Authority to order, please.

Roll call.

Here.

Coleman.

Here.

Johnson.

Here.

Just here.

Commissioner Kim is excused.

Commissioner Naker is absent.

Excuse me.

Five present two at uh one is absent.

That is Commissioner Naker and Commissioner Kim is excused.

Item number one, resolution twenty-five dash fifteen thirty.

Reservation of the year twenty twenty-six low income housing tax credits for the Aerodon development, located at four seventy White Bear Avenue, District One, Board Seven.

Great.

And um, welcome.

I'm the vice chair of the HRA, Sorry.

Uh, and this item, uh, we've received a staff report and presentation on this last week.

So I will take a motion from Chair Johnson uh to approve this item.

Is there any discussion or any further questions?

I I did just have a one uh smart discussion item.

Um, I definitely want to say also to um to to uh I was gonna say Chair Jones director.

Um, just particularly around just like walking us through the tax credits.

Um, one of the observations I made that I did not get a chance to to talk about particularly around this process is um the uh uh the one of the factors particularly around is the project uh funding actually complete.

Um, I think one of the mention one of the um items he had mentioned is that this uh project will be coming back around next year.

Um and this will be a three-year request for these tax credits, and what I just wanted to just you know share with my colleagues as we're looking at where our these tax dollars should go towards.

Um it's really important that we know prioritize properties that are to its completion and ready to go, um, just so we can prioritize who's actually ready to sustain and build housing um in this situation.

Uh there this is a phenomenal um development, and I'm really happy to see that there's a hundred percent affordable housing.

Um, but we won't actually see that until years to come.

Um so as we're you know looking at how we can most utilize and maximize our tax credits.

I think that's something that you know will be worth exploring around our factors of how we are scoring um for projects.

So I just wanted to share that with my colleagues because I didn't get a chance to to mention that last time.

Okay, but I will be in support of this item.

Um great.

Thank you, Councilmember Bowie.

Any other questions or comments?

Chair Johnson.

Yeah, I appreciate that.

Uh that not a council member.

I think in this instance when we had three applications, it seemed like the only existing uh property was the Ramsey Hill uh application, but separately, they were also the lowest scoring um when it came to just the criteria and the review uh and I think that some of the other factors that weighed into some of the to the both of the other two that scored significantly higher than that particular project.

Um to me, that just was uh piece that I wanted to highlight was the affordability pieces, was the you know, the attention to um some of the equity measures too that are important to me.

I know I'm just really excited to see that um one, I think the Aragon development um needs to actually continue to have that investment in order to be successful in a space that has not um been utilized at this time for for several years now.

And I know that when we've gone through through the discussions with uh community members having different events in my ward to discuss the Aragon project, um, you know, one of the things that I think is really important is the continued partnership that it requires with the city, and um, so I'm looking forward to that as we go into the next couple of years.

Uh and I think that all of the proposed projects also had a line item of what they expected to come back to the city for additional funding on in this case, and so none of them were going to just be a one-time piece.

Um, but I think being able to have uh folks that are going to utilize this funds.

The one nod that I will put in, I think that these funding sources should continue to remain in investing in affordable housing.

And as we continue to talk about uh LITEC and our lower income housing tax credits, um, you know, one piece that I would share is that we have affordability, you know, 30-year affordability currently in projects like this that would require them to maintain their affordability for a 30-year period of time.

I know in the few in upcoming weeks we'll be discussing whether or not to change some of our projects to a 15-year requirement.

And part of my opposition to that is because I want to continue to see investments in projects this way.

And so um, you know, one of the things that I will just share with you is that this is uh currently a vacant lot that sits in my ward um that has warranted a lot of conversations locally.

We have had several um office hours about our community event spaces, um, you know, and Beacon Interfaith in particular has done meetings with community members to talk about um this project, why it's important, what their commitment is to our award, and I think that's part of the reason why I got pushed over the edge with the scoring modules.

And so I'm just really excited to continue that partnership over the next couple of years.

It's something that I, you know, I'm supportive of the project itself, and overall just um really supportive of our low-income housing tax credits continuing to go towards long-term uh affordability and communities that want it.

