Why has downtown Saint Paul become so much like a ghost town? (Minneapolis: insurance, loft)

[TC Divided]

What are the kinds of things that can be done to turn around the area?

[gearedtowardssalad]

Downtown Saint Paul currently has 2 things to offer people.

1. Wild games
2. The only late night food spot in the entire metro.

[krypton727]

Don't forget hoodrats that hang at the bus stops.

[audadvnc]

Lowertown St. Paul also has a small but active, established arts scene. But St. Paul art's biggest problem is that Minneapolis is only 20 minutes away, and the scene is a much bigger draw, so artists and performers go where the action is. One of my performer friends lived in a Lowertown loft for years, but decided to move last year to Willard-Hay neighborhood in Minneapolis near Wirth Park. So now there's an empty loft available for some young upwardly mobile urban type to move in - except:

Another problem of St. Paul is its history as an old government and big business town. There are plenty of impressive monuments and pretty bridges, and big, fancy, empty buildings that once held the titans of industry. But nowadays, everything comes from Shanghai, so there's no need for domestic production, right? Why would you buy a US-made toothbrush for $1.29 when you can get a Chinese one for $1.19? The point is, if you want big old towns to succeed, you're going to have to give people some reason to live and work there. How about making razors at that Gillette plant again?

[Kid Cann]

DT STP needs more housing.

If there were around 60,000 residents living downtown, It'd be hopping

[Radical_Car]

Ya if there was more housing it'd be more hopping, but the biggest draw is Minneapolis right by it.

[laxster]

Downtown Minneapolis also has a creepy vibe about it, IMO.

The idea of a "downtown" the way our society is structured just isn't feasible. As a worker, the thought of having to commute to a "downtown" is a negative, filled with traffic, crime, pollution, over-priced venues, over-priced parking, and a load of stress. I used to work downtown - I should know. The only respite is the Downtown Minneapolis Lifetime Athletic Club - and this place ain't cheap!

Give me my trees, grass, fresh air, and lake viewable from my office window ANY DAY.

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by laxster

Downtown Minneapolis also has a creepy vibe about it, IMO.

The idea of a "downtown" the way our society is structured just isn't feasible. As a worker, the thought of having to commute to a "downtown" is a negative, filled with traffic, crime, pollution, over-priced venues, over-priced parking, and a load of stress. I used to work downtown - I should know. The only respite is the Downtown Minneapolis Lifetime Athletic Club - and this place ain't cheap!

Give me my trees, grass, fresh air, and lake viewable from my office window ANY DAY.

That's great and all, but for every person that 'hates' downtowns because of your said reasons - traffic, crime, pollution?, high prices, parking and stress, there is a person that loves downtowns for walkability, things to do, entertainment, people.

I would love to live Downtown MPLS or STP and work DT too. Walk out of my place into a skyway and to work, and then ride my bike in the summer. Talk about no stress - no car, no car payment, no gas, no insurance, no parking, no traffic.

Downtowns start and end with residency. the more people that make downtown their home, the more active and lively a dowtown is. Minneapolis thrives at this since there is a large # that now live DT MPLS, but MPLS does a great job at not making DT a 9-5 place. With the theaters, museums, restaraunts, venues, Target center and Target Field and Metrodome, the downtown has become a 5-11 place as well. This is what STP lacks. STP lacks that 5-11 activity that is needed for a DT to function.

So, to each their own. To you, DTs are stressful, dangerous and polluted and expensive. To others, DTs are easy, convenient, entertaining and fun

[emcee squared]

Originally Posted by Kid Cann

That's great and all, but for every person that 'hates' downtowns because of your said reasons - traffic, crime, pollution?, high prices, parking and stress, there is a person that loves downtowns for walkability, things to do, entertainment, people.

I would love to live Downtown MPLS or STP and work DT too. Walk out of my place into a skyway and to work, and then ride my bike in the summer. Talk about no stress - no car, no car payment, no gas, no insurance, no parking, no traffic.

Downtowns start and end with residency. the more people that make downtown their home, the more active and lively a dowtown is. Minneapolis thrives at this since there is a large # that now live DT MPLS, but MPLS does a great job at not making DT a 9-5 place. With the theaters, museums, restaraunts, venues, Target center and Target Field and Metrodome, the downtown has become a 5-11 place as well. This is what STP lacks. STP lacks that 5-11 activity that is needed for a DT to function.

So, to each their own. To you, DTs are stressful, dangerous and polluted and expensive. To others, DTs are easy, convenient, entertaining and fun

Gotta agree with this.

I know that the 'X' has helped keep some people on the streets after hours (9-5), but there still isn't much to do after a game. It's the same feeling I had after leaving a Twins/Vikings game at the Dome. Drive up, park, watch game, drive home.

I know there is stuff to do in St. P (Science Museum, ect), can't deny that, but there is hardly a time where I will say, " hey, lets go to downtown St. P instead." Overall, I agree it all boils down to housing. If you see other people on the streets you will feel it is a much more lively, exciting place. Obvious, but true.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by Kid Cann

I would love to live Downtown MPLS or STP and work DT too. Walk out of my place into a skyway and to work, and then ride my bike in the summer. Talk about no stress - no car, no car payment, no gas, no insurance, no parking, no traffic.

So, to each their own. To you, DTs are stressful, dangerous and polluted and expensive. To others, DTs are easy, convenient, entertaining and fun

Yup each to their own, but to me Downtowns are easy, convenient, entertaining and fun(Everything you said!). Maybe more on the expensive side as well, but if you don't have a car then you'll be able to pay more for housing and other stuff