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RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST BY ACCESSIBLE SPACE, INC. TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR THE AWARD OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR THE 76-UNIT VAN’S APARTMENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the Duluth city council hereby expresses its support for Accessible Space, Inc.’s request for funding to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for low-income housing tax credits to assist in financing and development of Van’s Apartment.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution expresses the city council’s support of an application to be submitted to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) by Accessible Space, Inc. for low-income housing tax credits that may be awarded by MHFA for development of the 76-unit Van’s Apartments. The deadline for submission of Accessible Space, Inc.’s application to MHFA is June 3, 2019. MHFA intends to finalize their funding decisions on October 18, 2019.
Van’s Apartments is a 76-unit (includes one manager unit) apartment building located North of Wadena Street, between North 53rd Avenue West and North 52 Avenue West. This development will provide permanent supportive housing to low-income residents, including targeted preference for homeless and very low-income veterans, particularly those with disabilities. Forty-six units will be for incomes at or below 30% AMI. Twenty-five percent of the units will be “Type A” fully accessible units to accommodate households with physical disabilities. Twenty units will receive project-based Section 8 subsidy through the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth.
The building will be a three-story structure that will include 73 one-bedroom units and 3 two-bedroom units. Common areas will include a dining room with warming kitchen, community rooms for meeting and social gatherings, library/lounge, computer lab, exercise room, indoor therapeutic spa, three common area laundry rooms, a multipurpose room for on-site events and training, and office space. ASI currently owns and operates affordable housing projects in Duluth, including the Burke Apartments, Pine Grove Apartments, and Redruth Apartments.
MHFA requires tax credit applicants for housing developments in Duluth to receive the support of the city council. The support is required to assure that a given proposal is a priority for the City of Duluth, and that it meets a locally identified housing need. The 2014 Maxfield housing study for the City of Duluth identified the need for more rental units for households earning $50,000/year or less. The demand for this type of housing has been further substantiated through other staff analysis, including evaluation of the Spirit Valley Core Investment Area during the development of the Imagine Duluth 2035 comprehensive plan update, and development of the annual Housing Indicator Report.