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Just a few decades ago, the suburbs surrounding the Twin Cities were majority white, but that has shifted dramatically recently. Two-thirds of Brooklyn Center residents are people of color, while Columbia Heights to the north boasts people speaking 36 different languages. Elected officials in these suburbs and others see it as a source of community strength.
Florida-based real estate developer Jamie Rand has purchased two downtown St. Paul buildings — 375 Jackson Street and 135 5th Street — doubling his total of buildings owned and making him the largest private commercial property owner in the city. He compares St. Paul now to Nashville 20 years ago when the downtown was struggling mightily…