City Cast Twin Cities
😨 Sticker shock for St. Paul homeowners
April 15, 2026 · — Tiffany
Good morning, Twin Cities! Tiffany here. Big news — our spring membership campaign starts today! Around here, "neighbor" is a verb. It’s not just something you are, it’s something you do. Our conversations and local guides help you show up for the Twin Cities.
When you become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor, you get great perks like:
- Shouting out your favorite local gems on the podcast and in this newsletter
- A weekly members-only events preview
- Regular members-only events
- Brand new: members-only podcast content with extra insight, hot takes, and a little city gossip
The coolest member perk, in my humble opinion, is our custom Oxford Pennant — a beautiful American-made wool felt pennant designed just for the Twin Cities.
Today’s Must-Know
St. Paul property taxes are high. What can be done?
St. Paul homeowners, we hear ya – the property taxes are a lot this year. Which is why Ramsey County is looking to beef up the tax base through a $170 million investment in downtown. The county wants to build more market-rate housing and push forward the stalled Park at RiversEdge development. [Star Tribune]
- Park dreams: Most of the county funding would go towards the RiversEdge development, which would nearly double the park size and connect it to the Mississippi River. The county has been trying to redevelop the site since 2018, when they partnered with developer AECOM. [Ramsey County]
- Big picture: Hopes for St. Paul’s downtown revitalization are bundled into the county’s $320 million project to generate more tax revenue. The Building Stronger Together plan outlines selling county-owned land ripe for redevelopment, improving transit, and building more housing. The plan won’t increase the property tax levy. [Ramsey County Agenda Items]
- Bearing the burden: Homeowners saw their property taxes shoot up by double-digit percentages on their latest bills, owing in large part to the St. Paul Schools levy passed in November. The lowest income neighborhoods were hit the hardest. Overall, there’s just not a lot of places to spread the tax burden with dropping commercial values. [Pioneer Press]
Sponsored Content
Three spring nights. Pick your vibe.
Three weekends, three distinct nights at Hopkins Center for the Arts. My Brightest Diamond (Apr 17) kicks things off with a striking, voice-driven performance that really comes to life in an intimate setting. Then Los Lonely Boys (Apr 25) bring their bluesy groove, followed by Puuluup with Ponyfolk (May 2), an inventive, globally inspired night of music. Easy parking, close to home, and a great night out.
What the Cities Are Talking About
Book fair for grown-ups: Remember the joy of the Scholastic Book Fair? The Rewind Book Fair at the State Fairgrounds is looking to help adults recapture that nostalgia this weekend. You can even bring childhood copies of your favorites for signing. [MSP Mag]
Procedural drama: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wants to reappoint Todd Barnette to his role as Public Safety Commissioner. The City Council struck down his nomination. Frey is promising to veto their rejection. But, uh, can he do that? City attorneys are reviewing. City Clerk Casey Carl said he’s never seen the council reject a mayoral nomination in his 15 years at City Hall. [Star Tribune]
Pentagon money: MinnPost reports the state’s defense industry netted $24.5 billion worth of contracts with the Pentagon in fiscal year 2025. They’re well on their way to surpassing that number just half a year into fiscal year 2026. Many of these contracts were signed before the start of the Iran war. [MinnPost]
Historic development: Sherman Associates has a $120 million plan to redevelop the Grain Exchange in Minneapolis. The project would create 232 apartments, most of which would be affordable. Miami International Holdings bought the building for $110 million in 2020. [Star Tribune]
Closing time: After 15 years of business, The Lowy in Uptown Minneapolis is closing at the end of April. In a social media post, the restaurant cited “compounding issues” including the two-year construction on Hennepin Avenue. The employees will be “given opportunities" at Blue Plate Restaurant Company’s other locations. [The Lowry]
What to Do
Wednesday, Apr 15
- 🆓 2026 Season Opening | Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
- 🆓 MayDay Parade Workshops | Powderhorn Park Building
- 🆓 Sociable Ride | Sociable Cider Werks
- 🆓 Poetry Night | Magers & Quinn
- 🎸 Riley Mulherkar | Berlin
- 🗣️ The Moth: Suspicious | Amsterdam Bar & Hall
- 🎛️ Nettspend | First Avenue
Thursday, Apr 16
- 🆓 Snack and Squish | The Clay Squared Gallery
- 🎨 Chris Larson Artist Conversation | Hair + Nails Gallery
- 🌿 CannaFest 2026 | The Lowlands
- 🆓 Mary Lucia with Chris Riemenschneider | Minneapolis Central Library – Pohlad Hall
- 🎸 Secret Menu (WI), Jonny Darko, Callback, & Clovers Daughter | Zhora Darling
- 🎸 Art Brut, Christy Costello and The CC Club | Cloudland Theater
- 🎬 Mr. & Mrs. Smith | The Heights Theater
Sponsored Content
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Twin Cities Job Board
- Writer for Twin Cities-Focused Newsletter at City Cast Twin Cities | Starting at $40 per hour (Apply to work with us! Deadline is this Friday, April 17!)
- Chief Operations Officer at Black Men Teach | $130k – $160k per year
- Special Counsel for Federal Response at Housing Justice Center | $100k – $104k per year
- Policy Specialist at Our Streets MN | $69k per year
- Director of Operations at UMN Alumni Association | $90k – $105k per year
Have you been paying attention to the headlines? Prove it by acing this quiz Sean created. Good luck!
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