And so just genuinely uh overall supportive, and with that I'd move uh motion.

Oh, great.

Yes, thank you, Chair Johnson.

So we have our motion on the table for approval of this item.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Five in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item number two, resolution public hearing 25-237.

Resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of conduit charter school lease revenue refunding bonds under Minnesota statutes, sections 469.152 through 469.1655 for the twin cities German immersion school project.

Thank you.

Um, so this item was also presented to us last week.

So the next next step here is a public hearing.

And so for folks that are here to speak to this item, you will have two minutes to speak, and there will be a timer in front of you, and I will have to stop you if you get to two minutes.

So with that being said, um this is a public hearing on this item.

If there's anyone here to speak to this item, please come forward.

Okay, going once, going twice.

All right.

Um so with that, I'll take a motion from Councilmember Coleman to close the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed the public hearing is five in favor, none opposed.

The public hearing is closed and the resolution is adopted.

Item number three.

Sorry, we're just we're just closing the public hearing.

So um I'd want to move forward, move to discussion on this item.

So does anyone have any any comments on this item before we take a vote?

Yes, Councilman Rieer.

Thanks, Vice Chair Joelist.

Well, I uh want to say thank you to the guests from Twin Cities, German and Mashing School uh for coming here and speaking last week.

I also just want to say broadly that um I think it's really great for us to always have guest speakers for these sort of items.

That way we can get a face to the name and get to meet the representatives too.

So um, if that's something that um Chair Joe's uh Chair Vice Chair Joseph and Chair Johnson have been requesting, I want to say thank you and encourage us to continue making those requests.

Um I um just want to uh say overall that um during my time on the council.

I haven't been voting in favor of the conduit revenue bonds for charter schools and private schools, really, because big picture wise, there is a negative fiscal impact to our public school or public school systems and St.

Paul Public Schools to be specific, and I have had many conversations with them about this already.

So to be consistent, I will not be voting in uh in support of this item here.

Thank you, Councilmember Yang.

Is there any other discussion?

All right, I'll take a motion from uh councilmember Bowie to approve this item.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed?

No.

Four in favor, one opposed.

That being Commissioner Yang.

The resolution is adopted.

Staff report item number three, staff report 25-217, Highland Bridge update from Ryan Companies and Widener Apartment Homes.

So we have um, so just a little background.

The this is a presentation at the HRA for the Highland Bridge development, and we have the master developer Ryan as well as um representatives from Widener Apartment Homes here today.

This presentation was requested earlier this year, I believe in May, um, around the time that the HRA made um several decisions around the Highland Bridge development.

So that is what this presentation is for today.

And so we have um Sean Ryan and Nick Nowatarski here to present to us on a progress update on our development.

They have a lot of really exciting things to share.

So I will turn it over to them.

Okay, thank you very much.

Okay, okay.

Um Chair, Commissioners, thank you very much.

My name is Sean Ryan.

I'm a developer with Ryan Companies overseeing the Highland Bridge project.

Um thank you for the opportunity to provide an update on the gateway project, formerly known uh block 2B2C, as well as Outlock B and Blocks 11 and um 16.

Um since May, Highland Bridge has seen a flurry of activity.

Um, and that activity can be attributed to the action that this group took in in May.

So we thank you for that.

Um with that action, we've ensured that hundreds of new housing units will be built in the um next three to four years, which is just great activity for the site and for the city.

Uh the gateway project is well underway.

Construction began in June, and we remain on track um for the forecasted turnover date of October of 26.

Uh, just to reorient everybody uh to the area.

Um, so we are um along the corner of Ford Parkway in Creton.

Um, and this is a 97-unit uh multifamily market rate uh residential building with um about 23,000 square foot in retail.

So here's a progress shot of where we sat, and this is a couple weeks ago, so you'll see in the next couple photos how much further we we've also become.

So the footings and foundations are complete, uh, the structured parking, uh, the pre the pre-cast structured parking and the parking slab on grade is also complete.

Uh first floor exterior wall framing is ongoing.

Uh for the fourth floor wood framing.

