Focus Area
Midway District

The Midway district, which encompasses many neighborhoods that border the five-mile stretch of University Avenue from St. Paul's western border to the state Capitol, is a diverse corridor of residential, industrial, and commercial uses. The western edge of the district is largely industrial. The eastern part of the district is being revitalized by Asian and other small businesses. The district is surrounded by 6 major colleges and universities, and sits in the critical space between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. The Midway employs more than 50,000 workers and is home to more than 75,000 increasingly diverse residents.

This corridor is a major economic asset in the heart of St. Paul and is at the geographic center of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The district is currently a mix of areas of economic prosperity, areas of severe economic neglect, and everything in between. But for the first time in a very long while, the Midway district has become the focus of a great deal of new development. Furthermore, as talk of connecting downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul via light rail transit becomes increasingly serious, the Midway is potentially entering a period of significant transition. At this critical time, University UNITED is in a position to play a leadership role in insuring that this transition benefits the Midway's residents and businesses.