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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.

Contact Us

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

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Join our email list to receive ongoing updates and neighborhood news from St. Thomas.

Parking Information

Learn more about parking around campus.
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

    • The Lee and Penny Anderson is now open!

    The university opened its doors to the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena on October 23, 2025, with men's and women's hockey. We appreciate all the support and feedback we recieved from the community. Our student-athletes and St. Thomas community are grateful for this state-of-the-art venue that will serve Tommies and our supports for years to come.

    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

    The Lee and Penny Anderson is now open!

    The university opened its doors to the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena on October 23, 2025, with men's and women's hockey. We appreciate all the support and feedback we recieved from the community. Our student-athletes and St. Thomas community are grateful for this state-of-the-art venue that will serve Tommies and our supports for years to come.

    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

    February 23, 2026

    In Our Prayers: Christopher Michael Liebergen

    The University of St. Thomas community mourns the passing of adjunct faculty Christopher Michael Liebergen, who inspired students toward the pursuit of physical health and wellness. Liebergen passed away peacefully following a brief illness on Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. In 2024, he began his dream job of being an adjunct professor of human physiology… The post In Our Prayers: Christopher Michael Liebergen appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • February 23, 2026

      Dr. Michael Osterholm to Deliver Keynote at St. Thomas Whole Person Health Summit 

      The Morrison Family College of Health at the University of St. Thomas will host its fourth annual Whole Person Health Summit on April 16, 2026. A keynote address titled “Vaccine Integrity Project: A Road Map for Resilience” will anchor the summit. Keynote speaker Dr. Michael Osterholm will examine how lessons learned during COVID-19 and recent shifts in… The post Dr. Michael Osterholm to Deliver Keynote at St. Thomas Whole Person Health Summit  appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • February 23, 2026

      St. Thomas Names Father Daniel Griffith VP for Mission 

      The University of St. Thomas will turn to a triple Tommie to serve as its next Vice President for Mission.  Father Daniel Griffith – a St. Thomas School of Law faculty member who currently serves as pastor and rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis – will begin his new role July 1.… The post St. Thomas Names Father Daniel Griffith VP for Mission  appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • February 20, 2026

      In the News: Jonathan Keiser on AI and the Tommie Buildfest

      Jonathan Keiser, associate vice president of Academic Technology and AI Enablement at the University of St. Thomas, spoke with the Pioneer Press about the university’s inaugural Tommie Buildfest, a 24-hour AI hackathon focused on combating hunger and food insecurity. The student-led event invites participants from high school through graduate school to develop websites and software… The post In the News: Jonathan Keiser on AI and the Tommie Buildfest appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • February 20, 2026

      In the News: Jena Zangs on AI Safety Within Academic Institutions

      Jena Zangs, chief data and AI officer at the University of St. Thomas, spoke with University Business about different methods to mine AI for insights safely. As AI emerges and becomes a tool used in academia, Zangs noted that AI users should summarize documents and records containing sensitive information before uploading the information for analysis… The post In the News: Jena Zangs on AI Safety Within Academic Institutions appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

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