The Metropolitan Council has committed $1.3 million to promote affordable housing across the seven-county metro area, focusing on projects that range from creating energy-efficient townhomes to renovating a church into a multi-agency community center. This injection of funds, sourced from Livable Communities (LCA) grants and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's PRO Housing program, aims to bolster cities’ efforts in updating zoning codes and ordinances and in developing new housing programs. The directive comes as part of a broader strategy to address the growing need for housing that is accessible to low- and moderate-income residents.
Among the recipients, Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights stand out with sizeable pre-development grants, $152,500 and $250,500 respectively, for projects that promise to deliver hundreds of new affordable housing units. The 800 53rd Ave NE initiative in Columbia Heights is particularly notable, "with the proposed project expected to create 248 apartments in two six-story buildings, affordable to households earning 60% of area median income", as per Metro Council News. Similarly, Brooklyn Center is eyeing the transformation of a vacant lot into a community of affordable, for-sale townhomes.
Roseville and Saint Paul are also recipients of significant funding, with the Oyate Ota Center receiving $297,000 for its pre-development efforts and The Lexington Deluxe in Saint Paul earmarked for a $300,000 investment. These projects reflect the region’s commitment to not just increasing affordable housing stock, but also to repurposing existing structures for community benefit. The adaptive reuse of a former church in Roseville into a multi-agency facility demonstrates an innovative approach to meet communal needs.
Policy and program development isn't left behind, with several cities receiving grants to explore updates to local ordinances and to develop strategies that better accommodate affordable housing. Cities like Golden Valley and Edina are using the funds to tackle the "missing middle" housing dilemma and to align housing opportunities with the city's Climate Action Plan goals, respectively. In a statement obtained by Metro Council News, Director of the Met Council’s Community Development division, Lisa Barajas articulated the broader vision: “These grants help cities fund foundational planning and policy creation that leads to more affordable housing, development that better connects people to transit, jobs, and open space, and meets other regional goals.”
The LCA program functions as a voluntary partnership among the metro region’s cities, acknowledging the diverse needs of its communities. By aligning development goals with resources, the program aims to foster not just housing, but holistic community development that contributes to a more equitable region. Each project and program under this recent round of grant awards echoes the Met Council's commitment to creating greater housing choice and connecting housing with regional amenities and jobs — aligning the needs of a sprawling urban area with the resources and policies that can shepherd its growth with equity and foresight.