Uh so the apartment units begins on uh 1015, so today.

Um, and then the in-unit uh MEP uh rough in will begin uh later this month.

Um roof installation um is shooting for 11 uh 5 and really you know the push is to get watertight before we um see uh see the cold weather.

So um as you can see here, this is focusing on the uh four-story multi uh family building, uh the anchor building of the of the site.

So um as you can see here, this is focusing on the uh four-story multi-uh family building, uh the anchor building of the of the site, um, and this is the wood framing going up on um you know uh second and third floor right now.

Um this is a shot of the underground parking ramp.

Um so this will be the residential parking.

Um and then on the right here, we have a shot looking into the retail that will be off Ford Parkway that's part of the mixed use building.

Um a couple interior shots of the uh future apartment building, um, so the hallway on second floor, as well as a look into one of the uh early uh framing pictures for um uh one of our units.

And then here I'd like to just share, you know, this was a rendering that we shared uh a number of times leading up to construction and kind of a like shot of looking down the pedestrian corridor that will separate the multifamily on the right with uh block uh 2C, which is the Tierra and Cantata daycare that will be starting next summer.

Um a quick update just on the retail components.

Uh so we have three standalone retail buildings along Ford Parkway.

Uh the footy and foundations of those are also complete with the shell underground plumbing and utility installation ongoing.

Um structural steel erection will begin at the end of this month, um, and rough decking will shortly follow that.

The exterior wall framing will begin 11-3 with exterior brick insulation uh happening shortly after.

So same same idea there is to get watertight so we can uh continue building those out during the winter.

A few photos looking down at our our retail.

Um one thing I I would like to point out just and it was a point of discussion um during our entitlements um uh late last year, but one of the you know main characteristics of the retail that that we discussed in great lengths was you know connecting it with Ford Parkway.

And as you can see, our each building subsequently steps down uh to maintain that 16-foot grade change from um Ford Parkway, uh kind of looking west.

So we uh we feel we're keeping that connectivity with with the pedestrian uh sidewalk along Ford Parkway.

And then uh specific to 2C, so this is Tierra and Contata space along Cretan.

Uh again, putium foundations are complete, uh utilities ongoing near incomplete probably this week.

Uh structural steel erection is ongoing, exterior wall framing uh start next week with roof installation at the same time.

Uh the scheduled turnover right now to Tierra is June of 26, and we anticipate that they will start uh almost immediately building out their uh TI build out with a with a hope hopeful open opening of next fall.

Um Sean, could you uh could you explain what TI means?

Yeah, uh tenant improvements.

Sorry.

So we are building the shells, so four walls and the roof and kind of getting it watertight, and they will come in and build the actual classrooms, um, do the interior, you know, fit out for the space.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So a couple shots of the uh structural steel being erected there.

Um and then one update that we're we're really excited to um kind of unveil today is you know, we're we're excited that we're able to deliver upon our goal of incorporating elements of the historic Ford plant into the anchor building, the multi-family mixed use building and 2B2C or the gateway.

Um the distinguished architect Albert Kahn designed the original Ford plant using his patented convict, and when the plant was ultimately demolished, um portions of it were carefully taken down and stored for the last few years with the intent of being able to reuse some of those elements on site.

And we're happy to announce that we uh are going to be using that along the east facade of the multi-family building that faces uh Civic Square, the future Civic Square.

So I think that's uh you know, we heard we've heard over the years just the importance of the history uh with that Ford plant and being able to utilize it is something that we're we're very proud that we're able to accomplish.

So here are a couple um uh photos of us removing the the con facade pieces um where they've been stored on site and starting to lay them out and kind of putting the pieces together.

Um as you can imagine, it's a little bit of a jigsaw puzzle, but um it's uh it's a fun one.

And then also um I'd like to share a few new updates on the Civic Square Outlap B.

Um this is on the directly on the corner of Ford Parkway and Creton Avenue.

Um this is a civic space similar to uh the Civic Plaza uh closer to that's down by the central water feature.

Uh this will be owned by the Master Association, similar to the Central Water feature, and uh privately operated with public asset access and public easements.

