Developers outline two-building affordable housing plan for American Legion site; neighbors raise height, parking and park-access concerns

Richfield Community Development Director Melissa Pailman said the meeting opened with a review of the city’s long-range guidance and a staff-requested set of evaluation questions as Lupe Development and its design team presented a redevelopment concept for the American Legion site at Portland Avenue and 66th Street.

"This site has been guided for high density residential since at least the 1998 comprehensive plan," Pailman said, noting the designation was reaffirmed in 2008 and 2018 and that the council adopted a moratorium and conducted a subarea study when the Legion first explored sale or redevelopment around 2020.

The nut graf: Lupe Development proposed two buildings — a family building and a senior building — that would be 100% income-restricted and financed with 4% low-income housing tax credits, with underground parking and on-site stormwater controls. The developer said the project would represent roughly a $100 million investment and that phases would be pursued in sequence as financing is secured; councilmembers and many residents raised concerns about allowed building heights and stepbacks, limited street-facing ground-floor activation, and whether parking provisions would cause overflow into nearby park and arena lots.

Aaron Diedrich, vice president of…