All Blog Entries by Kris Lindahl

The on-going development of downtown St. Paul is something city officials want to keep moving forward, which is why they’ve launched a new organization called the St. Paul Downtown Alliance.

Officially run by elected officials and local business leaders, the mission of the new St. Paul Downtown Alliance will be to recruit prospective employers, attract possible investors, and of course create “a positive experience for visitors, residents, and workers alike.”

As of now, Mayor Melvin Carter and Securian Financial Group Chairman and CEO Chris Hilger will co-chair the St. Paul Downtown Alliance Board.

Building and maintaining a healthy and vibrant downtown is a critical component to any city’s core strategy and having a more defined structure will

The spring season is certainly heating up in St Paul, where already several events and activities are planned for the month of March.

Blue Moon Ball- March 3

The month kicks off down on the riverfront, with dancing, a live auction and cocktails at the annual Blue Moon Ball. Held at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront, the downtown event helps raise funds for cancer research.

Super Bold Flower Show- Through March 11

Time is running out to experience the beauty of the Super Bold Flower Show. The event wraps up at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on March 11, so don’t delay! Admission to the show is free.

NCHC Frozen Faceoff- March 16-17

Finally, don’t forget to make time to hit the ice during the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. Championship

With a now vibrant downtown district, St Paul continues to grow in terms of dining, entertainment, and real estate offerings. Some of the most desirable are the lofts and condos of the area, many of them existing within previously converted commercial and industrial buildings.

If you’re in the market for a St Paul loft for under $200,000, you can certainly still find it within the 500 Robert Street building. Originally constructed in the early 1900s, the property now contains large private lofts, with spacious units accented by walls of windows, some stained concrete flooring and exposed ductwork.

It’s possible to purchase a spacious, one-bath loft within the building in this price range, some of which offer in excess of 1,000 square feet of living space.

A major expansion project is now underway at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. Called “The M” for short, the Downtown St Paul museum recently hosted an official groundbreaking to kick off the start of the project.

Crews are now at work expanding the public space to upwards of 20,000 square feet. While the museum’s gallery is currently only in part of the historic Pioneer building, the expansion aims at boosting that space into the entire ground floor of that building and the nearby Endicott building.

Constructed in the late 1800s, the two buildings will together house The M’s massive American art collection of 4,500 items, dating back to the 19th century. While phase one of the expansion is set to open sometime this spring, the new gallery space is on

New construction condos in St. Paul aren’t always easy to find, which is exactly what makes the new Union on Grand development so special. Located in the heart of St. Paul along Grand Avenue, in between Ayd Mill Road and Lexington Parkway, Union on Grand puts eventual condo owners just steps from local coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, and grocery stores, and that’s not even the best part about what these fabulous new construction condos have to offer. 

Inside, each unit is spacious and functional, not to mention upscale and supremely sophisticated. In order to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, condos for sale at Union on Grand appropriately mix modern comforts and interior finishes with a sort of vintage-like aesthetic, almost giving each

For a great deal on real estate, you’ll want to be sure and give three St. Paul neighborhoods a second look.

North End

The up-and-coming North End is a neighborhood in transition, with some great deals on housing. It’s particularly an ideal location for first-time buyers to get in on one of the older homes in the area, plus especially convenient to the downtown area.

Summit-University

In comparison, the diverse Summit-University neighborhood is filled with options ranging from more than century-old condos to newly remodeled, single-family homes. The affordable neighborhood also features some cozy, mid-century bungalows, giving buyers plenty of options.

Greater East Side

Just a few minutes from downtown, the Greater East Side offers a

It’s been a long road, but after about 3 years of study and nearly 100 public hearings, the Riverview Corridor Policy Advisory Committee has voted in favor of linking downtown St. Paul with the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport via streetcar service.

It’s been more than 60 years since streetcars were up-and-running in the Twin Cities, but it now appears as if  “modern” streetcar service is making a much-needed comeback to the St. Paul area.

In short, the modern streetcar is similar to a light rail, but only involves one car and operates in traffic. And as the cars move south, they’ll eventually connect with the already existing tracks for the Blue Line Light Rail trains beginning at the Fort Snelling stop.

According to the release, the

While it looked as if a spectacular new $225 million mixed-use project was set to take over the former West Publishing site in downtown St. Paul, the county and Phoenix-based Cardon Development Group have reportedly decided to scrap development plans and go their separate ways.

Not all that long ago, Ramsey County dropped $17 million to demolish the former West Publishing buildings and also the Ramsey County Jail in order to make the site more attractive developers.

But despite offering some pretty amazing views of the open river valley below and being one of the premier development opportunities currently available in St. Paul , it looks like things are back at square one and the county will once again be looking for development options and ideas.

Mostly residential, St. Paul’s Union Park neighborhood offers a wide variety of homes to choose from. New buyers are sure to enjoy options ranging from Craftsman-style bungalows to Colonial Revivals, Prairie-style homes to Queen Anne styles, with various designs constructed mostly from the late 1800s to the 1930s.

Hosting a number of smaller neighborhoods within its boundaries, Union Park is primarily known for its quiet streets and active neighborhood groups. As well, the area is also renowned for its numerous parks, with several ideal locations for families to engage in sports and recreation, plus enjoy playgrounds and even an occasional picnic lunch.

With convenient access to public transportation too, living in Union Park makes it easy to travel

Winter is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for things to do in St. Paul, MN, now is the time to start planning your fall outings. And to help get you started, we've even provided a few quick ideas below:

Oktoberfest

The first weekend of October brings about the annual Twin Cities Oktoberfest. The weekend is filled with beer, brats, dancing and live music at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Visit the zoo

The fall season is also a great time to get out and enjoy cooler temperatures at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The oldest zoo in the state, the location is free to visit but accepts donations, and it’s open every day of the year.

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

It’s also a great time to get out and