Saint Paul Port Authority

08/26/2026

We’re proud to announce the first round of CORE Grant recipients!

Through the Saint Paul Port Authority’s CORE (Capitol Outreach for Revitalization & Expansion) Grant Program, four Capitol Area businesses are receiving more than $500,000 to make improvements that will enhance accessibility, safety, energy efficiency and long-term business sustainability.

CONGRATULATIONS:
- MaMa Thai Kitchen
- Friendly Grocery and Meat Market
- Sam’s Market & Deli
- PAR Cade/Two Bit Game Room

Together, these projects represent meaningful investments in local businesses and the Capitol Area, strengthening commercial corridors, creating more welcoming spaces and supporting a vibrant Saint Paul.

Read more >>> https://sppa.com/saint-paul-port-authority-announces-first-round-of-core-grant-award-recipients

08/20/2026

TODAY’S THE DAY!
Join us tonight from 5:30–7:30 pm for a free community block party celebrating the people and progress making The Heights a reality.

• Free and open to the public!
• Live music and dancing with Twin Cities Road Crew
• BBQ food and delightful desserts with Chef Jeff Catering
• A chance to schedule a tour of the Habitat for Humanity - Twin Citiest model home
• City of Saint Paul Parks’ climbing wall
• Bouncy house and bubbles, bubbles, bubbles
• A visit from Matoskah, Bear Larp District's friendly mascot
• A special ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Books, books, books with The Free Book Buggie
• And plenty of time to connect with neighbors!

Meet Me at The Heights: Summer Block Party
Thursday, August 20, 2026
5:30–7:30 p.m.
2165 Cottage Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55119

RSVP today at: tinyurl.com/theheights-blockparty

See you at The Heights!

08/19/2026

Tomorrow’s the day!

We’re getting ready to Meet Me at The Heights: Summer Block Party, and we want you there!

Still deciding whether to come? Here are 10 reasons to join us tomorrow:

1️⃣ Schedule a tour of the Habitat for Humanity - Twin Cities model home.
Get a firsthand look inside the new homes coming to The Heights, all built right here on Saint Paul’s Greater East Side!

2️⃣ Celebrate a big milestone
Join us for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the first phase of Habitat’s new homes.

3️⃣ Enjoy live music and dancing
Enjoy all the entertainment from Twin Cities Road Crew!

4️⃣ We’ll have free local food and dessert expertly prepared by Chef Jeff Catering! Come hungry, but it’s first come first serve.

5️⃣ Climb to new heights
Try out City of Saint Paul Parks’ climbing wall.

6️⃣ Meet Matoskah
Yes, the friendly Bear Larp District mascot from the Greater East Side will be there!

7️⃣ Meet your neighbors
Connect with neighbors old and new from across the Greater East Side.

8️⃣ Grab a free book & meet your local librarians
Stop by the The Free Book Buggie and say hello to the team from Hayden Heights Library! Find your next great read and learn what to expect from your soon-to-be renovated neighborhood library.

9️⃣ It’s family-friendly, FREE and open to the public.

🔟 Be part of the celebration
The Heights is being shaped by partnerships, people and community. Come learn and be part of the story!

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, August 20, from 5:30–7:30 pm for a community block party celebrating the people, partnerships and progress shaping The Heights.

RSVP today at: tinyurl.com/theheights-blockparty

We’ll see you tomorrow!

08/19/2026

What does a new home at The Heights actually look and feel like?

Stop by The Heights Welcome Center to schedule a tour of the model home. A tour is a great way to get an inside look at the residences being built right here on Saint Paul’s Greater East Side!

🎉 And there’s a lot to celebrate:
+ 147 affordable homes are being built by Habitat for Humanity - Twin Cities — the largest development in Habitat’s history.

+ The homes are all-electric and designed for energy efficiency, helping create healthier, more resilient homes with lower energy costs for homeowners.

