The skyline of downtown Saint Paul is poised for change with plans for a new development that's ready to start its journey, following green lights from the Met Council and City of Saint Paul, a 20-story apartment tower linked by a skyway over the METRO Green Line, slated for a plot of land that currently sits empty is now in the offing.
Indianapolis-based Flaherty & Collins is the name behind the $130 million blueprint which, according to a press release, will add 300 market-rate housing units and a handy 10,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor adjacent to the Central Station on the Green Line, a vote of confidence in the ongoing revitalization of Saint Paul's urban core, the property is bridged by the METRO Gold Line and various bus routes adding to its connective appeal, with several public engagement and bureaucratic milestones still to be met before the ink can dry on a final deal.
Both the Met Council and the City of Saint Paul lay claim to parcels of the property, a legacy of the Green Line’s decade-old construction project, the Central Station Block's potential has been noted by several officials, with Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle emphasizing the project's significance by saying, "This pivotal project will not only revitalize a key urban hub but demonstrate our commitment to smart growth principles."
The Met Council's deadline for a purchase agreement is the tail end of 2026. As stated in the recent announcements, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter highlights the synergy between Flaherty & Collins’ proposals and the city’s desire for a "connected, and revitalized downtown Saint Paul". Council President Rebecca Noecker also relayed her excitement for the investment, which dovetails with the broader surge of transit-oriented development reported to bring an infusion of housing, jobs, and tax revenue to the area, following an uptick in such efforts where $19.2 billion in development has found its home along transit-rich corridors since 2009.
Flaherty & Collins, specializing in market-rate and affordable housing, has been transforming urban areas since 1993, their touch in the local market is already noticeable at 2700 University Avenue and The Residence at the COR, with this latest Saint Paul project marking another step towards urban redevelopment and mixed-use amenities that cater to modern city living, according to a release.
