You’ve probably driven through it without realizing where you were. Or maybe you know it as "Summit-U." Honestly, Summit University is one of those places that suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, sandwiched between the grandeur of Summit Avenue’s Victorian mansions and the gritty, bustling energy of University Avenue. It's a St. Paul neighborhood that has been through the ringer. It’s seen urban renewal projects that tore its heart out, followed by decades of people trying to put the pieces back together.
Today? It’s a weirdly beautiful mix. You’ve got these massive, historic homes that look like they belong in a movie, sitting just blocks away from new affordable housing complexes and local businesses that have been there for forty years. It isn’t just a place where people live. It’s a case study in how a city heals—or doesn't.
People often confuse it with the Cathedral Hill area or the Rondo neighborhood. While those are part of its DNA, Summit University is its own beast. It’s got a specific tension. You feel it when you walk from the quiet, tree-lined streets near the Governor's Mansion toward the light rail on University. It’s where old-school St. Paul wealth meets the lived reality of a diverse, working-class community.
The Rondo Legacy Still Defines Everything
If you want to understand Summit University, you have to talk about Rondo. You can't skip it. Back in the day, Rondo was the heart of St. Paul's African American community. It was a self-contained world of black-owned businesses, schools, and social clubs. Then, in the 1960s, the construction of I-94 literally ripped through the center of it.
It wasn't an accident. It was "urban renewal."
Hundreds of families were displaced. Businesses were leveled. The scar of that highway still defines the northern border of the neighborhood. When you talk to older residents, the pain is still right there on the surface. They don't talk about it like it's ancient history. They talk about it like it happened last week. This history is why organizations like Rondo Community Land Trust are so vital today; they aren't just selling houses, they're trying to reclaim a sense of ownership that was forcibly taken.
The neighborhood didn't just disappear, though. It evolved. It became Summit University.
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Architecture That Tells Two Stories
Walking the streets here is a trip. Seriously. On one block, you’ll see a Queen Anne Victorian that looks like it costs three million dollars. Pristine paint. Original stained glass. Then, turn the corner, and you might see a 1970s-era apartment building or a modest bungalow that’s seen better days.
This architectural whiplash is what makes the area interesting. It’s not a sterile suburb. It’s a place where the Selby Avenue corridor acts as a sort of cultural spine. You have the legendary W.A. Frost & Company nearby, which feels like stepping into 1889, but then you have spots like the Golden Thyme Coffee Shop (a community staple for years) that represented the neighborhood's Black soul before it transitioned into new hands.
What Most People Get Wrong About Safety and Vibe
Is it safe? That’s the question everyone asks on Reddit before they move here.
The truth is nuanced. Summit University has had a reputation for being "rough" in certain pockets, especially as you get closer to the freeway. But "rough" is often just code for "diverse and not wealthy." If you’re looking for a gated community vibe, you’re in the wrong place. If you’re looking for a neighborhood where neighbors actually know each other’s names and watch out for the kids on the block, this is it.
Gentrification is the real elephant in the room. You see it in the rising property taxes. You see it in the new "luxury" apartments popping up where old parking lots used to be. Long-time residents are worried—rightly so—that they’ll be priced out of the very neighborhood they saved during the lean years of the 80s and 90s.
It’s a balancing act. New investment brings better lighting, paved roads, and more retail options. But it also brings a shift in the culture. The challenge for Summit University is keeping its grit and its history while embracing the growth that comes with being so close to downtown St. Paul and the Wilder Foundation headquarters.
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The Education Hub You Didn't Notice
The "University" part of the name isn't just for show. You’ve got Concordia University, St. Paul right there. It anchors the western edge of the neighborhood. This brings a steady stream of students, which keeps the rental market tight and the local coffee shops busy.
- Concordia University: Offers a small-campus feel in the middle of the city.
- St. Paul College: Just a stone's throw away near the Cathedral.
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law: Located on Summit, producing half the lawyers in the state.
Having these institutions nearby creates a weirdly academic but down-to-earth atmosphere. You’ll see a law student in a suit grabbing a slice of pizza next to a guy who’s lived in the neighborhood since the Carter administration.
Eating Your Way Through the Neighborhood
Forget the chain restaurants. If you’re in Summit University, you eat local.
Red Cow on Selby is great for a fancy burger, sure. But if you want the real experience, you head to the places that have survived the shifts. The food scene here mirrors the population. You can find incredible Thai food, soul food, and high-end French-inspired plates all within a ten-minute walk.
People forget that this area was a food desert for a long time. The opening of the Mississippi Market Co-op on Selby was a massive turning point. It gave the neighborhood access to fresh, organic produce that wasn't just at a corner bodega. It changed the way people lived there.
The Real Cost of Living Here
Let's talk numbers, but keep it real. Buying a house in Summit University is a gamble that paid off for people ten years ago. Now? It’s expensive.
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You can still find "deals" on fixer-uppers if you aren't afraid of a little lead paint and some structural questions. But the competition is fierce. Investors are scooping up multi-family units because the demand for rentals near the Green Line is insane.
If you’re renting, expect to pay a premium for anything with "historic charm." If you want something modern, the new builds along Selby and University are going to run you almost as much as a place in Minneapolis's North Loop. It’s the price of convenience. You’re ten minutes from everything.
Why the Next Five Years Matter
Summit University is at a crossroads. There are massive plans for the Sears site nearby and continued development along the light rail. There’s also the "Reconnecting Rondo" project, which aims to build a land bridge over I-94 to literally stitch the neighborhood back together.
It’s an ambitious, multi-million dollar dream. If it happens, it could be one of the most significant pieces of restorative urban planning in US history. If it doesn't, the neighborhood will likely continue its current path of slow, uneven gentrification.
The community is vocal. They show up to city council meetings. They argue about bike lanes. They care. That’s the thing about this part of St. Paul—people don't just live here; they belong here.
Actionable Steps for Exploring or Moving to Summit University
If you're looking to actually engage with this neighborhood rather than just being a tourist, here is how you do it properly:
- Visit the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. This is the heartbeat of the neighborhood. It’s been around since 1929 and offers everything from food shelves to senior programs. Supporting their events is the best way to support the actual community.
- Walk the "Rondo Commemorative Plaza." Don't just read about the history; go see the memorial. It’s at Fisk and Old Rondo Way. It’s small, but it’s powerful. It puts a human face on the statistics of displacement.
- Check the Zoning and Historic Preservation Rules. If you’re buying, be warned: much of this area is in a historic district. That means you can’t just throw up a vinyl fence or change your windows without a lot of paperwork. Check the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission guidelines first.
- Use the Transit. If you live here and don't use the Green Line or the 21 bus, you’re missing the point. The neighborhood is designed for density and movement.
- Shop at the Small Spots. Hit up the local barbershops and the small grocers on University Avenue. That’s where the real conversations happen.
Summit University isn't a museum, though it has plenty of history. It’s a living, breathing, occasionally messy part of the Twin Cities that refuses to be ignored. Whether you're there for the architecture, the history of Rondo, or just a really good cup of coffee on Selby, you’re stepping into a place that has fought hard to keep its soul intact.
Keep your eyes open when you're there. The best parts of the neighborhood aren't on the maps; they're in the little gardens tucked behind the old Victorian houses and the murals painted on the sides of brick buildings that have seen it all.