The Metropolitan Council in September approved $1,050,000 in Livable Communities Act predevelopment grants for seven projects in five cities and one $50,000 grant for policy development.
“Communities often want to support projects in the stages before a development or redevelopment is ready for construction,” said Lisa Barajas, director of the Met Council’s Community Development division. “The predevelopment grants help cities complete work like community engagement, design workshops, and financial studies that are necessary for projects to move forward successfully.”
The awarded projects all fulfill one or more of the goals of the Livable Communities program: create more housing choice and support affordable housing; create living wage jobs; improve connections between housing, jobs, and regional amenities; and support more equitable development outcomes.
This is the second of two rounds of predevelopment and policy grants in 2024. Awarded projects in this round are:
Manufactured Home Replacement Need and Feasibility Assessment, Blaine. The city proposes to use the $56,500 grant to assess building conditions, cost, and financing options to replace an estimated 190 homes out of 851 existing manufactured homes to remain affordable for existing residents.
Remnant, Minneapolis. $150,000 to support design and market studies for up to 40 affordable apartments with supportive services and ground-level, community-focused commercial space. The project will also support workforce development by offering onsite job training services on the city’s North Side.
The Resolute, Minneapolis. $150,000 for engineering and architectural designs for a tenant-owned commercial building supporting 4 to 5 businesses and 2 additional buildings with a total of 100 affordable apartments and ground-level commercial space.
Penn Station, Richfield. $100,000 for architectural design and financing options for 40 to 45 affordable apartments at Penn Avenue and 65th Street.
East Side Tennis & Community Center, Saint Paul. $100,000 to create concept designs and sustainability studies for a nonprofit community center and city park on a 15-acre site. The community center is expected to include multi-purpose space, classrooms, and a workforce development opportunity for BIPOC youth, retaining 5 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and adding 15 new FTE jobs.
Hamm’s Brewery Redevelopment West End, Saint Paul. $200,000 to support design studies for the adaptive reuse of a former brewery into an estimated 89 affordable apartments with studio spaces, workshops, and gallery space and an estimated 30,000 square feet of commercial space for entrepreneurs.
Loeffler Crossing Predevelopment, St. Louis Park. $293,500 for design, cost analysis, market studies, and financing options for a transit-oriented development with approximately 170 mixed-income apartments with neighborhood-scale commercial space.
The Met Council also approved a $50,000 policy development grant to the City of Hugo. The city intends to review its single-family and multifamily residential standards and policy. The review will include zoning district standard analysis, evaluation of commercially zoned property that could include higher density housing, sustainability practices, and implementation of streamlined processes for development.
Livable Communities program promotes prosperity and economic development
The Met Council has been making Livable Communities grants to local governments in the seven-county metro area since 1995. To be eligible and compete for Livable Communities funding, metro area cities must participate in the Livable Communities program, which provides grants for:
77 cities are participating in the Livable Communities program in 2024.