With Love project to convert 11,000 sq ft at 428 Minnesota Street, staff recommends $682,200

Representatives from With Love told the HRA they plan to renovate and operate an 11,000-square-foot civic destination at 428 Minnesota Street that will include a cafe, event and meeting space and programming intended to draw residents and visitors to downtown. "With Love is an 11,000 square foot, integrated civic destination in Downtown St. Paul. We are a cafe, an event, and meeting space," cofounder Emilio Ndellio Gundupe said.

City staff recommended $682,200 for renovation and activation of more than 11,000 square feet at 428 Minnesota Street, noting the award exceeds the $500,000 threshold and will come back to the HRA for formal approval on Sept. 23. With Love representatives said they are preparing to open and will run events and programming and expect the project to create local jobs and spur additional street-level activity.