SPDDC will work to get neglected ramp in downtown core operational by end of 2026

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Nov. 7, 2025 – The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) today announced it has purchased the Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp from Madison Equities. The ramp is located at 50 4th St. near the Alliance Bank Center, which the SPDDC took full ownership and site control of in October. SPDDC is not disclosing the financial details of the transaction beyond that it was fully funded by private investment and will prevent the city from spending public funds to secure the property.

The ramp was condemned by the City of Saint Paul in April 2025, and SPDDC will immediately begin evaluating the work necessary to correct safety violations, with the goal of reopening it as a public parking ramp by the end of 2026. The parking structure could benefit other key sites in the downtown area with parking needs, including the nearby Central Station development site.

“This ramp has been a public safety concern in the heart of downtown Saint Paul for too long, and our first priority is making it safe and secure again. Parking is essential infrastructure: when it is offline or neglected, people notice, and when it works well, it shapes the first impression of our downtown,” said SPDDC President Dave Higgins. “Reviving this property fits our mission to take on catalytic projects that strengthen the downtown core and support future investments.”

The SPDDC is finalizing plans for a robust community and stakeholder engagement process to inform a vision of the downtown core for decades to come. Details on the process and how to get involved will be shared later this fall.

Both the Alliance Bank Center and the Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future to ensure safety and security. This includes the skyway closures that have been in place since April. The skyway connections to Osborn370 and Treasure Island Center remain open. The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is working with the City of Saint Paul to update skyway maps to reflect these closures ahead of the winter.