A new complex in an aged St. Paul neighborhood gets some attention Thursday when the mayor and other dignitaries tour the new Winnipeg development, just north of the Capitol on Rice Street.

They'll see 56 apartments and room for businesses and shops in the just-completed complex. I wrote about it in December, 2007, when the complicated financing process was finally completed and the ceremonial groundbreaking brought neighbors, politicians and business people out to the neighborhood on a brisk winter day. The city, county, state and feds all contributed to the funding, along with area banks and housing organizations.

Now that it's complete, they're touting the “green” aspects of the building, in addition to the much-needed new affordable housing.

The environmental improvements will lower residents’ costs and reduce the project’s environmental impact; it's billed as the first affordable housing project in St. Paul with a living green roof.

Among the buildings razed to make way for the new buildings was the Flower Hut, long remembered as the site of a double homicide in 1992.

The tour starts at 11 a.m.