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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

    April 14, 2026

    In the News: Jiang Zhang on Credit Unions and Crypto

    Jiang Zhang, an assistant professor at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, was featured in Twin Cities Business discussing a Minnesota credit union’s move into cryptocurrency services. Zhang highlighted how the initiative reflects increasing demand for digital assets and noted that smaller financial institutions entering the space could gain a competitive advantage… The post In the News: Jiang Zhang on Credit Unions and Crypto appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • April 14, 2026

      St. Thomas Community Members Present on AI Workforce

      Manjeet Rege, director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, and St. Thomas Chief Data and AI Officer Jena Zangs recently presented at the MnTech Connect 2026 conference. Hosted by the Minnesota Technology Association, Rege and Zangs explored the future of artificial intelligence in the workforce and what AI readiness means for Minnesota. The two… The post St. Thomas Community Members Present on AI Workforce appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • April 14, 2026

      In the News: Mark Osler on AI Use in Legal Advice

      Mark Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, spoke with WCCO Radio about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in legal advice. In the discussion, Osler and State Senator Erin Maye Quade examined how AI is being used in legal contexts and the broader implications for the legal profession as… The post In the News: Mark Osler on AI Use in Legal Advice appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • April 14, 2026

      In the News: Tyler Schipper on Inflation and Oil Price Shock

      Tyler Schipper, associate professor of economics and data analytics at the University of St. Thomas, spoke with CNN about how the war with Iran is driving a surge in oil prices and contributing to rising inflation. Schipper noted that while the initial impact is most visible at the gas pump, the effects are expected to… The post In the News: Tyler Schipper on Inflation and Oil Price Shock appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • April 14, 2026

      In the News: Rachel Moran on Delays in ICE Shooting Probe

      Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, spoke with NPR about the status of federal investigations into recent ICE-related shootings in Minnesota. Moran raised concerns about the lack of progress and transparency, noting that federal authorities appear to be limiting state access to key evidence. From the story: But Minnesota… The post In the News: Rachel Moran on Delays in ICE Shooting Probe appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

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