>> CATHY: ON WEDNESDAY, THE ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO COVER THE EASTERN SIDE OF DOWNTOWN AND ITS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN LOWERTOWN.

PROPERTY OWNERS PAY DUES THAT FUND IMPROVEMENTS AIMING TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN A DOWNTOWN THAT HASN'T REBOUNDED POST-PANDEMIC.

FRED MELO COVERS ALL THINGS ST. PAUL FOR THE "ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS."

NEWS OUTLET.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: SINGS I WORK THIS DOWNTOWN St. PAUL, IT'S A MESS, IT IS.

AND I'M WONDERING HERE, THIS FUND?

THE SAME FUND THAT HELPED SPUR SOME PRETTY DECENT CHANGES IN MEARS' PARK, BACK IN THE DAY.

>> >> A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THIS DIDN'T ACTUALLY GO INTO LOWERDOWN BEFORE SO WHEN IT'S DOUBLING IN SIZE, IT WILL EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO LOWERTOWN, TO MEARES' PARK.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT FUND, JUST STARTED IN 20 XII, SECURIAN AND ECOLAB AND TRAVELERS WORKING WITH CITY HALL, TO CREATE A FEE, THEY CALL IT A TAX ON THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SO NOW THIS WILL EXTEND THROUGH ALL DOWNTOWN AND INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

>> Eric: SO ISN'T ONE OF THE GOALS HERE T.INCREASE PRETTY DRAMATICALLY THE DOWNTOWN POPULATION, AS A NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> SURE.

>> Eric: THERE IS MORE SKIN IN THE GAME NOW FOREST DENTS WHO ARE GOING TO GET CHARGED A FEE.

>> THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING AT CITY HALL ABOUT THIS AND A LONG LINE OF CONDO OWNERS SHOWED UP SAYING CHARGE ME, AN EXTRA 5 BUCKS A MONTH TO GET MORE EYES ON THE STREET, MORE LITTER PICK-UP, GRAFFITI PICKUP, THEY'LL PAY FOR BIKE PATROLS FOR THE POLICE, A COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, THEY CALL IT THE FUSION CENTER THAT WORKS WITH THE POLICE AND OUTREACH WORKERS AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL 9-1-1 WHEN SOMEONE IS PASSED OUT AND MAYBE THEY JUST NEED TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS SERVICES, BUT, YEAH, SEEING A LOT OF HOLMES FOLKS ON THE STREET, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEED AND THE CONDO OWNERS, THEY HAVE A HEART, THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS, GOSH, THERE'S SO MANY EMPTY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS HERE IN DOWNTOWN St. PAUL.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT ABOUT THE OWNER, IS IT MADISON EQUITIES THAT SEASONS, WHAT, HOW MANY BUILDINGS, A LOT IN St. PAUL?

>> A LOT.

I THINK LAST COUNT OVER 13 DOWNTOWN.

THEY WERE PART OF THE OPPOSITION, DAVE BROOKS IS A BUILDING OWNER DOWNTOWN, HE WAS PART OF THE OPPOSITION.

THEY'RE SAYING, LOOK, YOU WANT MORRIS DENTS OWNTOWN, WHY WOULD YOU MAKE HOUSING MORE SUSPENSIONIVE WHERE THIS FEE?

COUNTER ARGUMENT, I THINK SOMEONE WORKED OUT THE AVERAGE TO BE ABOUT $65 FOR CONDO OWNERS SO AN EXTRA 5 BUCKS A MONTH TO GET THE LITTER PICK-UP AND EXTRA EYES ON THE STREET TO MAKES THINGS FEEL SAFER.

IN THE AREAS OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, CRIME WENT DOWN 40%.

EYES ON THE STREET MATTER.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THE LUNDS AND BYERLY'S CONTRACTION, IS THAT THE -- >> THAT'S ONE OF THE LOW POINTS, WE'RE DOWN TO ONE GROCERY STORE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME SAYING IT'S KIND OF OVERPRICED FOR DOWNTOWN, FOR WHAT YOU GET, AND IT'S NOW CUT FIVE HOURS OUT OF ITS DAY, 35% OF ITS OPERATINGS HOURS, OPEN FROM 10:00 a.m. TO 7:00 p.m.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I MIGHT WORK THOSE HOURS, THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR DOWNTOWN.

>> Cathy: SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS TO MOVE TO DOWNTOWN, WHAT, 10,000 PEOPLE LIFE HERE RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE MORE AMENITIES, RIGHT?

>> IF YOU WANT TO TRIPLE THAT POPULATION, YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO SAY, LOOK, MERCY BARK IS GOOD, THERE'S MUSIC, RICE PARK, BEAUTIFUL, GREAT PLACE THERE.

THERE IS A DEADSEASON IN-BETWEEN AND YOU HAVE TO WORK ON THE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS SO THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, WHICH IS CREATING THIS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CAME OUT WITH A CONSULTANT REPORT IN MARCH THAT SAID, LOOK, FIFTH STREET IS A DEAD ZONE.

WE HAVE TO FIX THAT.

KELLOGG, WABASHA, ROBERT, VERY SPECIFIC CORRIDORS INSTEAD OF EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY IS HOW DO YOU MAKE A LITTLE MORE LIVELIHOOD IN PEDESTRIAN ACCESS THERE.

>> ric: IS HOUSING A BARGAIN IN DOWNTOWN St. PAUL?

>> I WOULDN'T CALL IT A BARGAIN.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS AHEAD AS TO HOW DO WE FILL SOME OF THESE VACANT BUILDINGS AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND MAYBE CONVERTING THEM INTO RESIDENTIAL MIGHT HELP, MAYBE THAT LOWERS PRICES?

WE HAVE YET TO SEE HOW ALL THAT PLAYS OUT.

I THINK RENT STABILIZED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE IS PLENTY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL, DOWNTOWN.

>> Cathy: GETTING BACK TO MADISON EQUITY, I WONDER, IS ANYONE WANTING TO SNAP UP THOSE BUILDINGS?

I MEAN, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THEM -- >> SO MADISON EQUITY, THE OWNER DIED IN JANUARY AND HIPS WIDOW, ROSEMARY, SAID LEAPT THE TEN ICONIC BUILDINGS ROT, I WANT TO SELL THEM ALL AT ONCE TOGETHER.

THAT'S REALLY HAROLD.

SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS, 45% OCCUPIED, SOME ARE EMPTY.

PARK SQUARE COURT BY MEARES' PARK IS EMPTY.

BUT EVEN THAT FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING WITH THE "ONE" ON TOP, ONLY 45% OCCUPIED.

A HUGE BUILDING.

ALLIANCE BANK CENTER.

IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> Eri