Crow Wing County HRA reports major value gains, outlines housing trust lending and new duplex plan in Brainerd

Eric, a representative of the Crow Wing County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, gave a midyear update to the Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners on July 15, describing redevelopment progress in Brainerd, lending through the county housing trust fund and a new higher‑density infill project that the HRA and City of Brainerd hope to build.

The HRA highlighted three tax‑forfeited neighborhoods—Brainerd Oaks, Serene Pines and Delmar Estates—where the authority conveyed roughly 112 lots to a private developer and supported single‑family construction. "When we started this back in 2016, the EMV estimated market value of all of those lots was just over a million bucks," Eric said. He reported the estimated market value of the units built is now about $30,500,000 and that the developments collectively generate roughly $270,000 annually in property tax revenue.

Why this matters: the county HRA framed the work as returning vacant, tax‑forfeited land to productive use, expanding the local tax base and adding workforce‑level housing options. The authority is also using its housing trust fund to make loans for owner‑occupied rehabilitation, down‑payment assistance and development finance that are intended to preserve housing and support affordable units.

Key details and next steps

- Remaining lots and developer purchase: Eric said three lots remain unsold and the HRA expects the current developer (identified in…