Lunch Meeting May 27: Meeting the Moment: A Strategic Vision for Downtown Saint Paul

Please join us at the InterContinental Hotel in Saint Paul on May 27th as we hear from Joe Spencer, president of the Downtown Alliance.

 

Downtown Saint Paul is on the brink of transformation—because we’ve reached a moment that demands it. Persistent office vacancies, shifting economic conditions, and visible signs of disinvestment have brought downtown to a critical turning point. But in the face of these challenges, the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is driving bold, coordinated efforts to revitalize the heart of the city. Over the past year, we’ve helped match small businesses with long-vacant storefronts, supported infrastructure and public space improvements, and brought thousands of people downtown through events, art, and activations. Through the Downtown Improvement District, we’ve expanded safety and cleaning services to create a more welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, or visits here.

Now, with the recent launch of the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation, we’re building even greater capacity to meet this moment. This new entity will guide and support major investments and redevelopment opportunities—accelerating office-to-residential conversions, supporting catalytic projects, and unlocking the long-term potential of downtown. Together, these efforts reflect a shared vision and growing momentum: not just to recover, but to reimagine downtown as a more dynamic, resilient, and inclusive place for the future.

 

For more than two decades, Joe Spencer has engineered growth and vitality in downtown Saint Paul. As the first president of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, Joe works across public and private sectors to build a strong, vibrant downtown and create a positive experience for visitors, residents and workers alike. With his leadership, the Downtown Alliance created the Downtown Investment Strategy to align public and private investment priorities to transform downtown; launched a new brand and subsequent marketing campaigns that reinforce the promise that downtown Saint Paul is Your Place to Grow; and partnered with property owners to create the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District to deliver clean and safe services, and activated the streets with hundreds of free events, public art installations and more.

 

Meeting ID: 825 184 8268

Passcode: 643825

Or, join by Phone:  (312) 626-6799 or (346) 248-7799