Blair Arcade

Blair Arcade is located on the corner of Western and Selby Avenues in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. Built in 1887, the original Blair Arcade is a stunning historic centerpiece of the Cathedral Hill neighborhood with condos above retail and office space. When the Excelsior Group purchased the property in 2017, it undertook a massive renovation of the apartment building upgrading common areas and modernizing the apartments to appeal to younger residents.

Role
Element led leasing strategy and historic repositioning in partnership with ownership while continuing to represent landlord in leasing.

Opportunity & Challenges
Blair Arcade required improved cohesion between its historic and later additions, along with a stronger tenant mix aligned with Cathedral Hill. The goal was to increase occupancy while reinforcing its role as a neighborhood-serving asset.

Approach
Working closely with the ownership and design team, Element analyzed the existing leases and proposed a strategy to attract more health and wellness businesses that would attract a new customer base and compliment the residential uses. Element’s repositioning strategy included orienting spaces around skylights and views to the outside and exposing architectural features like brick ceilings and stone walls to increase the appeal to potential tenants. The common areas and exterior of the building were transformed with a modern minimalist aesthetic that compliments the historic character of the building, revitalizing the property for a new generation of entrepreneurs and residents. Element curated a complementary mix of tenants, prioritized renewals and relocations, and aligned leasing strategy with long-term stability and community fit.

Results
→ 25,108 SF leased over 3 years
→ Increased occupancy from 70% to 93%
→ Strengthened tenant mix and retention
→ Reestablished as a neighborhood hub

Learn more about leasing opportunities at Blair Arcade.