

On behalf of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance and in collaboration with the City of Saint Paul, JLP+D developed a first-of-its kind Downtown Investment Strategy that sets priorities to advance investments in more vibrant and welcoming places throughout an enhanced “central social district”, accelerates production of downtown housing at different price points, makes better connections among downtown assets, and creates more equitable access to economic opportunity for all residents.

JLP+D partnered with locally-based NEOO Partners for real estate and community engagement expertise and the local office of global architecture leader Perkins&Will on urban design to analyze the economic, community, and placemaking impacts of a set of potential development projects and programs.

A Placemaking Audit, utilizing on-the-ground assessments, stakeholder conversations, and foot-traffic based data analysis, assessed existing assets and the way residents and visitors move between them. JLP+D also provided a tool for selecting development projects – current and future – that will be catalytic for Downtown’s vibrancy and best support its short- and long-term goals.

The city is now advancing the three principle recommendations of the Investment Strategy report: Implement an office-to-residential conversion program, make dramatic improvements to the downtown public realm, and continue to advance the most strategic redevelopment projects in downtown through early-phase actions.