As the 20th century draws to a close, the futures of Saint Paul's downtown and adjacent Mississippi River corridor are inextricably linked. The stage is set for the city to redefine its relationship with the river and, in so doing, to redefine itself and its future role in the Twin Cities region. The Development Framework is based on an implicit understanding that the health of a city lies in its ability to effectively balance economy, environment and society. With the Framework comes the opportunity for Saint Paul to reposition itself in a way that will pump new wealth and strength into the community by engaging the private and public sectors in the revitalization of the downtown waterfront core. Building upon Saint Paul's unique amenities and existing strengths--natural, social, cultural, historic, architectural and economic--the Framework establishes a compelling vision that can foster investor confidence and provide broad direction for mutually supportive and integrated private, public and community projects.
We have already begun to implement Saint Paul on the Mississippi. To date, billions of dollars have been invested in the Mississippi River itself or along its banks. Thousands of citizens have become involved in redevelopment activities, from CEOs making downtown redevelopment a priority, to volunteers reforesting the river valley, to West Side citizens carving out a local economic development strategy. The Development Framework will direct and increase the impact of these diverse initiatives and create a level of confidence that will attract an even greater amount of resources. We are already seeing this happen, with projects such as the redesign of Harriet Island Regional Park. Working in partnership and building on the current momentum, with consensus and long-term commitment, the Vision is unfolding.
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