Downtown Revitalization in Progress
Downtown Projects
Revitalizing downtown Saint Paul will take work, and will benefit generations to come. There's a lot of progress already underway. Learn about the work being done by the City's Department of Public Works.
Capital City Bikeway
The Capital City Bikeway provides cycling routes throughout downtown Saint Paul. It connects existing bike trails and on-street bikeways. The City continues to expand the bikeway to allow cyclists safe and convenient access to downtown.
Riverfront Projects
The Mississippi riverfront is a unique feature of downtown Saint Paul. It offers many recreational and cultural opportunities. Building on decades of work, there are over $1 billion in public and private investment planned for the downtown riverfront.
How We’re Revitalizing Downtown
Together, the City of Saint Paul and downtown partners are taking advantage of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to adapt and innovate the City’s urban core. We’re leading with vision, action, and a sense of urgency to drive transformational change.
Investing in Safety
Both real and perceived safety in downtown is critical. How safe people feel is as important as how safe they are. The Saint Paul Police Department is increasing patrol units in downtown neighborhoods. They are also upgrading their network of security cameras.
The City of Saint Paul also provides ongoing financial support for the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance’s recently expanded Downtown Improvement District.
Creating Welcoming, Vibrant Green Spaces
Downtown parks attract visitors and residents. These public gathering spaces encourage people to stay, connect, and come back. As one of the best parks and recreation systems in the country, we take pride in the many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors downtown.
- Ecolab is investing more than $2 million in a new beautification project outside of its headquarters. This will be a new space for pedestrians and small events.
- The City opened Pedro Park on the corner of 10th and Robert streets in September 2025. This project brings a 10-year vision to life. The park is home to an event pavilion, play area, dog run, and expansive gardens.
- One-time funding for Public Works projects will support tree-trimming, new trash cans, and updated wayfinding signage.
Turning Empty Buildings to Homes
The City of Saint Paul is using opportunities to transform vacant downtown office space into housing. This initiative aims to:
- Add to Saint Paul's housing supply of affordable and market-rate units
- Support the City’s goal of attracting 20,000 new residents to downtown
- Reimagine uses for vacant buildings
The first office-to-housing transition opened in Spring 2025. This is the reconstruction of the Landmark Tower into over 175 apartments. The former Ecolab Headquarters is also set to become The Stella, offering 178 apartments.
A recent outside study identified another 10 downtown buildings as strong candidates for successful conversion.
Learn more in this office-to-housing study commissioned by the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance.