Title
Recognizing Marie Franchett for an extraordinary career with the City of Saint Paul and congratulating her on her retirement.
Body
WHEREAS, Marie has had a long career in public service, starting at a non-profit community organization in Chicago providing economic development services before starting at the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Marie's project management career in Planning and Economic Development from 1992 to 2025, spanned the administrations of Mayors Norm Coleman, Randy Kelly, Chris Coleman, and Melvin Carter III; and
WHEREAS, Marie, known for her tough, but fair negotiation skills, has worked on large-scale redevelopment projects that involve the coordination of not only private developers, but several other City departments such as Parks and Public Works; and
WHEREAS, Marie has managed scores of projects, representing tens of millions of dollars in public investment, and hundreds of millions of dollars in total development costs, resulting in the creation and preservation of economic development opportunities and critically needed affordable housing for Saint Paul businesses and residents; and
WHEREAS, Marie was the PED project lead for the development of Allianz Field. She coordinated multiple organizations and stakeholders on public improvements, a stormwater treatment facility, land conveyance, a privately owned public park agreement, and a transportation management plan for game days; and
WHEREAS, Marie, a dedicated environmentalist, who advocates for climate resiliency and equity with Unidos MN, was instrumental in the development of the first affordable “Passive House” multi-family building in Saint Paul called Verdant located at the West Side Flats site. The award-winning project demonstrated that a very high level of energy efficiency is achievable in affordable housing developments; and
WHEREAS, Marie was the lead project manager for the West Side Flats, the Scenic, and the Verdant, located at West Side Flats, that resulted in 431 of new housing units in the area; and
WHEREAS, at a time when downtown Saint Paul was seeking new market-rate rental housing options and a large-scale grocery store, Marie stepped up to act as the lead developer, on behalf of the of the HRA, for the construction of the Penfield, a 254-unit, mixed-use building located at 101 10th Street East. The project was eventually sold and proceeds from the sale contributed to more City projects; and
WHEREAS, Marie coordinated the redevelopment of City House that resulted in the preservation of a historic site on the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul has benefited from Marie’s commitment to quality affordable, safe, and sustainable housing for residents of Saint Paul; including additional projects such as the development of Jackson Street Village, 2700 University, Morrow Apartments, Twelve-22, Saint Paul Midway Residence, Sibley Park, Sibley Court, and most recently predevelopment work on the Hamm’s Historic Reuse project; and
WHEREAS, Marie is a role model to all those on her team. She is admired for her calmness under pressure and her ability to see the silver lining in all situations, traits that embody an ideal Project Manager; and
WHEREAS, Marie takes time to mentor new project managers and be an active part of the PED Equity Change team; and
WHEREAS, in retirement Marie will be able to spend more time with her husband Paul, and do the things she loves, including hiking, skiing, and spending time with family and friends; and
WHEREAS, after 34 years with the City of Saint Paul, Marie is bringing her career in public service to a close; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in grateful and sincere recognition for her 34 years of dedicated public service to the City of Saint Paul, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority hereby honors Marie Franchett on this Seventeenth Day of December in the year Two Thousand Twenty-five.