A bit of good news on the housing front comes from Northeast Minneapolis. As Don Jacobson reports in the Star Tribune this week Audubon Crossing “is believed to be the first new housing development in Minnesota to win both Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification as well as to follow the low-income housing-specific design criteria of Minnesota Green Communities.” Development of the 30-unit rental apartments is MetroPlains LCC.
It’s a long and complex story of politics and collaboration. The original plan was proposed by Majdi Wadi, owner of the expanding Holy Land and prime mover in community development. His vision was to replace several run-down houses he owned on 25th and Polk with affordable housing. After the collapse of the affordable housing tax credit market, the project stalled. Ultimately, federal stimulus funding breathed new life into the project, ultimately taken over by Metro Plains.
Jacobson writes that “after several years of efforts by the city, the Audubon Neighborhood Association, and MetroPlains LCC, the new apartments opened in late August at 100 percent occupancy – 26 rental units and four units set aside for renters transitioning out of homelessness.
Kudos to all involved and welcome to the new neighbors in Northeast.
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