The renewal of Summit-University had (and has) a dual focus: preserving the historic landscape and creating a cosmopolitan community.
The two thrusts have often worked at cross purposes.
Both have been at least partly achieved, though the preservation effort is more secure.
The HRA did extensive house moving within the district to promote its historic ambience – an innovation that troubled HUD auditors for years.
The preservation of the physical character of the area was clearly important to keeping and attracting middle-class households to the area.
Summit-University provides an elegant urban setting that suburbs cannot match.

Summit-University is a large area whose renewal results have not been uniform.
North of the freeway, in the north quadrant of the original project area is Central Village, a bit of suburb-in-the-city designed to retain St. Paul's black middle class.
It was built in the late 1970s as part of the Western Redevelopment Project.
Next to it at the corner of Dale Street and University Avenue, Unidale Mall has been less successful.
Ideally, this project was to create a suburban shopping mall in the heart of the city.
Even by generous standards, it has failed.
Forced on city planners by neighborhood activists, the mall suffered the perennial problem of finding suitable tenants.
Some that it did attract such as a welfare office, are scarcely the stuff of suburban dreams.
The renewal of Summit-University had (and has) a dual focus: preserving the historic landscape and creating a cosmopolitan community. The two thrusts have often worked at cross purposes. Both have been at least partly achieved, though the preservation effort is more secure. The HRA did extensive house moving within the district to promote its historic ambience – an innovation that troubled HUD auditors for years. The preservation of the physical character of the area was clearly important to keeping and attracting middle-class households to the area. Summit-University provides an elegant urban setting that suburbs cannot match.
Summit-University is a large area whose renewal results have not been uniform. North of the freeway, in the north quadrant of the original project area is Central Village, a bit of suburb-in-the-city designed to retain St. Paul's black middle class. It was built in the late 1970s as part of the Western Redevelopment Project. Next to it at the corner of Dale Street and University Avenue, Unidale Mall has been less successful. Ideally, this project was to create a suburban shopping mall in the heart of the city. Even by generous standards, it has failed. Forced on city planners by neighborhood activists, the mall suffered the perennial problem of finding suitable tenants. Some that it did attract such as a welfare office, are scarcely the stuff of suburban dreams.
Summit-University, Saint Paul