St. Paul Summary

Hey St. Paul! It’s Natasha - your guide for summarizing this week’s St. Paul’s news! 👋 

• St. Paul’s Midway district gears up for Allianz Field expansion, including new restaurants, offices, a hotel, a seasonal ice rink, and community gardens;

• Relief for local business owners is here as Grand Avenue construction concludes early;

• Mayoral candidates Melvin Carter, Yan Chen, and Kaohly Her faced off in a debate covering public safety, housing, and downtown revitalization;

• St. Paul Public Schools is asking voters to approve a fall referendum to increase the operating levy for the next 10 years;

Let’s dive in! 👇️ 

What’s New & Notable

United Village Plans Unveiled

Exciting things are unfolding in St. Paul’s Midway as United Village expands around Allianz Field, transforming the area into a lively community destination. Plans feature a boulangerie, pizzeria, and diner, all surrounding a new Great Lawn with gardens, sculptures, and a seasonal ice rink for winter fun.

Families can look forward to PK’s Place, a 16,000-sq-ft inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities. Developer Bill McGuire says the vision is “not just about soccer” — it’s about building a space where people gather, dine, and connect in the heart of the city.

Read more details about the United Village project here.

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

Check out what’s new with local businesses across the city.

Talisman & Co. Brings Global Game to St. Paul

Talisman & Co. has become a standout in soccer-inspired fashion, offering bespoke gear, vintage tees, and club-licensed apparel. Founded by former pro player Dustin Branan and his wife Bethany, the brand partners with leagues like the NBA, USL, and Umbro to bring fans unique, stylish merch.

Find them at 2179 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul, and read more about their story here.

Here’s what else is making headlines in St. Paul:

1. Paid Parking Comes to Grand & Victoria

   Shoppers on Grand Avenue will now have to pay at one of St. Paul’s busiest parking lots, located at Grand and Victoria. Both portions of the lot have switched from free to paid parking, with management handled by Parking Management Company (PMC). St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, which owns part of the lot, says the change follows an expired lease and is meant to support property upkeep—not profit. Read more details from Bring Me the News.

2. Rondo Film Festival Honors History and Healing

   Macalester College hosted the Rondo Film Festival on October 17 celebrating the legacy of Saint Paul’s historic Black community through film, storytelling, and intergenerational dialogue. Rondo neighbors were devastated by the construction of I-94 — displacing more than 700 families. This annual gathering offers a space to honor that past while envisioning a more just and connected future. Explore the film festival here.

3. Century-Old Hotel Honored Landmark

   The Saint Paul Hotel, a historic downtown St. Paul property, has been featured in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s “Icons of the Twin Cities” series, underscoring its legacy of hosting presidents, celebrities and community events. The recognition highlights the hotel’s role in anchoring the city’s hospitality and social fabric for more than a century. (MSP Business Journal)

4. United Village Adds Ice Rink

   Developers behind the United Village project adjacent to Allianz Field in St. Paul unveiled a new outdoor ice rink pavilion and flower garden, complementing planned restaurants, offices and a hotel expansion. (Axios Twin Cities)

5. St. Paul Comedian Hits SNL Stage

   St. Paul native Tommy Brennan made his “Weekend Update” debut on Saturday Night Live, performing during an episode hosted by pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Brennan’s sharp Midwestern humor and heartfelt delivery marked a breakout moment for the rising comedian (Pioneer Press)

Local News

Reporting from Your Backyard

Catch up on the latest posts from St. Paul journalists and newspapers covering the people, issues, and moments shaping our city.

💡 Remember, Ambit compensates local journalists every time you click the lightbulb “useful” button on their Ambit posts! (Learn more here)

Local Government

Updates from City Hall

Here’s what’s happening in city government — from policy changes to upcoming elections, stay informed on the decisions shaping life in St. Paul.

Twin Cities Mayors Demand Gun Reform

Melvin Carter and other Minnesota city leaders called for urgent action on gun-violence prevention, unveiling a draft city ordinance to ban assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, ghost guns, and firearms in sensitive public locations. The coalition urged the state to lift preemption laws that block cities from enacting firearm regulations (City of St. Paul)

1. Summit Ave Bike Lane: The Summit Avenue bike lane plan divides St. Paul’s mayoral race, pitting safety and infrastructure upgrades against preservation, equity, and neighborhood opposition. (Star Tribune)

2. Mayoral Debate Highlights Key Issues in St. Paul — St. Paul mayoral candidates Melvin Carter, Yan Chen, and Kaohly Her squared off in a debate hosted by MPR News and the Pioneer Press. Topics included public safety, affordable housing, downtown revitalization, and city finances. Carter emphasized his track record, while Chen and Her pushed for new solutions and policy ideas. (MPR)

3. Lunch with Leaders Focuses on Downtown Revitalization — City leaders announced a November Lunch with Leaders event at The Ordway to discuss downtown development, lessons from a leadership visit to Detroit, and upcoming projects to energize the city’s core. The Ordway will also celebrate its 40th anniversary during the event. Get more details (St. Paul Chamber)

4. Saint Paul Kicks Off Fall Street Sweep

   The City of Saint Paul Public Works Department began its 2025 residential fall sweep on October 15, targeting 530 miles of streets and 330 miles of alleys. Residents must heed posted “No Parking” signs, avoid raking leaves or placing carts in the street, and help protect water quality by keeping debris off roads. (City of St. Paul)

5. Jane Prince: Vote No on Administrative Citations

   Former Councilmember Jane Prince argues that the Nov. 4 referendum on administrative citations is deceptively broad, giving city officials unchecked power to impose unlimited fines without proper oversight. It warns voters they’d be buying “a pig in a poke” and urges a “No” vote to protect fairness and transparency. (MyVillager)

6. St. Paul Joins $100 M Grant Lawsuit

   St. Paul has joined a coalition of cities suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency over more than $100 million in public-safety and disaster-preparedness grants that the lawsuit claims were conditioned on adopting unrelated policy requirements. The city stands to lose about $4 million in funds already awarded or pending, including support that covers half of its Emergency Management staffing. (Pioneer Press)

📆 Mark your calendars: The next city-wide election in St. Paul is on November 4th, 2025.

Know Your Neighborhood

Neighborhood Roundup

Check out what is currently happening in these neighborhood District Councils!

Get Involved

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That’s a wrap for this week!
Thanks for staying connected to what’s happening around St. Paul. Keep showing up for your neighborhood, one post, pop-up, or recommendation at a time.

💜 See you out in the neighborhood!

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