Saint Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting – April 1, 2026
Saint Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting – April 1, 2026
The Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall. Chair Cheniqua Johnson presided. The meeting covered approval of minutes, two development resolutions, and three staff reports on housing programs, HRA land disposition, and small-scale development goals. All votes were unanimous.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes (MIN 26-11): Commissioner Yang moved to approve the March 2026 HRA meeting minutes. The motion carried 6-0, with Commissioner Jost absent. Minutes from March 4, 11, and 25 were adopted.
- RES 26-515 – CDBG Loan for 202 Cesar Chavez Street: Commissioner Noecker sponsored a resolution authorizing a Community Development Block Grant loan agreement between the City and JRDM Investments, LLC. The board had previously received a staff report. The resolution passed 7-0 after Commissioner Jost arrived.
- RES 26-516 – Designate Reuter Walton Development as Tentative Developer of 0 Robert Street South: Commissioner Noecker moved to designate Reuter Walton as tentative developer for the Fox Lot properties (between Fairfield Ave and Plato Blvd). Commissioner Noecker noted the developer's commitment to affordable housing, larger units, and public/green space, and urged adherence to the Westside Flats master plan for commercial uses. The resolution passed 7-0.
- Healthy Homes and Power of Home Programs Update (SR 26-59): Housing Specialist David Schroeder presented. Healthy Homes provides pre-weatherization and weatherization for owner-occupied 1–4 unit homes, eligibility via 80% AMI, income-qualified program participation, or a geographic map. Power of Home offers electrification for single-family owner-occupied homes, eligibility via 50% AMI or the geographic map. To date: 29 homes in Healthy Homes, 15 in Power of Home. Estimated annual savings for 14 homes: $9,700, with GHG reductions equivalent to removing 14 cars from the road. Power of Home savings calculations are pending. Healthy Homes funding expires at the end of 2026; Power of Home has recurring $300,000/year. Maximum grant per program is $50,000. Implementation partner is Center for Energy and the Environment. Referrals are two-way with Energy Sense Coalition and CAPRW. Outreach has been minimal but interest is growing via word of mouth, council offices, and a newsletter. Commissioners asked about income breakdowns, owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied status (no renter-occupied properties above duplex to date). Chair Johnson requested follow-up data on AMI categories. The presentation was received and filed.
- HRA Owned Land Disposition or Development Plan for 2026 (SR 26-60): Economic Development Supervisor Daniela Lorenz presented. The HRA owns about 200 parcels across six wards (none in Ward 3). Staff is focused on two categories: (1) ~40 NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) parcels, which require affordable homeownership outcomes, and (2) ~30 parcels suitable for transfer to the city for public works, parks, or infrastructure. Transfers are batched geographically and save the HRA maintenance and assessment costs. Lorenz noted 150 of the 200 parcels are developable. A new interactive online map is being launched to increase transparency; future updates include online applications and a development newsletter. Commissioner Noecker suggested highlighting specific parcels (like “parcel of the week”) to spur interest. The report was received and filed.
- Update on HRA Small Scale Development Goals and 2026 Plan (SR 26-61): Ms. Lorenz continued. Since 2013, the Inspiring Communities Program has designated 240 parcels for small-scale development, focusing on affordable homeownership. Outcomes: 195 parcels rehabbed or developed into homes, producing 250 units of housing for income-qualified buyers (30%–120% AMI, mostly 60–80% AMI). The program supports emerging and hyperlocal developers. Current small-scale projects include 560 Brunson (4-unit townhomes), 1195 Burr, 810 Atlantic, and 47 Douglas. Upcoming: tentative developer designations for properties on Wheel Lock Parkway and Jackson, and a twin home at 1087 Ross. RFP #8 for three NSP properties will be brought forward soon. Commissioner Yang clarified that Inspiring Communities homes must go to buyers under 120% AMI. Commissioner Bowie asked about past transactions with MnDOT and involvement of district councils in RFPs; staff confirmed they have worked with district councils on scoping. The report was received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved (6-0).
- RES 26-515 adopted (7-0).
- RES 26-516 adopted (7-0).
- Staff reports received and filed (Healthy Homes, HRA Land, Small Scale Development).
- Next meeting: April 22, 2026.
- Adjournment: 3:03 PM. The Chair noted the Emergency Rental Assistance Program opened that day, with 56 applications already received.
Meeting Transcript
To order. Roll call, please. Cushy. Bowie? Here. Coleman? Here. Jost. Kim? Here. Naker. Here. Yang. Here. Chair Johnson. Here. There are six present and one absent, that being Commissioner Jost. Item number one are the minutes. MIN 26-11. Approval of the March 2026 HRA meeting minutes. All right. I'm I'm trusting that everybody had a chance to review it. I'll take a motion from uh Commissioner Yang to approve all those in favor. Aye. All opposed. Six in favor, zero opposed. The minutes are adopted. Item number two for discussion, RES 26-515. Authorization of CDBG loan agreement by and between the City of St. Paul and JRDM Investments, LLC for 202 Caesar Chavez Street, District 3 Ward 2. Okay, the next two items. We actually had the staff report in our previous HRA meeting. Um but if there are any additional questions on this item, I'll take them now. All right, seeing none, I'll take a motion from Commissioner Naker to approve. All those in favor? I all opposed. Seven in favor, zero opposed. The resolution is adapted. Authorization to designate Rotor Walton Development LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company or another entity that is affiliated with and controlled by Rotor Walton Development LLC developer. If you all recall again, we had a staff report on this last meeting, but we also had a chance to hear from the Reuters Walton team. Thanks, Chair. Uh just again, thanks to staff for the work on this to Rider Walton for their uh interest in this property and for their commitment to develop um large-scale affordable housing, especially with larger units and the really exciting public space and green space. Um just to note, this is something I've corresponded with staff about, but want to make sure that we also are looking closely at the Westside Flats master plan, which guides development in the area to make sure that if there's commercial space called for, for example, um, or whatever the uses are that that plan dictated that we're also adhering to that as the development moves forward. But I'm in strong support, so I would move approval. Thank you, Commissioner Neaker, and I appreciate those sentiments as well and just hearing a little bit more from what the what the findings will be or what kind of the uses that you're referring to to on the West Side's flat space to ensure that that's what happens. Um I know that there's been a lot of interest on this uh this overall site coming together, and so it's a primary example of what it looks like when a land acquisition goes our way, um, where we can actually see what we intended to see on this on the space uh come to fruition. So Commissioner Neaker has a uh motion to approve. Um all those in favor? I all opposed. Seven favor seven in favor, zero opposed.
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