And so this just to kind of orient uh everybody on where we're looking.

Obviously, we're looking at a site plan.

So the the top right corner uh of this would be uh the intersection of Ford Parkway and uh Crete.

So a few of the uh highlights of this, um, you know, we're creating a um uh a kind of a public space for people to meet.

Um we really view this as like the gateway into Highland Bridge and and a way for people to kind of meet here and then get you know take their uh kind of walk through the pedestrian um walkway through 2B and 2C and then into the Civic Plaza and kind of further into Highland Bridge itself.

So we're gonna have a central element uh sculpture element.

Um right now we're looking at using a couple of the larger freezes that are also part of the Ford uh building.

Um but it will you know we'll include you know bench seating, you know, sidewalks, landscaping, and really just creating a really welcoming place that will serve really as the entrance, but also you know, a meeting spot for people.

We have the you can kind of see the uh seating that we have along the left side of the multifamily building.

The intent there is to have a uh restaurant um tenant uh take that space and really activate you know the sidewalks even between the few spaces.

Um the design is really incorporated around being able to maintain kind of that viewpoint through that pedestrian walkway, which is why you know, from Ford Parkway, you'd be able to kind of see directly through to the uh Civic Plaza and the um pergola that's on um uh Marbella phase one.

And just a quick update on the timing there.

So by the end of the month, uh we'll look we'll look to submit our 60% design.

Um, and then you know, through March uh 2026, we'll kind of create we'll be complete with design ready for permitting with an anticipated start of um you know late uh spring, early summer of 2026, and with the intent to be completed and uh open uh when the uh not only the residential but here in Cantata opens up in the fall.

Just a couple more shots of of that Civic Square.

Perfect.

Hi, I'm Nick Noatarski, I'm the development director with Widener Apartment Homes.

Uh, thank you for giving me this opportunity to present and give you an update today.

Uh so really what we want to focus on today is just a quick update on blocks 11 and 16.

Uh big picture, we are on schedule and progressing well in terms of design and permitting on these projects.

Um block 11, uh, as you can see on the screen is the northernmost of the two blocks that are squared off here.

That's the one that's uh slated to start construction this spring summer uh of 2026, and that has uh the actual count is dancing around 175 units, so a little bit north of what we originally uh specified uh with about 2,000 square feet of retail, and then block 16 would be our next block, the just south of block 11, and that's gonna be about 180 units, plus or minus, and another plus or minus 2,000 square feet of retail.

Uh so like I said, schedule is progressing well.

Um when you think about designing a building, there's kind of three main stages that we kind of control on our side of the aisle.

It's schematic design, uh development design, and then construction documentation.

We've finished those first two segments of design, and we're about halfway through construction documentation.

Uh so almost completed on our side.

Uh we are close to submitting for entitlements.

We'll submit those in November.

We've already had two pre-app meetings with the city to help make sure that our submission is exactly what the city's looking for.

City staff has been super helpful in helping kind of flush out a few of those early items that we wanted to talk about.

Um have a couple neighborhood meetings in the next uh we have one next week with the district council, and then we have another one slated for November, and then big picture, we will be submitting our building permit in January, um, which gives us plenty of time working with city staff and talking through the timelines to put us in a position to start construction, you know, late spring, early summer of next year.

Um to share some renderings on the project.

We don't usually kind of necessarily go into that, but I think it's helpful to kind of show you know how proud we are of this building and how much it means to us to be part of the city and really try to do something special.

So big big picture, we we've designed this building to be the Californian.

Um to ownership to Mr.

Widener, it was paramount for him to not have 10 blocks of the same thing that are all just you know hardy boxes and are just squares and read as like monolithic structures.

He wants each building to have a little bit of a unique identity, but not to be so much of an outlier that it doesn't look as one cohesive project.

So for this building, we targeted it is the Californian.

That's something we've talked about for a couple years uh with city staff as well.

But what you'll notice is a lot of a lighter color scheme, really kind of pulling from like a Southern California architecture.

Uh we have very high quality the uh the woodlook siding we have you see right there, kind of in the middle of the screen is actually uh metal panel.

Uh very, very high-end siding.

