Minnesota Housing Announces 2022 Project Selections

[Originally Published by Minnesota Housing View Source]

 

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Thursday the Minnesota Housing board of directors approved funding selections of $165.5 million to create and preserve 2,156 homes, apartments and manufactured home community lots.

“It’s a great day to announce that we’re creating thousands of new homes across the state that are permanently affordable,” said Governor Tim Walz. “But we also know that right now, thousands of Minnesota children and families are still living in precarious situations. We have more work to do, and I’m looking with optimism to the 2023 session and the opportunity to bring more resources to the table.”

This year, 43% of rental units selected will be affordable to Minnesotans who make the least (below 30% of the area median income). Communities that will see new developments with deeply affordable rental units include Sauk Centre, Red Lake, Minneapolis and Duluth.

Additionally, 289 of the multifamily units will be permanent supportive housing, which provide supportive services in addition to highly affordable rental homes.

Many of the housing developments selected include four and even five bedrooms to accommodate large families, recognizing the needs of new immigrant households, multigenerational families and families with many children. Market-rate developments rarely include more than two bedrooms out of cost considerations, making large affordable apartments and single-family homes particularly scarce.

“Today’s selections are an example of what government can do,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “The Governor and I care deeply about the opportunities and life trajectories for children in families that do not have stable housing. The need is real. But because we are investing in housing today, over time, thousands of children will be able to succeed in school and enjoy all the benefits stability brings.”

Selections for single-family homes are up in 2022 over past years because of a 2021 legislative change that set aside more housing infrastructure bonds for single-family home construction, with 412 single-family homes to be built or preserved with $20 million in funding selections. The Legislature recently broadened the use of HIB to include rehabilitation and new construction of single-family homes beyond the previous eligible use for community land trusts.

Minnesota Housing put more funding toward manufactured home community investments than ever this year, with $9.5 million allocated in selections. These funds can be used for infrastructure projects such as water and sewer upgrades, storm shelter construction or repairs, electrical work, and road and sidewalk improvements.

“Our partners across the state are the ones building the state’s most affordable homes, and I’m so glad we can connect them with the capital they need,” said Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Leimaile Ho. “I’m especially excited to see developers who are new to us among those selected for funding, particularly developers of color.”

New developers of color selected in 2022 include J. Kou Vang of J.B. Vang Partners and Johnny Opara of J.O. Companies, LLC, whose multifamily developments, Gladstone Village in Maplewood and Wangstad Commons in Brooklyn Center, respectively, will bring a total of 119 new rental units to the Twin Cities Metro.

The Agency selected four developments led by a Tribe or Urban Indian organization – the 14th phase of Red Lake Homes and a second Red Lake supportive housing project on Red Lake Tribal land, and the Native American Community Clinic and an adaptive reuse by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center in Minneapolis.

Highlights of developments selected:

  • A new apartment building is coming to Maplewood: J.B. Vang Partners has been selected for funding for its proposed Gladstone Village, which will create 65 new workforce and permanent supportive apartments in Maplewood that will be affordable to people making less than half of the area median income. The development features many 4- and 5-bedroom apartments to meet the housing needs of larger families. Some of the units will be set aside for people who have previously experienced homelessness and people with disabilities. Supportive services will be provided on site for residents who qualify.

  • Eight new homes to be built in Grand Rapids: Itasca County Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is partnering with One Roof Community Housing to build eight new-construction single-family homes on the site of a former elementary school in Grand Rapids. The homes will be part of a community land trust that will preserve the affordability of the homes for generations to come. Participating homebuyers will receive homebuyer education and counseling from KOOTASCA Community Action. Itasca County HRA is a first-time applicant for the Agency’s single-family resources.

  • Manufactured Home Community in Moorhead to get facelift: Bennett Park Cooperative is a 22-lot, resident-owned manufactured home community in Moorhead with overdue infrastructure needs. The sewer pipes and watermain are deteriorating and the parking lots and roads need to be reconstructed. Bennett Park provides some of the most affordable housing in Moorhead, with the lowest lot rents in the region. The replacement of six abandoned homes along with the infrastructure upgrades will restore the community’s livability and invest in the maintenance all residential structures require.

For more information about the 2022 Selections, such as complete project spreadsheets, photos, and a video overview of the announcement, visit Minnesota Housing at www.mnhousing.gov.

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Minnesota Housing Selections by Region

Central Minnesota

Counties: Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright

Multifamily Selections

  • Silverarrow Apartments, Sauk Centre, rehabilitation of 28 units

Manufactured Housing Selections

  • Clearwater Forest, South Haven, 89 lots, wastewater treatment system

  • Lakeshore Terrace, Lindstrom, 78 lots, street improvements and accessible storm shelter/community space

Northeast Minnesota

Counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and Saint Louis

Single-Family Selections

  • Itasca County HRA Community Land Trust, Grand Rapids, new construction of 8 homes

  • One Roof Community Housing Acquisition-Rehab-Resale, Duluth and Two Harbors, 12 units of acquisition-rehabilitation and resale

  • One Roof Community Housing New Construction – Scattered Sites, Duluth, new construction of 4 homes

  • Single Family Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program, Duluth, 13 units of owner-occupied rehabilitation

Multifamily Selections

  • Harbor Highlands VI Townhomes, Duluth, new construction of 40 units

  • Wadena West Apartments, Duluth, new construction of 60 units

Manufactured Housing Selections

  • Green Acres MHP, Grand Rapids, 12 lots, replace well and water system

  • Midway Park, Grand Rapids, 13 lots, improvements to water, sewer system, and fencing

Northwest Minnesota

Counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Red Lake, and Roseau

Single Family Selections

  • Mahnomen Two-Lot Single-Family Development, Mahnomen, new construction of 2 homes

