Events are typically scheduled September through June and include educational programs, tours, and networking.
We encourage members to invite guests to our programs.
Upcoming LAI MN Events
April 16th, 2026
Reimagine Downtown Saint Paul: Transforming the Core
Location: Osborn360 (370 Wabasha Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55102) – on the fourth floor in the Superior room. Click here for parking options.
Agenda:
3:30 PM Registration
4:00 PM Program Begins
Social Hour at Kincaid’s (380 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102)
Important Notice: Pedestrian access to the Osborn 360 building has undergone temporary changes due to the ongoing Osborne Plaza Improvements Project. Please take a look at the image below, which highlights the current pedestrian access route in blue. These temporary updates provide a more direct access to the building lobby.
Program Overview
Downtown Saint Paul stands at an inflection point, and this program offers a frontrow seat to the strategies shaping its future. Join LAI MN to hear from Dave Higgins, President of the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation, as he shares how a new development model is driving reinvestment and revitalization in the City’s core. Drawing from the Downtown Investment Strategy unveiled in 2024, this program will explore how targeted real estate acquisitions, innovative deal structures, and office to residential conversions are helping reimagine downtown as a more vibrant, resilient, and livable place. Dave will provide insights into the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation’s origin story, early investments, the results of a recent conversion feasibility study, and why a centralized development organization is critical to unlocking longterm economic and residential stability for Saint Paul and the broader region.
Guest Speaker: Dave Higgins
President, Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation
With more than two decades of experience, Dave Higgins has expertise across the life cycle of real estate development and investment. He previously worked on large-scale urban redevelopment and public-private partnership initiatives in Boston and New York City, including four years with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the real estate group of global law firm DLA Piper. Other prior roles include chief operating officer of Business Technology Partners in New York and vice president of development for both McGough and Roers Companies in Minnesota. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Colby College in Maine and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law.
About the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation
Serving as that catalyst for change, The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation is a nonprofit real estate development and finance organization focused on advancing redevelopment initiatives in downtown Saint Paul. A subsidiary of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, the organization continues to expand their portfolio by partnering with local public and private stakeholders, developers, and investors that prioritize urban development and revitalization with a commitment to accelerating the next chapter and long-term success of Minnesota’s capitol city.
For more information, visit downtownstpaul.com/ddc.
Past Minnesota Chapter Events
2025
Sep. 9th| LAI MN Chapter Annual Meeting
Nov. 20th | Sacred Settlements: How to Build Full Community
2026
March 19th| Navigating Urban Life: An Interactive Discussion on Daily Mobility
Keynote Speaker: Karla Henderson, President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living
Hosted at the A-Mill Artist Lofts, The Annual Meeting marked this year’s induction of new members and the election of board members. During her keynote presentation, Karla Henderson, President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living (PPL), shared her wealth of experience in community equity and urban planning. LAI MN presented the annual speaker honorarium donation to PPL’s RE-Seed Program which aims to empower a new generation of developers, particularly those historically excluded from real estate ownership, to manage and own small-scale affordable housing.
Guest Speaker: Gabrielle Clowdus, Founder and Visionary for Settled
Attendees had the unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus, the founder and visionary behind Settled, a Minnesota nonprofit leading the charge in creating “Sacred Settlements’ and tour the Settled Demonstration Site in Woodland Hills, Maplewood. These innovative tiny home communities, built on church-owned land, aim to combat chronic homelessness through intentional relationships and a supportive community environment.