The Metropolitan Council is setting the stage for transformation by dedicating over $2.4 million in grants to five Twin Cities communities in an effort to restore contaminated land and address pressing housing needs, according to the latest from the council itself. These Livable Communities grants, which target environmentally challenged sites, aim to catalyze redevelopment into vibrant spaces that promise to stimulate local economies and make a dent in the housing affordability crisis.
In this round of funding, Inver Grove Heights, Minneapolis, Richfield, Saint Paul, and South St. Paul have received grants for various projects that, on completion, will not only clear up 16 acres of polluted land, but also add over 200 jobs, boost the annual tax base by $300,000, and create 95 new affordable housing units, ensuring that neighborhoods hit the hardest by economic disparities get a shot at recovery, I see a gap in equitable development and these plans are filling that much-needed space. In a statement obtained by Metrocouncil.org, Lisa Barajas, director of the Met Council’s Community Development division, says, “Redevelopment is a key strategy for keeping our region’s communities dynamic and resilient,” highlighting the grants’ role in fostering public-private partnerships that lead to economic and housing benefits.
Minneapolis is set to see two major developments, including The Curve Nordeast and NE Green Campus Expansion, featuring a commercial hub with essentials like a grocery store and daycare, as well as a senior housing complex catering to those with HIV/AIDS experiencing homelessness…