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Planning commission approves 48 affordable senior units at Logan Avenue North
Summary
The commission approved site plan review for a five‑story, 48‑unit affordable senior housing project at 529–535 Logan Ave N using affordable‑housing height and FAR premiums; residents raised concerns about neighborhood scale, parking and construction impacts, but commissioners found the proposal consistent with Minneapolis 2040 and zoning.
The Planning Commission voted May 18 to adopt staff findings and approve site plan review for a five‑story, 48‑unit affordable senior housing building at 529–535 Logan Avenue North.
Andrew Frentz presented the application: the project would provide senior housing units affordable at 60% of area median income (with a portion at 30% AMI), use affordable‑housing FAR and height premiums to achieve a five‑story, 54.6‑foot building, include a small first‑floor enclosed garage accessed from the alley and pursue two administrative FAR premiums. Staff concluded the application met site plan and premium findings and recommended approval subject to 11 conditions.
Pete Keeley of Collage Architects, representing owner JCA Realty/James Archer, said the team has met with neighborhood groups and is working with Minnesota Housing Finance on affordability financing; he noted enterprise green communities and DOE Zero‑ready targets for the project.
Several residents testified in opposition or to voice concerns. Dewey Cornwell described the adjacent Harrison neighborhood as small‑scale single‑family and worried about increased street parking and construction impacts. Other testifiers raised notification and maintenance concerns, and one testifier called the proposal "carpetbagging," urging more neighborhood outreach. Commissioners discussed shadow studies, site plan consistency with the Minneapolis 2040 future land‑use designation and the limited scope of the commission's authority for a site plan review on a parcel already zoned for higher density.
Commissioner Shepherd and other supporters noted the staff shadow study found the building would not increase shadow impacts beyond what could be built by right and emphasized the city's policy to concentrate housing along transit corridors. The commission adopted staff findings by roll call (seven ayes) and approved the site plan review and related administrative applications.
Next steps: Administrative approvals associated with the site plan (height/FAR premiums) will proceed in alignment with the site plan approval; construction timing and financing will depend on the developer’s schedule and Minnesota Housing Finance approvals.
