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Anoka County HRA selects Duffy Development to pursue Columbia Heights redevelopment and apply for tax credits
Summary
Trustees approved staff’s recommendation to select Duffy Development Company as the preferred developer for the Columbia Heights redevelopment site and authorized staff to enter a purchase agreement so the developer can apply for Minnesota Housing tax credits; the vote was unanimous.
The Anoka County Housing and Redevelopment Authority on June 24 approved selecting Duffy Development Company as the preferred developer for a Columbia Heights redevelopment site and authorized staff to enter into a purchase agreement and related documents to allow the developer to apply in the Minnesota Housing tax credit round. Trustees voted unanimously.
Tanya, an HRA staff member, presented the staff and committee recommendation after a committee review of three proposals. "This is the my recommendation or the group's recommendation, for the 3 applicants or proposals that we received for the Columbia Heights redevelopment site, to choose, Duffy Development Corporation, to sell and have me be able to enter into a purchase agreement and other documents so that they can... submit their application to Minnesota housing for tax credits," Tanya said.
Staff said Duffy’s proposal included the largest number of units — about 60 total — and a site plan that may include a row of townhomes along the street with a larger building elsewhere; final engineering could change the layout. Tanya said human services staff rated Duffy most responsive on how supportive services would be provided. She also said Duffy proposed 11 supportive units and another five units designated for high-priority disabled residents; the developer indicated some supportive residents typically meet with staff in their units and may need less on-site office space.
Trustee Meissner noted concern about preserving space for wrap-around services even while maximizing unit counts: "I do want as many units as possible. And at the same time... I don't wanna see [supportive services office space] slip away." Tanya said staff and the developer have discussed sizing service space and will continue to work on that detail.
Staff told trustees the city has passed a preliminary resolution that is supportive of redevelopment and that Duffy will still need to go through normal city reviews, engineering, and final approvals. The board approved the staff motion to select Duffy and authorize entering purchase and related documents to enable the tax-credit application; trustee Jepsen moved the motion and the roll-call vote was unanimous.
Next steps listed by staff include final engineering, city approvals and the Minnesota Housing tax-credit application process; trustees did not take final land-sale or construction approvals at the meeting.
