Skyways linking buildings in central St Paul are expected to reopen before winter, as city leaders and downtown property groups attempt to restore a key pedestrian route and breathe life into an area hit by empty offices and building closures.
The affected connections run around Wabasha and Fifth Streets, close to the Alliance Bank Center. A new public plaza is also being developed nearby, forming part of a wider effort to revive the city centre.
St Paul skyway connections targeted for reopening
The route through the Alliance Bank Center has been closed for more than a year after the building was declared unsafe. The city restricted access in April 2025 after its former owner, Madison Equities, ordered tenants to leave and stopped paying for utilities and security.
City officials said at the time that the decision was intended to protect the building and maintain public safety while a future use was considered. Alternative routes remain available through Treasure Island Center, Securian Center and Town Square, although some journeys require pedestrians to go outside.
The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation and the Downtown Alliance have since taken control of the building and begun work to stabilise it. The organisations are also redeveloping four distressed properties in the downtown area.
Joe Spencer, president of the Downtown St Paul Alliance and chairman of the development corporation, said the group was ready to reopen the relevant skyway sections.
“We’re ready to go,” he said.
Rebecca Noecker, president of the St Paul City Council, said two other building owners were involved in the remaining closed sections. She said the city had set aside money towards the work and expected the routes to be accessible again within two months.
“My target is within the next two months. Absolutely before it gets cold,” Ms Noecker said.
The city’s enclosed, temperature-controlled skyway network covers about five miles and links 47 blocks of downtown. The Alliance Bank Center closure has disrupted one of its main crossings, with the closed sections marked on the city’s official map.
Bill Hanley, co-founder of Friends of the Skyway, said the system was more than a convenience for residents, workers and visitors. He described it as an important social and practical link for people living in the centre, particularly during Minnesota’s severe winter weather.
“In a situation where you’re working from home or retired or whatever, that social isolation is a really big problem. You’re not going to solve that by walking through the snow,” he said.
City officials and downtown organisations say their plans extend beyond bringing office workers back. They are seeking a more mixed-use centre, with homes, visitors, businesses and public spaces alongside traditional workplaces.
“We have a vision for a downtown that’s no longer just about workers. It’s about a mix of people who work and who visit and who live in downtown St Paul,” Mr Spencer said. “I think the exciting part is yet to come.”
The development corporation has not yet announced what will ultimately happen to the Alliance Bank building. The city’s broader plans include encouraging residential development and improving public spaces around the skyway network.
