Meeting Date: April 27, 2021
To: Members of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Mitzi A. Baker, Community Development Director
Title
Rice County Habitat for Humanity Requests
Body
Action Requested:
Determine HRA response to three requests from the Rice County Habitat for Humanity regarding proposed builds within Northfield.
Summary Report:
The Northfield Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board received a written memo from Rice County Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) including three requests regarding future Habitat builds proposed in Northfield. A copy of the memo is attached to this report. Two Board members, Gerdes and Fink, volunteered to meet with staff to review and discuss the requests, review HRA financials and provide input to inform recommended actions for the Board's consideration. Items requested by Habitat are
#1 - request for the Northfield HRA to pay the full building permit fees for their six (6) builds in Northfield, as a grant;
Habitat's initial request for HRA to pay the full amount for permit fees for 6 builds in Northfield, was estimated to be up to $42,000, if including sac/wac (sewer and water access charges). In speaking with city engineering staff, it was determined that these builds are to occur in established housing developments where access to City water and sewer is available and sac/wac does not apply. The Building/Inspections Division staff estimate the combined total permit fees for all 6 builds to be $11,807. The City has received one permit request from Habitat for a quad home to be built on Cotton Lane in Southbridge.
In checking with other HRA's, staff found some examples of contributing funds to nonprofits, such as Habitat, in order to assist those of low to moderate incomes obtain homeownership, often through new construction. Faribault HRA has recently contributed $5,000 to each of the 3 Habitat homes to be built in Faribault. Red Wing HRA recently committed ...
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