Anti-Displacement Plan and Community Wealth Building Technical Study

Background

The City of Saint Paul’s Department of Planning and Economic Development, supported by the Mayor, City Council, and Planning Commission, has initiated an Anti-Displacement Plan and Community Wealth Building technical study.

This technical study will identify, explore and analyze the feasibility and likely effectiveness of a variety of potential strategies toward minimizing displacement risks for low- and moderate-income people and businesses, while simultaneously encouraging new housing production and business investment.

Ways to Engage

Watch this space for additional opportunities to get involved with the Anti-Displacement Plan and Community Wealth Building Study.

Past events

Resident Survey

A survey that allowed respondents to share perspectives on the housing challenges facing Saint Paul residents was open until January 13, 2023.

Coffee and Community Conversations

Multiple Coffee and Community Conversation sessions were held in December 2022 and January 2023. This was an opportunity for residents to share their vision to help inform future housing policies and strategies for the City of Saint Paul.

Small Business Focus Groups

Two small business focus groups were held in March 2023 at Osborn370 (in downtown) and the Latino Economic Development Center (on the east side). The discussions will help inform future investments by the City that can benefit the small business community.

Small Business Survey

A survey focused on small business owners was open through March 19, 2023. The purpose was to gather information on the pressures that small businesses may be facing as the City changes and new development projects arise.

Community Dinner and Open House

During two public open houses in April 2023, the community was able to provide feedback on strategies that Saint Paul should consider to support homeownership, new housing, housing affordability and renter protections.

View the community engagement summary (February 2023)

Project Scope and Deliverables Summary

The City has hired a consultant team for the technical analysis and community engagement.  There are four key deliverables for this study.

1. Existing conditions and landscape analysis. The existing conditions and landscape analysis will: 
    
   1. analyze market conditions and trends;
   2. prepare a gentrification assessment; and
   3. examine current programs to identify gaps.
       
2. Technical analyses of tools and strategies. This assessment will evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of programs and policies given Saint Paul’s current market conditions and trends. These analyses will include at a minimum:
    
   1. regulatory controls (citywide or area-specific application);
   2. property tax/value capture strategies;
   3. land disposition policies and real estate models;
   4. small business support program analysis;
   5. inclusionary zoning feasibility assessment; and
   6. strategy and partnership development implementation.
       
3. Inclusionary zoning feasibility assessment. The project team will analyze the financial and market feasibility of inclusionary housing policies given Saint Paul’s market context. 
    
4. Strategy and partnership development and implementation. The project team will the partnership and implementation plan for the priority anti-displacement policies, tools, and programs.

Community Engagement Plan

The City and project team will conduct community and stakeholder engagement to: 

1. inform how the problem of displacement is defined;
2. develop a shared anti-displacement vision; and
3. identify and explore potential policies, programs, regulations, financing tools and strategies.

Community engagement sessions are anticipated to primarily occur in three phases:

1. during early project visioning;
2. following preliminary analysis of current tools and policies; and
3. during the formulation of recommendations phases.

Below is a list of methods of engagement. These are types of engagement and outreach strategies that will be implemented throughout the process. 

1. Community Advisory Committee meetings. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was initiated by the Planning Commission on August 19, 2022. Including two planning commissioners, it will represent developers (market-rate and affordable), culturally specific organizations, small business service providers and regional equity coalitions all working in Saint Paul. The CAC will guide the development of this Anti-Displacement and Community Wealth Building Strategy by offering feedback and input on the deliverables produced throughout the study.
    
2. Community meetings. Two in-person and virtual open houses will be held throughout the project with the objective of sharing information about major updates and milestones with the public. The open houses will be an opportunity for stakeholders to provide comments and ask questions about updated content and project information. In addition to the open houses, our team will host virtual “drop-in” informational sessions to provide flexibility for stakeholder schedules.
    
3. Pop-up engagement. The project team will table, host and facilitate engagement activities with local stakeholders at existing community events.
    
4. Stakeholder meetings. The project team will collect stakeholder feedback by attending existing stakeholder meetings, such as district council meetings, meetings organized by community-based organizations, chamber of commerce meetings and business association meetings.

Please reach out to City staff or a member of the project team if your organization is interested in potentially co-hosting or partnering on a stakeholder meeting.

View the project flyer  View the community engagement summary (February 2023)