The Metropolitan Council has committed $1.3 million to promote affordable housing across the seven-county metro area, focusing on projects that range from creating energy-efficient townhomes to renovating a church into a multi-agency community center. This injection of funds, sourced from Livable Communities (LCA) grants and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s PRO Housing program, aims to bolster cities’ efforts in updating zoning codes and ordinances and in developing new housing programs. The directive comes as part of a broader strategy to address the growing need for housing that is accessible to low- and moderate-income residents.
Among the recipients, Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights stand out with sizeable pre-development grants, $152,500 and $250,500 respectively, for projects that promise to deliver hundreds of new affordable housing units. The 800 53rd Ave NE initiative in Columbia Heights is particularly notable, “with the proposed project expected to create 248 apartments in two six-story buildings, affordable to households earning 60% of area median income”, as per Metro Council News. Similarly, Brooklyn Center is eyeing the transformation of a vacant lot into a community of affordable, for-sale townhomes.
Roseville and Saint Paul are also recipients of significant funding, with the Oyate Ota Center receiving $297,000 for its pre-development efforts and The Lexington Deluxe in Saint Paul earmarked for a $300,000 investment. These projects reflect the region’s commitment to not just increasing affordable housing stock, but also to repurposing existing structures for community benefit. The adaptive reuse of a former church in Roseville into a multi-agency facility demonstrates an innovative approach to meet communal needs…