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Neighborhood Relations

The Neighborhood Relations office at St. Thomas connects our neighbors with the university and connects St. Thomas with all of you.

Whether you're a homeowner, student-renter, landlord, small business owner or university faculty and staff: all of us aim to work for the common good in our neighborhood. St. Thomas is here to help facilitate that engagement.

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Our favorite community-building practice is dialogue. Email neighbors@stthomas.edu with your comments, questions, ideas or concerns.

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NEIGHBORHOOD BRIEFING

Lee and Penny Anderson Arena

  • Project Overview
  • 2024 EAW Update
  • Construction Updates
  • Questions from Neighbors
  • Overview - Event Management Plan
  • Sustainability at St. Thomas

    • Project Overview

    The university is excited to bring the Lee and Penny Anderson arena to campus. The proposed project will include one building to house a dual-purpose competition venue for the university's hockey and basketball programs with capacity for approximately 4,000 to 5,500 spectators. It is expected to be completed in August of 2025, just in time for the hockey and basketball seasons. The arena will also serve as a space for commencement, convocations, job fairs, and other events.

    2024 EAW Update

    A negative declaration on the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was issued by the City on September 26, 2023 (2023 Findings of Fact). An appeal of the negative declaration on the need for an EIS was filed in October 2023 with the Minnesota Court of Appeals. An opinion was issued by the Court of Appeals on July 8, 2024 (the COA Opinion), reversing and remanding the City’s negative declaration on the need for an EIS.

    The City, in coordination with UST, is providing a 2024 EAW Update to include the additional analysis noted in the COA Opinion: the Schoenecker Center and greenhouse gas emissions related to spectator vehicles.

    The EAW was published on October 8, 2024, which initiated the 30-day public comment period. Members of the public will have an opportunity to comment through November 7, 2024. Email your comments to the City of St. Paul at StThomasArena_EAW@ci.stpaul.mn.us

    Construction Updates

    Construction of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena is currently underway.

    Questions from Neighbors

    Arena Conversations in the Community

    Over the past several months, the University of St. Thomas has continued to gather questions from neighbors about the development of the multipurpose Lee and Penny Anderson Arena. This list is intended to inform the public about the multipurpose arena and clarify any information that has been shared in the community.

    Read some of the questions and comments we have received, in addition to our responses, at the link below.

    Event Management Plan

    As we plan for the opening of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, the University of St. Thomas is developing an Event Management Plan (EMP) with the City of St. Paul Traffic Engineering Department and the St. Paul Police Dept. This was a requirement of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) mitigation and noted in the Site Plan approval as an outstanding condition. The EMP will be finalized in the coming months.

    Sustainability at St. Thomas

    Principles of sustainability have been a key priority in the development of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena. As such, St. Thomas is mitigating potential environmental impacts associated with the arena's construction.

    Project Overview

    Project Overview

    The university is excited to bring the Lee and Penny Anderson arena to campus. The proposed project will include one building to house a dual-purpose competition venue for the university's hockey and basketball programs with capacity for approximately 4,000 to 5,500 spectators. It is expected to be completed in August of 2025, just in time for the hockey and basketball seasons. The arena will also serve as a space for commencement, convocations, job fairs, and other events.

    2024 EAW Update

    2024 EAW Update

    A negative declaration on the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was issued by the City on September 26, 2023 (2023 Findings of Fact). An appeal of the negative declaration on the need for an EIS was filed in October 2023 with the Minnesota Court of Appeals. An opinion was issued by the Court of Appeals on July 8, 2024 (the COA Opinion), reversing and remanding the City’s negative declaration on the need for an EIS.

    The City, in coordination with UST, is providing a 2024 EAW Update to include the additional analysis noted in the COA Opinion: the Schoenecker Center and greenhouse gas emissions related to spectator vehicles.

    The EAW was published on October 8, 2024, which initiated the 30-day public comment period. Members of the public will have an opportunity to comment through November 7, 2024. Email your comments to the City of St. Paul at StThomasArena_EAW@ci.stpaul.mn.us

    Construction Updates

    Construction Updates

    Construction of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena is currently underway.