Multifamily Selections

  • Red Lake Homes XIV, Red Lake, new construction of 28 units

  • Red Lake Supportive Housing 2, Red Lake, new construction of 28 units

Southeast Minnesota

Counties: Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan and Winona

Single Family Selections

  • Faribault Single Family Project: Large Family Housing, Faribault, new construction of 6 homes

  • First Homes Community Land Trust – Suburban Growth Initiative, Rochester, Kasson, St. Charles, and Spring Valley, new construction of 6 homes

  • Gap Financing Program, Three Rivers Community Action, Inc., Southeast Minnesota, 15 units providing affordability gap financing

  • PCLT-New Construction, Mankato, new construction of 3 homes

Multifamily Selections

  • 1st & 3rd Apartments, Austin, new construction of 40 units

  • Edge Apartments, Kasson, new construction of 48 units

  • Valleyhigh Flats II, Rochester, new construction of 51 units

  • Walnut Towers, Mankato, rehabilitation of 86 units

Manufactured Housing Selections

  • Divine Acres, New Auburn, 19 lots, pre-cast storm shelter

  • Five Lakes Cooperative, Fairmont, 87 lots, street improvements and storm shelter

  • Gaylord MHP, Gaylord, 30 lots, acquisition and infrastructure updates

  • Grandview MHP, Red Wing, 93 lots, sewer system updates

  • High Ciara, Mankato, 81 lots, street improvements

  • Madelia Mobile Village Cooperative, Madelia, 53 lots, new storm shelter

  • Valley View MHP, Mazeppa, 35 lots, street improvements, fire hydrants, and tree removal

  • Vista Village, Brownsdale, 29 lots, water hydrants, electrical upgrades, and tree removal

Southwest Minnesota

Counties: Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, McLeod, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Renville, Redwood, Rock, Swift and Yellow Medicine

Single Family Selections

  • Critical Repair Projects for Low-Income Homeowners, Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, and Pipestone Counties, 15 units of owner-occupied rehabilitation

  • Jackson Homeownership Program, Jackson, new construction of 3 homes

Manufactured Housing Selections

  • Normandale Mobile Park – Redwood Falls, 48 lots, repair storm sewer system and roads

Twin Cities Metro

Single Family Selections

  • City of Lakes Community Land Trust Homebuyer Initiated Program (CLCLT HIP), Minneapolis, 10 units providing affordability gap financing

  • City of Lakes Community Land Trust Homebuyer Initiated Program (HIP), Minneapolis, owner-occupied rehabilitation

  • City of Lakes Community Land Trust New Construction, Minneapolis, new construction of 1 home

  • Community Keys Plus, Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington, Anoka, and Dakota Counties, 50 units providing affordability gap financing

  • Critical Repair Projects for Low-Income Homeowners, North and South Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Robbinsdale, and Crystal, 32 units of owner-occupied rehabilitation

  • Golden Valley Affordable Homeownership Program, Golden Valley, new construction of 1 home

  • Healthy Homes Assistance Project, Hennepin County, 7 units of owner-occupied rehabilitation

  • Home Accessibility Ramps Program, Hennepin and Ramsey County, 15 units of owner-occupied rehabilitation

  • Homes Within Reach (HWR), Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Crystal, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, and St. Louis Park, 9 units of acquisition-rehabilitation and resale

  • Homes Within Reach (HWR) New Construction, Bloomington, new construction of 2 homes

  • Minneapolis Homes: Financing, Minneapolis, 5 units of acquisition-rehabilitation and resale

  • Minneapolis Homes: Financing, Minneapolis, new construction of 13 homes

  • Minnetonka Boulevard Redevelopment, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park, new construction of 8 homes

  • Northside Home, North Minneapolis, new construction of 2 homes

  • PRG – Minneapolis Infill, Minneapolis, new construction of 8 homes

  • Rondo Community Land Trust (CLT) Homebuyer Initiated Program (HIP) Affordability Gap Program, Ramsey County, 10 units providing affordability gap financing

  • Rondo Community Land Trust Homebuyer Initiated Program – Rehab Gap Program, Ramsey County, owner-occupied rehabilitation

  • Scott County Community Land Trust Expansion in Partnership with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) – Phase 2, Prior Lake, 4 units providing affordability gap financing

  • The PATH (Preserving Affordable Tracks to Homeownership) Project, Washington County, 3 units of acquisition-rehabilitation and resale

  • Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, 2022 New Construction Affordability Gap, 7-county metro area, new construction and affordability gap financing for 10 homes

  • Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, 2022 SAAG Open Market Program, 7-county metro area, 35 units providing affordability gap financing

  • Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, 2022 Scattered Site Acquisition-Rehab, 7-county metro area, 20 units of acquisition-rehabilitation and resale

Multifamily Selections

  • 3030 Nicollet, Minneapolis, new construction of 110 units

  • Agra, Minneapolis, new construction of 155 units

  • Carver Place, Carver, new construction of 60 units

  • Gladstone Village, Maplewood, new construction of 65 units

  • Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, Minneapolis, rehabilitation of 24 units

  • Native American Community Clinic – Housing, Minneapolis, new construction of 83 units

  • Prairie Pointe Apartments, Shakopee, new construction of 42 units

  • Wangstad Commons, Brooklyn Center, new construction of 54 units

West Central Minnesota

Single Family Selections

  • Maple Court Homeownership Development Program, Moorhead, 5 units providing affordability gap financing

  • West Central Community Land Trust, Douglas, Pope, and Otter Tail Counties, 6 units providing affordability gap financing

  • With All, For All, Clay County, new construction of 2 homes

Manufactured Housing Selections

  • Bennett Park Cooperative, Moorhead, 75 lots, sewer system and street improvements

JO Companies