Analysis of Placemaking in the Creative Enterprise Zone

Abstract

The physical landscape of the City of Saint Paul is rapidly changing. Large scale construction projects such as sports stadiums, multi-unit housing complexes, and business towers are popping up all over. These changes are often being driven by external wealthy investors and have the potential to fracture the sense of neighborhood and community fabric through displacement of existing residents and small businesses. The Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is a newly established non-profit representing a coalition of residents and business owners working in some capacity in a creative enterprise or small-scale manufacturing. This report explores Chroma Zone, a mural festival being launched by the CEZ to provide a public voice and platform for the community to become involved in the decisions about development coming to their neighborhood.