New DID includes residential properties for the first time; will provide enhanced public safety services including expanded Street Team
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District (SPDID) today announced the formation of a new district covering all of downtown Saint Paul, including residential properties. The approval process through the City Council was completed at the closing of the 45-day objection period, which ended Sept. 7. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the new district will continue to provide its flagship safe and clean services executed by SPDID staff and street team ambassadors, along with new and enhanced services focused on public safety. As downtown continues to experience shifts in the real estate market post-COVID, the SPDID aims to deliver short-term improvements that will benefit all of downtown through proven programs and strategies.
“Over the past four years, the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District has been extremely effective, so we are glad to begin providing our safe and clean programming to all of downtown Saint Paul starting next year,” said John Bandemer, director of safety strategies for the SPDID. “We are also grateful for the overwhelming support from property owners who have seen firsthand how the district has benefitted downtown, and we look forward to working together with residents in this newly formed SPDID.”
Along with voluntary contributions from the City of Saint Paul, Ramsey County and other tax-exempt property owners, the new SPDID will be funded by commercial and residential property owners within the district’s boundaries. Additional seats will be added to the governing board to reflect the increased size and scope of the universe of rate-paying members, including residents. Residential property owners will pay 40% less than commercial properties according to the formula based on building and property size. The average annual cost for a condo owner is estimated to be roughly $65.
“Downtown residents know that engaging with and investing in our downtown benefits everyone, from businesses to residents to visitors,” said Susan Larson, a downtown resident and president of the nonprofit Friends of Mears Park. “Being able to expand the downtown improvement district to include residential properties and covering all four corners – including Lowertown – is going to be a gamechanger for our city.”
The SPDID provides services and programming within the public realm with the goal of supplementing government services. DIDs are proven to dramatically improve public safety outcomes and perceptions in both the short and long-term, attract new businesses and help retain existing ones, increase property values, and stimulate overall community vitality. Since its launch in 2021, calls to police for quality-of-life crimes and concerns fell by 40% within the existing SPDID boundaries, while they stayed the same or increased in other parts of downtown.
“Our Downtown Improvement District has already proven to enhance safety and cleanliness in the areas it serves,” said Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. “Expanding it to cover a broader stretch of our business district will prove a critical component of our downtown revitalization plan.”
###
About the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District
The Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District encompasses Saint Paul’s most prominent artistic, cultural and entertainment venues, along with theatres, restaurants and other attractions that have unique needs. It is home to corporate headquarters for several large businesses including Ecolab, Securian Financial, Travelers, and others. The district is managed by a governing board representing a cross-section of property owners throughout the boundaries. Funds from participating commercial property owners, as well as voluntary contributions from the City, County, and other tax-exempt property owners provide safe and clean services and programming within the public realm with the goal of supplementing government services. The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance acts as an umbrella organization for the SPDID and contracts with the district to manage and implement the operations of the SPDID. To learn more, visit spdid.org.