With the rise of hybrid and remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, downtown St. Paul's office towers have deteriorated financially, leading to closures of key skyway access points. This disruption has primarily affected individuals with disabilities, particularly residents like Tommy Sar, who relied on these connections for easy access to surrounding businesses and services. What was once a convenient urban lifestyle has metamorphosed into a struggle for accessibility, forcing residents to reconsider their living situations and adversely impacting small businesses dependent on foot traffic.
For many, the loss of one of downtown St. Paul's key skyway arteries is an inconvenience. But for Tommy Sar, who lives in an adjacent apartment and uses a wheelchair, it's untenable.
When Sar moved downtown in 2019 to be close to his former job at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the skyways were "one of the biggest amenities."
Now his once-quick trip to the pharmacy is a much longer and more complicated errand. He no longer makes weekly visits to Legacy Chocolate, since the street-level route is too hilly.
Closing time: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, downtowns across the country have struggled as office employees embraced remote and hybrid work.
Collection
[
|
...
]