St. Cloud uses redevelopment to drive new growth

The biggest city in central Minnesota is quietly remaking its downtown core. That’s cause for optimism among St. Cloud boosters accustomed to living in the Twin Cities’ shadow.

“Downtown has had a lot of changes over the past 10 years, and it’s an incredible opportunity moving forward,” said Cathy Mehelich, economic development director for the city of St. Cloud.

Downtown St. Cloud is emerging as something of an arts hub. A new indie music cafe is just the first step in a grander vision that includes a community arts space and, in the farther future, an arts magnet school or museum, the Star Tribune reported earlier this month. The Great River Children’s Museum opened earlier this year in an extensively renovated downtown building, adding a major new attractor to a district that has until recently struggled to diversify away from office and retail.

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