Affordable Commercial Space Built for Rondo Businesses

Commercial Programs

Rondo Community Land Trust operates Minnesota’s first commercial land trust, creating permanently affordable commercial real estate in St. Paul. We help small businesses secure stable space, build wealth, and grow in the neighborhoods they serve.

Community Wealth-Building

Growing Wealth, Strengthening Community

In 2019, Rondo CLT launched Minnesota’s first commercial land trust with the SelbyMilton Victoria (SMV) development, a mixed-use project featuring affordable senior housing and 9,300 square feet of commercial space.

 

By adapting the community land trust model for commercial use, we remove land from speculation and stabilize costs for local businesses. Our approach helps protect neighborhood culture, reduce displacement, and expand opportunity along Selby Avenue and beyond.

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why us

How Commercial CLT Ownership Works

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Rondo CLT acquires and holds land in trust for the community.

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Businesses lease affordable commercial space at below-market rates.

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Public and private investments help reduce long-term occupancy costs.

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Affordability is preserved so future entrepreneurs can thrive.

At Selby Milton Victoria, commercial rents are approximately $7 per square foot, significantly below market rate in Saint Paul.

Commercial Programs

Commercial Ownership Opportunities

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Selby Milton Victoria

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RAAD

Since 1993, Rondo CLT has evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. Today, we’re expanding our commitment to place-keeping by centering arts and culture as key drivers of equitable, community-led development.

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Rondo Exchange

Rondo Exchange is a creative business incubator rooted in the historic Rondo neighborhood. Led by Rondo Community Land Trust, the program supports artists, makers, and entrepreneurs through affordable retail space, business coaching, and creative visibility.

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Sears Development Project

Located steps away from the Minnesota State Capitol, the former Sears site sits at one of the most visible and symbolic areas of Saint Paul. Revitalizing this long-vacant property is an opportunity to transform a prominent civic hub into a vibrant area that reflects Minnesota’s commitment to history, identity, and growth.

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Technical Assistance

Rondo Community Land Trust provides technical assistance and business support to help locally owned businesses grow, stabilize, and succeed. We work with entrepreneurs who are often overlooked in traditional development models, including artists, makers, cultural producers, and neighborhood-serving businesses. Our goal is to strengthen operations, increase visibility, and expand access to opportunity.

Start With an Orientation

Thinking about buying a home through Rondo CLT?



Our biweekly orientations explain how the community land trust model works, walk through eligibility, and outline next steps for residential and commercial opportunities.

Business Support

Business Support & Technical Assistance

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Business Technical Assistance Program

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Business Support

Commercial Rental Spaces

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RAAD

Rondo African-American Arts District

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