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Otter Tail County HRA asks New York Mills to extend purchase agreement to build senior affordable housing; council agrees
Summary
Amy Baldwin of the Otter Tail County HRA told the council the HRA has a $330,000 grant toward two South Point Addition lots and asked for a purchase‑agreement extension through 2026 to secure additional funding for senior rental housing; the council approved the extension and agreed to be considered for a Small Cities Development Program application.
Amy Baldwin, a representative of the Otter Tail County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, told the New York Mills City Council on March 11 that the HRA is seeking to extend a purchase agreement for two remaining lots in the South Point Addition Phase 1 so it can secure financing to build affordable senior rental housing.
Baldwin said the HRA has been awarded $330,000 toward the project—about 20% of the funding she said will be needed—and is pursuing additional grants and private dollars. She asked the council to extend the purchase agreement through the end of 2026 to allow time to line up those funds and to work with city staff on replatting the existing lots to better accommodate apartments. The council approved the extension by unanimous vote after a motion by Councilmember Nesland and a second by Councilmember Hammond.
Baldwin also presented the HRA’s annual summary and asked whether New York Mills would like to be considered for the federal Small Cities Development Program. She said the county will begin pre‑survey work to prepare for an anticipated funding cycle later in the year and cautioned that federal funds for the program are expected to be reduced from prior cycles; the council agreed it would like to be considered.
In her annual report presentation, Baldwin said the HRA’s ‘Big Build’ efforts in 2024 produced 358 new housing units and 85 rehabbed units, representing more than $94.2 million in housing investments. She noted related programs including workforce initiatives supported by MN DEED grants, childcare‑focused economic development funding, a Resident Recruitment Program, and broadband projects using Border‑to‑Border Low Density Program funding covering 286 previously unserved locations. Baldwin invited council members to visit recently opened HRA apartments in Dalton or view video of the projects online.
Next steps recorded at the meeting: the council approved the purchase‑agreement extension to the end of 2026, the HRA will continue pursuing outside funding and grant cycles, and staff will work with the HRA on any necessary replatting and application materials for the Small Cities Development Program.
