The neighborhood around the University of St. Thomas is experiencing a rapid redevelopment, with four of the 12 houses on one block being torn down and dozens more have been replaced by new development catering to college students. The rapid growth of duplexes and apartment buildings has caused concern among residents about the speed and intensity of the change, which was made possible through a city zoning change in 2023. The city's 2023 zoning overhaul allows bigger apartment buildings in most neighborhoods, with the hope that more apartments would bring down rents citywide. So far, the Macalester Groveland and Union Park neighborhoods have seen more of this new density than other areas. The university is planning to build new dorms to accommodate about 500 students over the next decade. The area is governed by a “student housing district” and a special zoning designation designed to prevent a concentration of college students in the neighborhood from clustering together.