Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting Summary - August 12, 2026

The Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board of Commissioners met on August 12, 2026, at 2:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Saint Paul City Hall. The sole agenda item was a presentation and discussion on the Rice Larpenteur Alliance (RLA) annual report, led by Executive Director Kim O'Brien. The meeting concluded at 3:03 p.m. with the item received and filed.

Presentation: Rice Larpenteur Alliance Annual Report

• Kim O'Brien presented an overview of the RLA, a three-city (Saint Paul, Roseville, Maplewood) community and economic development initiative formed in 2018 to revitalize the Rice and Larpenteur intersection area. She highlighted:
  • Demographics: The area is one of the most densely populated in the region (18,000+ residents across four census tracts), 67% people of color, 37.5% speak a language other than English at home, with many Karen, Karenni, Nepali, Hmong, and Latino residents.
  • Key achievements (2019-2026): 60+ members, 500+ volunteers, 16 youth ambassadors employed, 30 business improvement grants totaling $223,000, 15 new businesses (10 in Saint Paul), 80+ new/retained jobs, 30 public art/sign installations, 7-9 miles of sidewalk infill, and eight sites substantially redeveloped.
  • Safety improvements: Drastic reduction in major crime per joint police reports from Roseville, Maplewood, and Saint Paul.
  • Funding history: Saint Paul contributed $75,000 annually from 2019-2025, matched by Roseville and Maplewood. In 2025, RLA also received $81,500 from the Commercial Corridor Opportunity Program. In 2026, Saint Paul general operations funding was zeroed out; only the Commercial Corridor grant (which cannot cover staffing) remains, forcing RLA to operate at half capacity. Every city dollar leveraged $2.50 from other sources.
  • Future needs: Sustained public investment to maintain momentum, focus on small business growth, redevelopment, housing, and job opportunities. RLA is working toward 501(c)(3) status and self-sustainability.

Discussion Items

• Commissioners praised the RLA model and its positive impact on a historically disinvested area. They asked about:
  • The funding gap: Chair Johnson noted that the $75,000 annual contribution was unique to RLA and questioned how to equitably replicate such support citywide. Commissioner Noecker clarified that the Commercial Corridor grant ($81,500) could allocate only 10% to staffing ($8,150), creating an effective cut of $60,000-$65,000 for operations. Chair Johnson also raised concerns about the chamber of commerce's role as the fiscal agent and the need for equitable investment across all corridors.
  • Business support during construction: Commissioner Bowie asked about advocacy for businesses during Rice Street reconstruction. O'Brien described RLA's role in marketing, connecting businesses to grants, and collaboration with the North End Neighborhood Organization (District 6), which now models its construction impact grants after RLA's 2025 program.
  • County and partner funding: Commissioners Yang and Bowie inquired about Ramsey County and other city contributions. O'Brien noted Ramsey County's grant is currently $0, and while Maplewood increased its contribution to $20,000, sustained support from all partners is critical. She emphasized that RLA aims for step-down of public funding as private funding grows, but this requires time.
  • Potential expansion: Commissioner Kim suggested the RLA model could be replicated in other intersections touching Saint Paul, such as the East Side, and noted that RLA has been a proof-of-concept for cultural corridor building.

Key Outcomes

• The presentation was received and filed by the Board (no formal vote taken).
• Commissioners expressed strong support for the RLA's work and acknowledged the value of continued investment but raised equity and sustainability challenges.
• Chair Johnson noted that the item was placed on the agenda to inform budget discussions; no immediate funding decision was made.
• The next HRA meeting is scheduled for August 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.