The Minneapolis NAACP on Thursday called for the resignation of the city’s public-housing director, arguing that years of neglect at the Heritage Park housing community have left families stuck in unsafe units. Tenants and neighborhood advocates say backed-up repair requests, mold and pest infestations have pushed some households out and left others living in what they describe as unhealthy homes.
According to FOX 9, the NAACP’s statement zeroed in on conditions at Heritage Park, which the station referred to as Heritage Homes, and demanded a leadership shake-up at the agency that runs public housing. FOX 9 also reported that residents and local leaders are pressing for clearer financial disclosures and faster turnaround times for basic repairs.
What Heritage Park Is
Heritage Park is a 440-unit mixed-income complex in north Minneapolis that combines public housing units with LIHTC-subsidized and market-rate apartments, part of an earlier public housing redevelopment effort in the area. As detailed by Our Streets, about 200 of those apartments are designated as public housing, and community organizations say the property has been dogged by chronic underinvestment. Listings for the campus at 1000 Olson Memorial Hwy identify McCormack Baron Management as the property manager, per AffordableHousingOnline.
Residents Describe Deep Problems
In coverage from FOX 9, tenants reported mold growing in vents, rodent and insect infestations, and other lingering maintenance problems. One resident told the station that a bullet hole in her window sat unrepaired for months. The outlet also reported that roughly half of Heritage Park’s 440 units are currently empty or considered unsafe, about 25 families have been relocated in the past 18 months, and a court-appointed receiver is now running the property while state funding, including approximately $5.8 million approved in 2024, is steered toward repairs.
Who’s Responsible Now
The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority oversees public-housing operations citywide and lists its headquarters at 1001 Washington Avenue North, where tenants and advocates say they expect more visible oversight and quicker responses to problems. Contact information and reporting tools appear on the agency’s portal, and MPHA maintains online guidance about waiting lists and how tenants can flag issues. Local groups are pushing for audited spending plans and concrete repair timelines from both the receiver and housing officials.
Ward 5 Council Member Pearll Warren, who represents the Near-North neighborhoods that include Heritage Park, has been publicly advocating for more funding and tighter accountability as residents push for immediate fixes. The city’s Ward 5 page lists her as the local representative, and The City of Minneapolis notes Warren’s office as a point of contact for constituents. Neighborhood organizers say they plan to keep the heat on city and housing leaders until tenants see lasting repairs on the ground.
