Duluth staff brief council on two MHFA applications; resolutions of support set for May 27

City housing staff on May 12 briefed the Duluth City Council Committee of the Whole on two local applications to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s (MHFA) Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals, saying both projects will seek council resolutions of support at the May 27 council meeting.

The presentation, delivered by Lena Fancook, a housing planner in the city’s Planning and Economic Development Department, covered Decker 2, proposed by OneRoof Community Housing, and Mission Heights, proposed by Union Gospel Mission (UGM). “This is one of Minnesota Housing’s biggest annual funding opportunities for affordable housing,” Fancook told the committee.

The Multifamily Consolidated RFP combines multiple funding sources, including low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds and deferred loans, and awards are competitive under the state’s Qualified Allocation Plan. Fancook said MHFA defines affordable rents in this program as those affordable to households at or below 50% of area median income and that preference is given to projects serving the lowest-income tenants for the longest periods.

Decker 2: OneRoof Community Housing

Decker 2 would be located off Decker Road near Miller Hill and the first Decker phase. City…