HRA Meeting Date: November 2, 2023
To: Members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Title
HRA to Consider Northcountry Cooperative Foundation's Request to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding.
Body
Action Requested:
HRA is being asked by Northcountry Cooperative Foundation to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue a development opportunity on HRA-owned land in the Southbridge area.
Summary Report:
The HRA's mission is to be a partner in providing a sufficient supply of affordable, adequate, safe and sanitary dwellings in Northfield. Our goal is to create a community with housing opportunities available along the entire housing spectrum: from renters to homeownership, first-time homeowners, to senior living, workforce housing and empty-nesters. We strive to create affordable housing opportunities and strengthen our neighborhoods utilizing:
* Sustainability
* Innovation
* Partnerships
* Community Input
Northcountry Cooperative Foundation (NCF) presented a single-family neighborhood concept using facility-built homes and a resident-owner cooperative model to the HRA at the May 4, 2023 meeting. The initial concept was shown on a combination of 7.27 acres owned by the HRA and approximately 4 acres, including land dedicated for parkland through multiple platting processes, owned by the City at Southbridge. At that time, the HRA directed staff to move forward with the creation of a limited, non-binding, exclusive development agreement that does not hold the HRA to a commitment to NCF if the HRA does not believe the project is a good fit. After initial neighborhood concerns were raised, staff research into past land dedication actions, research into prior renderings of how the property could be developed, attorney reviews and negotiation, NCF is proposing the attached Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for HRA consideration.
NCF is requesting that for a period of one year (365 days) that the HRA no...
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