Saint Paul HRA Meeting – June 24, 2026: Fund Reservations, Covenant Release, and Property Sale
Saint Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting – June 24, 2026
The Saint Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall. Chair Cheniqua Johnson presided. Commissioners Anika Bowie and Molly Coleman were excused; Commissioners HwaJeong Kim and Molly Coleman arrived later during the meeting. The meeting lasted 20 minutes and included three action items: a resolution to reserve funds for state housing applications, a resolution to release a 4(d) affordable housing covenant on a property being sold to an owner-occupier, and a public hearing to approve the sale and redevelopment of an HRA-owned parcel.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public testified during the public hearing for Item 3 (1087 Ross Avenue sale). Chair Johnson called for testimony, and seeing none, closed the hearing.
Discussion Items
- RES 26-1008 – Reservation of Funds for Saint Paul Projects Applying for Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Funding – Chair Johnson expressed strong support for the resolution, noting the importance of state investments in the city's affordable housing and redevelopment projects, particularly on the East Side and throughout the city. She thanked staff and developers for their work over many years. The board discussed no further questions; the resolution was approved 4-0 (Commissioners Noecker, Yang, Johnson, Jost in favor; Bowie, Kim, Coleman absent).
- RES 26-1026 – Authorization to Release the 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program Covenant on 556 Gotzian St. – Executive Director Melanie McMahon introduced the item, noting it was a time-sensitive action item. Project Management Tech Lucas Allen presented, explaining that 556 Gotzian Street is a single unit restricted at 50% AMI enrolled in the 4(d) program in 2023. The property is being sold to an income-qualifying owner-occupier (80% AMI) who is also using down payment assistance. Since the property will no longer be a rental, the 4(d) covenant, which provides up to an 80% property tax reduction for rental units, was being requested for release to clear title. Commissioners discussed the timing and process: the sale was initially scheduled before the HRA meeting, pushing back the closing to accommodate board action. Chair Johnson raised concerns about the lack of earlier communication to the HRA regarding the sale, and whether property owners in the 4(d) program fully understand their obligation to notify the city of a pending sale. Commissioner Noecker noted that the annual compliance check mitigates risk, as non-compliance simply means loss of the tax benefit. Further discussion explored whether there is a mechanism to recapture the tax benefit if the property stops being affordable mid-year; staff agreed to follow up with state partners on implementation details. Commissioner Kim asked whether the title company's discovery of the declaration triggered the notification. Staff clarified that owners are expected to have awareness through annual compliance. The board approved the resolution 6-0 (Noecker, Yang, Johnson, Jost, Kim, Coleman in favor; Bowie absent).
- RES PH 26-145 – Sale and Conveyance of HRA-owned Parcel at 1087 Ross Avenue – This was a public hearing item. Chair Johnson opened the hearing; no testimony was offered. Commissioner Yang moved to close the hearing and approve the resolution. The board voted 6-0 to adopt, authorizing the sale, development agreement, and expenditures for redevelopment in District 4, Ward 6.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted RES 26-1008 (4-0) – Reservation of funds for Saint Paul projects applying for Minnesota Housing Finance Agency funding.
- Adopted RES 26-1026 (6-0) – Released the 4(d) affordable housing covenant on 556 Gotzian St. to facilitate the sale to an income-qualifying owner-occupier.
- Adopted RES PH 26-145 (6-0) – Approved the sale and redevelopment of the HRA-owned parcel at 1087 Ross Avenue.
- Next Meeting: July 8, 2026 (no meeting July 1 or July 15; next meeting after July 8 is July 22).
- Adjournment: 2:20 PM.
Meeting Transcript
No one's working. But we don't have that one. And then we have one and then do it. I think we're going to go. And then you're not going to be able to do that. Okay. All right. Calling the before the St. Paul Howard and Redevelopment Authority's order. Roll call, please. Here, can you? Here. Yeah? Here. Chair Johnson? Here. There are four present and three absent. Commissioners Bowie and Coleman are excused. Item number one for discussion is resolution twenty-six-one zero zero eight. Reservation of funds for certain St. Paul projects applying for funding for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. All right. So we had a presentation both on the as well as informational staff reports that were presented at the last meeting. Just wanted to say thank you guys for all the work that has continued. I think we're following some of these projects over the course of many years. I see several folks and some of the developers of these projects as well. So that can create our consistency and going back to MHFA for additional funding. I am hopeful that we will continue to see the investment in the city of St. Paul, especially surrounding some of our form of housing projects and redevelopment projects here. It's very important to see the state investments. The microphone catches up. Wonderful. But yes, just very, very important when we have, you know, we've seen some of these projects come before us last year, before that. So seeing them and ensuring that their investments is persistent with our dollars being met. So I'm very supportive of this reservation of funds and also supportive of the projects that'll be seeking funding for it, including those, but not limited to those that are on the east side, but throughout the city. So I'll take a motion from uh Commissioner Naker to approve. Any further questions? All right. Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. All opposed. Four in favor, zero opposed. The resolution has adopted. Item number two for discussion is resolution RES 26-1026. Authorization to release the 4D affordable housing and send it to program. Covenant on 556, Gotzian Street, St. Paul, District 4, Ward 7. Thank you, Kelly. I appreciate that. And also just uh a correct quick correction.
openpublica.com