Um we have a lot of masonry right at the pedestrian level.

We're using uh a very uh high-end kind of stone material, uh specified as aerostone right now.

Um, but you know, really kind of the elevations and the renderings and kind of getting the right aesthetic design is super important for us.

So we really want to deliver something that we're proud of, and we hope the city is equally proud of.

Um all these design renderings are a little bit point in time, so these are about 99% of the way there, just so everybody knows.

This will continue advancing as we get through permitting.

Uh, this is showing you uh the uh opposite corner of what you just saw.

Uh so this is the northwestern corner with kind of the water central water feature over to the right.

But again, kind of really pulling in that warm wood look.

We have this great kind of uh stretched parapet wall over the top of the building to add some curves.

Uh the nature of the site really wants it to be rectilinear, so it's it's we want to find some ways to introduce some softness into that.

Uh this is the northeastern corner.

Uh so kind of as you come down Creedon, this is gonna be your first impression of the building.

Um this elevation, particularly lower level, we're still working through a couple nuances there, so that's gonna change a bit.

But um, as you can see, like again, the goal is to look at the building and not have it read as one large mass.

It's to break it down to get it into that human scale.

Uh this is the western view of the building from the water feature.

So opening up, it's a U-shaped building, opens up to the west, lots of less in a lot of natural light.

Uh, true to California, we actually have some faux palm trees uh around the pool and a little bit kind of kind of sprinkled out throughout the the site plan.

Uh front entryway.

Uh so this is the southeastern corner of our site.

We'll have our residential lobby, and we've actually moved the retail to be on this this corner as well.

And when we think about that, it's really kind of like this big picture perspective of uh, you know, between block 11, block 16, 12, and 17.

We want to kind of the plan is to pull back the corners of those buildings to open it up for this nice kind of pedestrian square to really kind of activate it, have people be able to walk through there to have our retail kind of focused into the zone.

And that's what you're seeing is kind of this is the first iteration of this on this building.

Umpposite side, you know, this is again kind of on that central water feature, and then over on the right hand of the screen is actually between block 11 and 16, which is a uh pedestrian pathway that we're working with city staff on.

Um, so that's really the renderings for block 11.

Um, like I said, we are moving along on schedule as we anticipated.

Uh, don't see any issues there.

Um block 16 is basically you know, everything from block 11 but about a year later.

So we are working through the site and concept design right now with the Ryan Design team.

Uh you know, that section of the design, you know, everything builds upon it.

Um, so kind of getting that right from the get-go is fundamental for project success.

So actively working through that.

We don't necessarily have anything to share on that design quite yet.

Um, but the plan is to kind of same thing, fall of next year, submit entitlements, winter of next year, like in a year from now, submit for building permit, and that puts us on on the pathway to starting construction spring summer of 27.

Uh, with that, you know, that's that's all we have as far as prepared remarks.

Um, if you're if there's any questions, uh, we're we're happy to help tackle those.

Thank you so much, Nick and Sean.

Does anyone have any questions?

Uh Councilman Ray.

Thanks, Vice Chair Joles.

Well, first I want to say thank you all so much for coming and giving the council an update.

I am really pleased to hear that your construction is going according to plan, that you're on uh track with your timeline as well.

I'm just looking at the the different block schedules here, like for when construction is you want it to start and finish.

Do you have any thoughts on when uh when it the buildings will be moving ready?

It looks like block 11 here will be more moving ready um more than let's see here, it's like a year ahead, right on the timeline compared to block 16.

So block 11, the construction timelines 18, 19, 20 months, somewhere right in that time period.

Um, so you know, call it a year and a half after when we start.

So like I said, starts planned for late spring or summer of next year.

So it's kind of the you know, winter of uh 2027 into 2028.

Okay for uh 11 and 16 would be about a year after that.

Okay, thank you.

Chair Johnson.

And just to refresh my mind, can you just uh can you tell me again the breakdown for the units for block 11 and 16?

Sure, sorry.

Um, so uh block 11, the actual numbers uh 175 right now.

Uh you know, that might move around a unit or two as we wrap up design.

