Friends,

Yesterday we announced the creation of the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation and introduced Dave Higgins as its president. Launching the Downtown Development Corporation is a huge step forward in making the sort of transformative changes and investments downtown needs. I'm incredibly optimistic about the work we are undertaking -- especially about bringing on Dave to lead this effort. We've asked Dave to share a bit more about his experience and perspective for this week's newsletter so I'll hand things over to him.

Before doing so, I just want to briefly remind you that our next Lowertown Social event is this evening at Erta Ale and our first of four community meetings to learn about Downtown Improvement District services is happening tomorrow morning at Lost Fox. More details are below.

-Joe

Hello, downtown Saint Paul!

I’m excited to introduce myself as the new President of the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (DDC), a real estate-focused subsidiary of the Downtown Alliance. Our mission is to drive investment and redevelopment in downtown Saint Paul, helping to revitalize key areas that have struggled in the wake of the pandemic. As downtown continues to evolve, we need a dedicated entity to engage developers, investors and partners while preparing key sites for redevelopment. The DDC was created to be that vehicle—bringing people and resources together to ensure a strong, vibrant future for the heart of our city.

My career has been dedicated to large-scale urban redevelopment, with experience spanning both the public and private sectors. Before coming to Minnesota, I worked on transformative projects in Boston and New York, serving with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the real estate group at global law firm DLA Piper. More recently, I helped lead development efforts at McGough and Roers Cos., focusing on complex projects that brought new energy to communities. I know firsthand that successful redevelopment requires vision, strategic partnerships and creative financial solutions—exactly what the DDC is here to provide.

This moment represents an incredible opportunity for downtown Saint Paul. We’re seeing office vacancies, shifting market dynamics, and a need for bold new ideas. Through this organization, we can bring together public, private and philanthropic investment to unlock the potential of downtown. Whether it's office-to-residential conversions, mixed-use development or other catalytic projects, the DDC will work to ensure that Saint Paul’s urban core doesn’t just recover but thrives.

I’m grateful for the leadership and support of the Downtown Alliance, our institutional partners, and the broader community as we begin this work. I look forward to collaborating with all of you to bring energy, investment, and innovation to downtown Saint Paul. Together, we can shape the next chapter for our city and create a place that is dynamic, inclusive and built for the future.

— Dave Higgins

President, Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation

Here's a glance at what's happening downtown this week.

A full look at what's coming up can be found on our event calendar. Check it out!