The Bridges of Saint Paul An overview
Saint Paul: A river runs through it. The Mississippi.
It is the source of the citys history. It is the heart of our community today. It links the east and west sides of Saint Paul, and our past, present and future. The pending Bridges of Saint Paul development proposal puts this all at risk. It threatens to alter the relationship of community to river, the ratio of green space to concrete, and the scale of people to river and buildings.
![[Image: Saint Paul from Cherokee Heights]](/sites/default/files/shared/images/projects/bridges_of_st_paul/from_cherokee_heights.jpg)
This image of Saint Paul in 1874 shows the West Side Flats from the bluffs to the south looking north to the Mississippi River and downtown Saint Paul. The river and bluffs have provided a geographic identity and context for generations of Saint Paul citizens.
Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
What is our vision for the West Side Flats?
Do we want to fulfill a vision of the community for development on the Flats that is:
- Easily accessible
- Connected with neighborhoods
- Supportive of local small business
- High quality
- Consistent with neighborhood plans
- Respectful of the rivers beauty, history and character?
Or do we want to turn the Flats into just another mega-development that damages the character of the community and the river?
The choice is up to us.
More about the Bridges of Saint Paul Proposal:
On this site
![[Photo: The West Side Flats as seen from Daytons Bluff today.]](/sites/default/files/shared/images/projects/bridges_of_st_paul/from_daytons_bluff.jpg)
The view from Daytons Bluff, which is enjoyed each year by thousands of visitors to Mounds Park, would be dramatically impacted by tall buildings on the West side Flats.
Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
Other helpful links
Proposal information
Visit What is Proposed? for additional updated information.
- Saint Paul Mississippi River Corridor Plan
- Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework
- West Side Flats Master Plan Executive Summary
- To download City of Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan (scroll down to comp plan)
- City of Saint Paul zoning code (scroll down to zoning code)
- October 2006 Zoning Committee Staff Report to the Saint Paul Planning Commission regarding the Bridges of Saint Paul proposal (1 MB PDF)
- July 2007 Zoning Committee Staff Report to the Saint Paul Planning Commission regarding the resubmitted Bridges of Saint Paul proposal (92 KB PDF)
Groups opposed to the project
Groups opposed to the Bridges project are listed here.
Links to Bridges in the Press
- City Pages covers the controversy 11/8/2006
- Minnesota Public Radio on the proposals withdrawal 11/1/2006
- "Swimming Upstream" Star Tribune 10/8/2006
- The Minnesota Monitor has good coverage of many of the community forums. Search for bridges within the site and a list of articles will come up.