The evolving transformation of downtown St. Paul is one of the most fascinating challenges our city has faced in the last 50 years. A perfect storm of COVID-19, the shift to remote work, and the collapse of commercial property owner Madison Equities has pummeled city leadership. In response, St. Paul is racing to do what many American cities must: urgently reinvent its downtown from a sterile business district into a dynamic, high-density, mixed-use residential center. It is, as I said, a fascinating challenge.

The critical structures

In recent months, it has been compelling to watch our partners at the St. Paul Downtown Alliance navigate the initial stages of this revival. They have bravely tackled the resurrection of our quirky, double-decker downtown — with its unusual historic architecture, famously illogical streets and uniquely valuable skyways. Everywhere you look, thoughtful people are planning deeply for the future of St. Paul’s physical infrastructure.

Imagining ‘neighborhood’

But so far, this serious planning has focused primarily on structural fixes. Now, we must think just as deeply about the people — specifically, the residents we need to convince to invest their time and money in a sometimes unsteady downtown.

Having spent 25 years as a Twin Cities PBS executive downtown and another 11 years living near Mears Park as a resident, I am continually struck by how different it is to live downtown versus simply working here. Yet we have never conducted rigorous research into what existing and future residents actually want and need from their neighborhood. This research is an essential, missing first step.

Downtown as neighborhood: the early steps

Even without that data, clear clues are already emerging. Active downtown residents are already taking matters into their own hands by:

ORGANIZING: Neighbor-led initiatives are popping up everywhere to make downtown living vibrant and fun, ranging from regular skyway walking groups to neighborhood open-mic music and comedy nights.

BOOSTING LOCAL BUSINESS: Residents know that to keep downtown businesses alive, they must support them. This year, two resident-organized “Progressive Dinners” drew more than 500 enthusiastic diners to sample menu offerings across nine downtown restaurants. Meanwhile, local art lovers are partnering with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and the Ordway to build deeper audience loyalty among downtowners.

GARDENING: Mears Park has been transformed into a stunning urban oasis through the sweat equity of dozens of resident gardeners. This grassroots success is now being replicated in public spaces and parks across the district.

STEPPING UP: When the pandemic halted corporate blood drives at Securian and Ecolab, a small group of residents rallied local staples like the St. Paul Saints, Lost Fox, and the Chamber Orchestra to launch the monthly Skyway Blood Drive at Union Depot. They just completed drive No. 77.

POKING AND PRODDING: Residents are actively nudging city leadership on vital quality-of-life improvements — from the great grocery hunt of 2026, to the near civil war over restoring the full skyway system, to the new push to revive the legendary indoor park above Town Square.

LACING UP FOR THE SKYWAY 5K: Motivated by the city’s public commitment to re-opening the full skyway system, residents are lining up for the second annual Skyway 5K in February 2027. The 2026 race attracted more than 900 runners and generated statewide promotion for our quirky downtown and skyways.

Downtown’s ‘three-legged stool’

As residents contribute more to the appeal and success of this new downtown, they will demand a larger voice in its governance. For decades, critical decisions were the exclusive province of two groups: civic leaders and business executives. That model once made sense. Today, however, this two-legged stool desperately needs its third leg. If a massive residential population is the key to downtown’s survival, those residents must have a seat at the table.

Organizations like the Downtown Alliance should establish a formal goal: Allocate no less than 25% of their board seats to members whose primary perspective is that of a downtown resident. These representatives would serve as vital communication bridges to the broader community — a meaningful shift for downtown governance, but one entirely in line with modern, progressive non-profit boards.

Downtown: many voices

As we head into fall, major milestones — from the sale of the First National Bank Building to the highly anticipated arrival of an Aldi grocery — fill us with a renewed sense of optimism. Now is the perfect time to ensure that the neighborhood we are building prioritizes people just as much as buildings.

More research, clearer communication and mutual understanding will ensure that civic, business and residential voices can most effectively support each other.

Prior to his retirement, Bill Hanley, St. Paul, was executive vice president of Twin Cities PBS.