    Questions from Neighbors

    Questions from Neighbors

    Arena Conversations in the Community

    Over the past several months, the University of St. Thomas has continued to gather questions from neighbors about the development of the multipurpose Lee and Penny Anderson Arena. This list is intended to inform the public about the multipurpose arena and clarify any information that has been shared in the community.

    Read some of the questions and comments we have received, in addition to our responses, at the link below.

    Overview - Event Management Plan

    Event Management Plan

    As we plan for the opening of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, the University of St. Thomas is developing an Event Management Plan (EMP) with the City of St. Paul Traffic Engineering Department and the St. Paul Police Dept. This was a requirement of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) mitigation and noted in the Site Plan approval as an outstanding condition. The EMP will be finalized in the coming months.

    Sustainability at St. Thomas

    Sustainability at St. Thomas

    Principles of sustainability have been a key priority in the development of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena. As such, St. Thomas is mitigating potential environmental impacts associated with the arena's construction.

    Upcoming Events Happening On Campus

    The Tommie Sports ticketing website lists all of the athletics events happening on campus each month.

    Review the calendar to learn when the neighborhood may see an increase in activity.

    Resources and Contacts

    Find campus and community contacts, resources and benefits available to neighbors of St. Thomas neighbors.

    Resources and Contacts

    Our Staff

    Jerome Benner Headshot

    Jerome Benner

    Jerome is the Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations for St. Thomas. He manages our relationships with neighbors and our partnerships in the community. Jerome will be your best resource for any questions or concerns related to activities happening on campus.

    Contact Us

    University News

    October 20, 2025

    In Our Prayers: Dan Haggerty ’62: Business Leader, Trustee Emeritus and Philanthropic Partner  

    Dan Haggerty ’62, a longtime University of St. Thomas trustee, benefactor and business leader, passed away on Oct. 15 surrounded by family. He was 84. A Chicago native, Haggerty graduated from St. Thomas in 1962 with a business degree and later married Ruth Blong, whom he met while she was a student at the College… The post In Our Prayers: Dan Haggerty ’62: Business Leader, Trustee Emeritus and Philanthropic Partner   appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • October 20, 2025

      In the News: Ali Ling on if We Can Afford to Clean Up Forever Chemicals

      Ali Ling, assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, was recently a guest on an episode of the “(don’t) Waste Water!” podcast, where she discussed common misconceptions about PFAS treatment, the processes involved, and the economic factors that influence effective solutions. From the podcast: Host: What is the… The post In the News: Ali Ling on if We Can Afford to Clean Up Forever Chemicals appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • October 20, 2025

      In the News: Rachel Moran on Court Upholding Minneapolis’ Denial of Ex-Cop Legal Fees

      Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, spoke with Minnesota Public Radio about a recent Minnesota Court of Appeals decision that upheld the city’s choice not to indemnify a former police officer.  From the article: In a rare move, the city of Minneapolis says it will not cover the… The post In the News: Rachel Moran on Court Upholding Minneapolis’ Denial of Ex-Cop Legal Fees appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • October 20, 2025

      In the News: Roxanne Prichard on Halloween Sleep Struggles

      Roxanne Prichard, psychology and neuroscience professor, recently spoke to Sleep.com about the bedtime woes that follow this spooky, sugar-filled, late-night holiday. From the story:For some parents, the horror of Halloween isn’t the scary movies or haunted houses, it’s trying to get kids to bed after they’ve eaten their weight in candy. But even if you… The post In the News: Roxanne Prichard on Halloween Sleep Struggles appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • October 20, 2025

      In the News: St. Thomas Men’s Basketball Deemed Summit League Preseason Favorite

      The St. Thomas men’s basketball team was featured in a FOX 9 video about the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena and the Summit League Championships. Coach Johnny Tauer and student-athletes Nolan Minessale and Carter Bjerke spoke at Summit League Media Day about the upcoming basketball season. From the story: Reporter: Another question for both of… The post In the News: St. Thomas Men’s Basketball Deemed Summit League Preseason Favorite appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

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