Saint Paul HRA Meeting June 10, 2026: Property Acquisition, Affordable Housing Projects, Rental Assistance Update, and TIF Approval
Saint Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting – June 10, 2026
The Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board met on June 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered several items including the acquisition of property at 259 University Avenue W, an update on the Inspiring Communities program for a duplex development at 1087 Ross Avenue, an update on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, an introduction to reservations of funds for projects applying to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), and later reconvened after the City Council meeting to approve the Galtier Plaza Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. All resolutions were adopted unanimously. Commissioner Anika Bowie arrived late at 2:02 PM.
Discussion Items
-
Resolution 26-941 – Acquisition of 259 University Avenue W: The Board approved the acquisition of real property located at 259 University Avenue W, District 7, Ward 1. Chair Cheniqua Johnson noted that this acquisition complements existing HRA-owned parcels on the site and expressed hope for future redevelopment. Commissioner Bowie highlighted community engagement and support, including work with district councils and community partners like NDC. The resolution passed 7-0.
-
Staff Report 26-117 – Inspiring Communities (1087 Ross Avenue): Senior Project Manager Claire Pettry presented a proposal from M&M Real Estate LLC (developer Mohamoud Mire) to develop a duplex on vacant HRA-owned land at 1087 Ross Avenue. The three-bedroom, two-bath units would be sold separately to families earning up to 120% AMI, with an estimated sale price of $235,000 per unit. The total development cost is $906,800, with a per-unit subsidy of $195,900 (total gap $391,800). The developer is a recent participant in Ramsey County’s Emerging and Diverse Developer program. The Board will consider final approval at the June 24 meeting.
-
Staff Report 26-118 – Emergency Rental Assistance Program Updates: Housing Supervisor Christina Bridston provided an update on the rental assistance program, which provides up to $3,500 per household to halt evictions. In April and May 2026, 257 applications were received, 47 were processed (selected via random lottery), and 31 were approved and paid totaling $87,226. Average payment was $2,766. Staffing is currently at 0.5 FTE; hiring for 2.5 FTE is underway with interviews scheduled, aiming for full staffing by August. The Board discussed the lottery system, AI-generated fraudulent applications, and geographic distribution of applications via heat maps. The program will aim to process 50 applications per month starting June. No action was taken.
-
Staff Report 26-119 – Reservation of Funds for MHFA Projects: Housing Supervisor Sarah Zorn presented an informational overview of six projects seeking reservation of funds (totaling approximately $15.95 million) to secure points in MHFA’s Consolidated RFP. Projects include Hams West End Apartments (70 units), Gloryville (69 units + grocery), Face to Face (24 units supportive housing), Westminster Vista (147 units), Aragon (53 units), and Ramsey Hill (54 units). The reservations are non-binding; final funding decisions will occur after MHFA’s December board decision. The Board will vote on the reservations at the June 24 meeting.
-
Resolution 26-926 – Galtier Plaza Tax Increment Financing District: After recessing to the City Council meeting for a public hearing, the HRA reconvened and adopted Resolution 26-926, approving the establishment of the Galtier Plaza TIF District, an amendment to the Minnesota Event TIF Plan, an HRA budget amendment, and related documents including a TIF note and forgivable loan. The resolution passed 7-0. The meeting minutes note that public comments in opposition were submitted by Robert Muschewske and Gerald Mischke, and letters of support were submitted by SPDA & SPDDC and Bill Hanley (via St. Paul Business Times).
Key Outcomes
- Approved acquisition of 259 University Avenue W (Resolution 26-941) – vote: 7-0.
- Approved Galtier Plaza TIF District and related actions (Resolution 26-926) – vote: 7-0.
- Received and filed staff reports 26-117, 26-118, and 26-119.
- Next HRA meeting scheduled for June 24, 2026, where the Board will consider the Inspiring Communities duplex sale and the MHFA funding reservations.
Note: The meeting began at 2:00 PM and recessed after staff reports; reconvened after the City Council public hearing on item 5. Final adjournment time not specified.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, well, we'll go. Well, we've got the words. Oh, I went no. We development authority to order. Roll call, please. Bowie. Coleman. Here. Joe's here. Kim. Here. Naker? Here. Yang here. Chair Johnson. Here. There are six present and one absent. That'd be Commissioner Bowie. Item number one is for discussion. Resolution 26-941. Resolution approving the acquisition of real property located at 259 University Avenue West District 7 Ward 1. All right. So we had introduction to this item last week. You know, I will just simply simply share that. I think that this is an acquisition that makes sense, especially with the HRA owning several other parcels on the site. I'm really looking forward to progress on the site. I think we have had a couple of properties in the cities where we would love to see movement, especially with ones that we've owned for almost 20 years. And so this acquisition, I hope, is like the final piece of what will soon be a redevelopment on this in this area. And so I hope that you know we will see progress. I'm looking forward to what will come in the future for this area, and I am thrilled to work with Commissioner Bowie on this, and also just in general, really excited to see what the future holds for the site itself. With that, I'll take a motion from Commissioner Bowie to approve. Is there any discussion or questions? Commissioner Bowie. Thank you, Chair Johnson. And just want to say thank you again for all the conversations that we have had about the acquisition in the briefing that we had last week. Well in advance, you know, about this location. I was just even really thinking about my time with former director um Nicole, particularly around you know the the multiple attempts right to work with different developers over the course of time, and you know, really seeing this as a solution to really help this site and get this site the density that it deserves and uh we had a phenomenal um policy uh meeting about just urban development and I really see this as a great opportunity and a model for not only affordable housing but higher density and more retail um the things that create for productive um development. Um I also wanted to uh make mention that there's a lot of community um engagement and support around this site. I actually just live just a few blocks away, and when I think about you know the the excitement I have for it, I'm really um you know wanted to highlight the work of not only our district councils but we have um some amazing community partners in terms of NDC um right there as well, who are all invested in driving a community-driven process, which is you know really essential. So with that, just want to say thank you again. Um this is just uh one step uh with the acquisition, and we'll be seeing more actions in the future when it comes to the demolition. We'll make sure to share the timeline um with the public. Um but we also just want to just make sure we're letting people know hey, here's the opportunity to invest in St. Paul, and this is an amazing opportunity to invest on the university corridor as well. Wonderful, thank you so much, uh Commissioner Bowie. All those in favor. Hi, hi, all opposed, seven in favor, zero opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item number two is staff report SR26-117, inspiring communities 1087 Ross Avenue. All right, I'll hand this over to Director McMahon.
openpublica.com