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HRA hears eight-year affordable-housing progress report; preservation programs, emergency aid and digital-access services outlined
Summary
Edina’s affordable-housing manager summarized eight years of activity including 86 multifamily inclusionary units delivered/under construction, preservation of 26 single-family homes, emergency rental assistance to 708 households and an Internet Essentials program with 121 participants that will end this year unless alternate funding is found.
At a July 16 meeting of the Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the city’s affordable housing manager reviewed program outcomes and preservation efforts dating to 2018, providing a snapshot of production, preservation and layered funding sources.
The manager reported that 86 multifamily inclusionary units have been delivered or are under construction since the policy and staffing focus was established. He described an ongoing project (the “setting”) that he initially could not recall the exact unit count for; another commissioner said it will provide 15 permanently affordable apartments. The manager noted that 58 units approved at the old Macy site have not yet been delivered and that several 100% affordable projects and conversions have advanced over recent years.
On preservation, the manager said the affordable ownership preservation initiative has awarded $6.3 million to Habitat for Humanity and Homes Within Reach and that 26 homes have been preserved under the program, with two closings expected in the next weeks. He described the NOAH Preservation and home-rehab programs, and a housing-improvement-area bond program used to finance condominium common-area upgrades (Edina West: 162 units upgraded via that tool).
The manager also reported emergency rental assistance served 708 households (funded through CARES, ARPA and LAHA) and an Internet Essentials program currently serves 121 participants but will end at year’s end unless new funding is found; staff said they are exploring philanthropic and Comcast options to continue internet access for low-income households.
On policy mechanics, he confirmed the city still allows a payment-in-lieu (buy-in) option for inclusionary units and said the current buy-in amount is $175,000 per unit, based on a Metropolitan Council nexus study. He cautioned that buy-in levels must strike a balance so developers still consider building in Edina. The manager stressed that the funding for the covered programs comes from layered sources — pooled TIF, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Met Council and state/federal sources — and that no general-levy (general property-tax levy) funds have been used for the programs discussed.
Board members responded with questions about program details and requested staff materials and the affordable-housing dashboard be circulated. The report was informational; no formal board action was required on the program overview.