Um and then for block 16, we're still massing it, but it's it's right at 180.

Any other questions?

Um, well, thank you so much, Sean and Nick for being here.

I really um I have a few comments.

I I I mean, the the top thing that I heard is that we are on schedule and on track, which I'm very happy to hear.

Um we I know as a community in Ward 3 that we really appreciate um seeing these buildings go up, and especially at the gateway.

Um they've been been going up very quickly.

We um I was really happy to be there for the groundbreaking, which was in June.

And here we are at October, and so to see the progress that has been made so quickly, um, honestly, like as someone who works in this industry and designs and uh watches buildings go up.

I I don't know if I've seen buildings go up quite that quickly.

Maybe I'm trying to think of a few times, but I that that is such a testament to to your team and also to all of the folks that are working on the site, the superintendent, the subcontractors, everyone.

It takes a lot to keep a project on track and on time.

There's so many things that can like just you know knock you off your schedule slightly.

And so hopefully I haven't you know jinxed us here, but I'm really really happy to see that.

And um, you know, I uh am really proud of the the partnership that we have together and the um the you know earlier in May the HRA approved a series of agreements, and in those agreements, um if folks that are watching don't remember, where that block 11 will be um starting design and then you know being constructed next year with the block 16 to follow.

And so I'm really happy to see that that those um those projects are on track.

And um, I think that I also really enjoy the renderings that you shared uh as someone also that's you know worked in this industry when you see the renderings and then to look at the construction side by side with the renderings to see what they look like.

I really appreciate and also to see just the the actual structure of the buildings.

You know, it's not often that um that you know when you look at a building, you don't you don't get to see that unless you see the building being constructed because everything gets covered up, and so I really enjoyed seeing the you know the structural steel and the precast and the wood and all of those, all those different components.

And I would really encourage you know my colleagues uh to come by Highland Bridge.

It's it's moving very quickly, so um, and you can see it's gonna continue to move quickly.

They're gonna start constructing um some of the the wood.

Um they're gonna be moving through that very quickly and tapping a lot of those things off.

So, you know, come by and and check it out when you're when you're in ward three um as these as these projects continue to move along over the next few years here.

Any other questions or comments?

Come on, or Chair Johnson.

Thank you.

I just wanted to uh echo thanks very to both of you for coming out in person to give the update.

I um know that that was some of the council with the HRA discussions around just annual updates this way, and so I appreciated the we did appreciate the email and received the email.

I know the council president and council vice president weren't able to be here today, but I know the council president may or may not have uh any follow-up, so I'll just preface that uh just because she's not here, and I know that she had asked for the for the presentation originally too.

And so I just wanted to share our share, like it's appreciative to have you both here.

Um, you know, Nick, it's great to see you again as well, and to see the progress that is being made on the site.

Um, you know, in part because we we as a council body uh did make several, I think, uh several changes this year that I feel like have been in the spirit of of uh trying to move along this this site and um wanting to see development continue to happen in our city, and so it's great to um see that uh some while I didn't vote for the exemption, it's great to see that folks um that are making good on the uh reason as to why it was brought up in the first place.

And so I just want to say that that's that is appreciated, and it's great to see the progress here.

Um I know our winter sea season is among us, but I hope it holds off long enough for you to finish through this.

Um I uh genuinely am just like I hope you can get there.

It felt a little cold today.

I'm outside I was like, here we go.

Um, but I hope that you're able to get like your roof installation and stuff together with no problems.

Uh Minnesota is unpredictable in that way, but usually predictable in the sense that we know it's coming, we just don't know when.

Uh, but just want to say thank you for taking the time to come out and give it in person.

It it's just so many things that you can add pictures and life to that uh email just can't do.

So totally understand.

And thank you for having us.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Chair Johnson.

Yes, I I echo that.

I really appreciate both of you coming out, and I do think when you do get the presentation in person, it's it it does bring so much more to it than than reading it.

And I'm so excited to see development moving along at Highland Bridge, and I also look forward to you know all the other projects we have across the city and watching those go up here in the coming years.

So thank you so much to you both.

Uh and with nothing else to come before us, we are adjourned.