St. Paul outlines property-risk response, launches downtown development corporation

At a St. Paul City Council briefing, the Department of Safety and Inspections described a standing property risk management task force that meets at least weekly to track deteriorating downtown buildings, support tenant transitions and, when necessary, prepare legal or emergency tools. Separately, the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance announced a new Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) and named Dave Higgins as its leader; alliance and DDC leaders said they plan a mix of studies, private-public financing and catalytic projects to stabilize and rebuild downtown’s core.

The task force, led by the city’s Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI), was created to gather information and coordinate responses to buildings identified as “at risk,” Director Angie Wiese said. The group’s objectives include keeping downtown buildings and skyways safe and accessible, supporting commercial and residential tenant transitions, and minimizing how long properties remain in an at-risk state. “We meet at least weekly,” Wiese said, and the task force keeps maps and public messaging updated as situations evolve.

Wiese emphasized limits on the city’s authority. She said the city currently does not have an administrative-citation penalty available to levy against owners and that most DSI enforcement work is cost-recovery rather than…