HRA Meeting Date: January 29, 2024 (work session)
To: Members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Comprehensive and Housing planning discussion and exercise
Body
Action Requested:
None.
Summary Report:
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), whose mission is to provide a sufficient supply of adequate, safe, and sanitary dwellings in Northfield, has the statutory ability to construct homes, alone or in partnership with others. HRA levy dollars may also be used for development activities commonly associated with economic development programs and projects. The HRA also has the authority to apply for additional funds from other government agencies and not-for-profit entities and the ability to manage direct allocations from applicable sources. To be effective stewards of those resources, staff will lead the board, including the two members whose terms ended in December, through a comprehensive planning conversation and exercise and a work program planning conversation and exercise.
Background
The primary stated goals of the HRA are to:
* Protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Northfield;
* Clear and redevelop blighted areas;
* Perform said duties according to the city's Comprehensive Plan;
* Remedy the shortage of housing for low- and moderate-income residents;
* Redevelop blighted areas in situations in which private enterprise would not act without government participation or subsidies.
The HRA also partners with organizations such as Community Action Center of Northfield, Northfield Union of Youth, Rice County Habitat for Humanity, and Three Rivers Community Action, among others, to implement housing initiatives in Northfield. In these partnerships the goal is to ensure the community continues to be able to offer housing opportunities available along the entire housing spectrum from renters to homeownership including for th...
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