An organization created to rejuvenate downtown St. Paul will soon include all commercial and residential buildings in the area. The Downtown Improvement District provides services like street cleaning and security.

Saint Paul’s city council voted this summer to double the size of the district and include residences — not just businesses — for the first time. The district is funded by property owners, who had until this month to reject the measure.

They did not, so the new boundaries will take effect in January. This comes as Minnesota’s capitol city deals with spaces sitting empty, office workers staying home and restaurants closing.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Downtown Alliance President Joe Spencer and Tim Niver, owner and operator of restaurants Mucci’s and Saint Dinette, about the state of downtown St. Paul.