+ HFH’s development is a mix of twin homes, townhomes and single-family homes, creating a neighborhood with a variety of home types.

Imagine what life at The Heights could look like, and celebrate the families and community who are helping make this new neighborhood possible and the Meet Me at The Heights: Summer Block Party.

Thursday, August 20, 2026
5:30–7:30 p.m.
2165 Cottage Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55119-3247

RSVP today at: tinyurl.com/theheights-blockparty

Come curious. Leave inspired. Meet Me at The Heights!

08/17/2026

Meet Me at The Heights — Getting Here & Parking!

We can’t wait to see you at the Meet Me at The Heights: Summer Block Party on Thursday,

Here’s the scoop on getting to The Heights:

👫 Walk, Skip or Run
Coming from the neighborhood? Stroll on over! The best entrance for pedestrians is at Cottage Avenue E & Winthrop Street N. We’ll have a check-in with everything you need to know!

🚗 Wheels Welcome
Driving in? Pull up! Enter The Heights development from McKnight Road N at Arlington Avenue E and follow the signs to the designated parking areas.

🚲 Coming by bike?
We don’t have bike racks at The Heights just yet so please plan accordingly.

⚠️ A quick heads-up
The block party takes place on a finished portion of an active construction site, so please stay within designated event areas, follow posted signs and listen to event/site staff.

📆 Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 2165 Cottage Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55119

RSVP today at: tinyurl.com/theheights-blockparty

Free and open to everyone! Come celebrate the people, partnerships and progress making The Heights a reality.

See you there whether you stroll, skip, run or roll!

08/17/2026

The Saint Paul Port Authority is studying ways to improve safety and mobility at the Southport River Terminal in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Today, the only way in and out of the Southport River Terminal is by crossing a railroad on Barge Channel Road. When trains pass through this crossing, traffic is completely blocked. Trucks cannot reach the terminal, and emergency vehicles may be delayed. These train blockages happen often and can last several minutes, creating safety concerns, traffic backups, and air quality impacts for nearby neighborhoods.

This project will study options to replace the existing at‑grade railroad crossing with a grade‑separated crossing, meaning the road and railroad would cross at different levels. The study will look at several possible designs, such as a road going over the railroad or under it. Each option will be reviewed for safety, traffic flow, environmental impacts, cost, and how it affects nearby properties and communities.

Public and stakeholder input is a key part of this project. Residents, businesses, agencies, and freight partners will have opportunities to share feedback throughout the study. Community input and technical analysis will help guide the selection of a recommended solution that improves safety and access, supports efficient freight movement, and benefits the surrounding area.

Here is the Survey Link: tinyurl.com/SouthportRiverTerminal

08/14/2026

Make your voice heard while you're at Meet Me at The Heights: Summer Block Party!

A voter registration booth will be on site to help eligible voters register or update their voter registration. It's a quick and convenient way to check one more thing off your list while enjoying an evening of free food, music and family-friendly fun.

Thursday, August 20, 2026
5:30–7:30 p.m.
2165 Cottage Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55119

FREE and open to the public!

RSVP today at: tinyurl.com/theheights-blockparty

04/30/2026

04/22/2026

DID YOU KNOW…
SPPA purchases contaminated or blighted properties and transforms them into productive uses that benefit Saint Paul?

Here’s an example…

After 60 years as a coke foundry, the Koppers site had significant soil and groundwater contamination. In 1983, it was designated a SuperFund site by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and later that year, SPPA was engaged to clean up the site and lead the effort to transform the property. What was once deemed an environmental risk is now one of Saint Paul's most productive neighborhoods: Energy Park!

A 200-acre mixed-use development, today Energy Park is home to:
>> 93 companies
>> 5,770 jobs
>> 780+ housing units
>> $8.5 million in property tax revenue flowing back to Saint Paul every year

This is what brownfield cleanup makes possible. Reclaimed land. Revitalized communities. A stronger tax base for everyone.