United Village (Snelling-Midway Redevelopment Site)

Overview

United Village is the next phase of development of the land located at Snelling Avenue and University Avenue in the Midway of Saint Paul. The 34.4 acre site saw its first development in 2018 with the completion of the critically acclaimed Allianz Field, home of the Minnesota United. Plans are underway to develop the remaining parcels on the site with the goal to create a vibrant space for visitors and residents to gather, work, live and be entertained in the City of Saint Paul.

The development of the remaining parcels will take place in phases. Phase 1 of the new project is anticipated to begin in late 2023-early 2024 and will include: a sculpture garden, new hotel, an office building, two restaurant pavilions, and new open spaces throughout the site. Additional phases for the remaining property will be considered at a future date.

Timeline

• Spring - Summer 2023: Contamination cleanup grants awarded by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Metropolitan Council and Ramsey County.
• July 13, 2023: Parkland dedication at Parks and Recreation Commission meeting
• August 2023: Phase 1 community meetings hosted by Hamline Midway Coalition and Union Park District Council
• August - September 2023: Archeological and historic reviews as required by the AUAR
• September 20, 2023: United Village preliminary plat, interim use permit extension, and new interim use permit at City Council
• October 2023: Privately Owned Public Open Space (POPs) agreement approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council
• Fall 2023: Environmental remediation work begins
• December 13, 2023: The HRA approved and authorized the establishment of the Snelling Midway Redevelopment Tax Increment Financing District. The establishment of the TIF district allows the HRA to provide financial support to Phase 1 of the United Village redevelopment site.
• Spring - Summer 2024: Construction begins
• June 20, 2024: PK's Place, a fully-inclusive playground next to Allianz Field, officially opened.
• October 17, 2024: ‘The Calling’ sculpture is unveiled at the corner of University Avenue and Snelling Avenue.
   

Master Plan

On August 17, 2016, the Saint Paul City Council approved the Snelling-Midway Master Plan.

The plan outlines future land uses and a new street network for the 34.4 acre site located in the Midway. The Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED) worked alongside community members, consultants, and the development team, Snelling-Midway Redevelopment, LLC, to develop the plan. Residents were engaged throughout the process to determine how to best develop the property to serve the surrounding neighborhood and the City at large.

The plan aims to guide the development of a pedestrian-friendly, walkable neighborhood, emphasize and activate public open spaces, welcome a mix of uses, and integrate sustainable stormwater management systems throughout the site.

Along with the Master Plan, the site was also subject to an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) which provided the environmental review for the site. Learn more about the AUAR and the project environmental review.

The AUAR will be revisited throughout development of the project and updated if needed as determined by City staff.

Past Public Engagement

The work of the development and design teams was informed by extensive public input opportunities, including the Snelling-Midway Community Advisory Committee. Community feedback was also received at a series of open house events and via Open Saint Paul, an online civic engagement platform. Public hearings were held at both the Planning Commission (June 2016) and City Council (August 2016) to consider the master plan and stadium site plans.

A separate Snelling-Midway Jobs Strategy Workgroup also met to determine strategies around retention and attraction of employers and employees at the Snelling-Midway site.

Previous Planning Work

In 2014, the City of Saint Paul, the Metropolitan Council and RK Midway LLC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to consider a coordinated redevelopment of the Snelling Midway superblock. Using the Snelling Station Area Plan as the basis, the parties engaged a real estate consultant team to develop recommendations for how the three parties could cooperate to pursue transit-oriented development on the entire 34.5-acre site.

The report provided recommendations on elements for achieving high-quality, transit-oriented development on the site and made suggestions on methods of phasing, financing, placement, character and process to help align the site with projected market conditions and the City of Saint Paul’s adopted Snelling Station Area Plan.