A 20-story apartment tower and a six-story building connected by a skyway over the METRO Green Line are proposed on a critical piece of undeveloped land in the heart of downtown Saint Paul.
Following recent approvals to enter into a tentative developer agreement by the Metropolitan Council and Saint Paul’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Indianapolis-based Flaherty & Collins will now begin the process of moving forward with its $130 million plan to build on what’s known as the Central Station Block.
The developer's plans call for 300 market-rate housing units and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space on the now vacant site adjacent to the Green Line’s Central Station. The site is also served by the METRO Gold Line and several bus routes.
Under the tentative developer agreement, Flaherty & Collins must meet several milestones for public engagement, funding and budget, designs, and approvals before negotiating terms and conditions of a final development agreement. The goal is to have a purchase agreement in place by the end of 2026 with construction to commence shortly after.
The Central Station Block is two parcels owned separately by the Met Council and City of Saint Paul. The properties were acquired as part of the Green Line’s construction over a decade ago.
“We are excited to advance the transformative Central Station Block development,” Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle said. "This pivotal project will not only revitalize a key urban hub but demonstrate our commitment to smart growth principles. By strategically increasing density around major transit modes, we’re creating a more sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant region that benefits all residents and positions us competitively on the national stage.”
“Central Station is a key intersection for commuters, residents, and visitors to access our urban core," Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said. "Flaherty & Collins' ideas to reimagine this area with housing and retail echo our vision for a vibrant, connected, and revitalized downtown Saint Paul.”
“After working for the last six years to deliver on a pivotal project for our downtown, I am excited about this transformational investment in the Central Station site,” Council President Rebecca Noecker said. “Flaherty & Collins' vision of transforming this area into a vibrant, mixed-use space with residential, retail, and public components holds tremendous potential for revitalizing our downtown corridor.”
Transit-oriented development continues along transitways
The effort to develop the Central Station Block comes as construction continues along Metro Transit’s high-frequency transit corridors, bringing more housing, jobs, and tax revenue to the region.
According to the Metro Transit Transit Oriented Development Office's latest Development Trends Along Transit report, $19.2 billion in development has been permitted along high- frequency transit since 2009. The report shows 38.4% of regional development has been permitted on less than 4% of the region’s total land.
About Flaherty & Collins
Since 1993, Flaherty & Collins has specialized in market-rate and affordable housing developments, public-private partnerships and mixed-use, urban infill developments. Local examples of its work include 2700 University Avenue, a 248-unit market-rate, affordable mixed-use development in Saint Paul, and The Residence at the COR, a 230-unit market-rate, mixed-use development in Ramsey.
Media contacts
Met Council: Laura Baenen, laura.baenen@metrotransit.org
Saint Paul: Crystal King, crystal.king@stpaul.gov
Flaherty & Collins: Ryan Cronk, 317-679-3854
