Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board met on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall. Chair Cheniqua Johnson called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m. and adjourned at 2:37 p.m. Commissioner Nelsie Yang was excused; Commissioner HwaJeong Kim arrived at 2:05 p.m. and voted on all items. The Board adopted three resolutions and received and filed two staff reports.
RES 26-1708 — Reservation of 2027 Low Income Housing Tax Credits for The Aragon Development, 470 White Bear Avenue, District 1, Ward 7. Following a staff report from the previous week, the Board approved the reservation of Year 2027 Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays (Commissioner Yang absent).
RES 26-1709 — Partial Waiver of the Sustainable Building Ordinance for Afton View Apartments (371 and 373 Winthrop Street South, 2180 and 2178 Londin Lane, and 365 Winthrop Street South, District 1, Ward 7). The Board approved the partial waiver. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays (Commissioner Yang absent).
RES PH 26-290 — Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds for Afton View Apartments; Developer's Fee Waiver; Housing Program Adoption. After opening and closing the public hearing with no testimony, the Board authorized the issuance and sale of conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds, approved related documents, waived the policy on developer's fees, and adopted a housing program. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays (Commissioner Yang absent). During discussion, a commissioner requested that future staff materials include a chart showing how different developer fee levels affect total project financing, and asked the Board to consider updating the developer fee policy to reflect rising construction costs while continuing to prevent project sponsors from being unduly enriched. Staff's prior clarification was acknowledged as helpful.
SR 26-214 — Parks and Recreation Fund Transfer Presentation (Right Track). Carlo Franco, Parks and Recreation Youth Services Manager, presented on the approximately $191,437 HRA transfer that supports Right Track youth workforce staffing. This item had been laid over from the October 7 HRA meeting. Franco reported that more than 3,000 young people applied for 760 internship experiences this year, about $2 million in wages was paid to young people, and over 80 percent of participant families use the income for bills and groceries. The HRA funds have supported the program for over 10 years and cover about two-thirds of the program's general fund staffing, including a program supervisor. He warned that discontinuing the HRA investment would require replacement funding or reduced programming. Parks Director Andy Rodriguez answered questions about the program's origin in the HRA and the lack of a recent effort to move the position to the general fund. Several commissioners expressed concern about relying on depleting HRA special funds for an ongoing staffing position and discussed seeking more private-sector support. Commissioner Noecker, identified in the raw transcript as Niker, noted that Boston raises about $11 million annually in private funding for its equivalent program and offered to help build a fundraising strategy. The report was received and filed.
SR 26-215 — Introduction to the Maryland Park Property Sale and Loan Assumption. Principal Project Manager Hannah Chong presented on the proposed sale of Maryland Park Apartments, 1619 Maryland Avenue East, District 2, Ward 6, by current owner St. Paul Police Housing Associates/Dominium to LEDG Capital (LIH Maryland Park Associates). The 1969 property has 172 units, 143 of them Section 8, with 100 percent of units affordable at 60 percent of AMI. The buyer requested assumption of the 2014 HRA HOME loan ($600,000 at 1 percent, deferred to 2046), extension to 2056, and subordination to the new first mortgage. The proposed structure includes a $17.5 million new first mortgage, $1.3 million buyer equity, a $19.3 million acquisition price, and a $200,000 capital reserve; the MHFA loan assumption is still being processed. LEDG consultant Brian Call said LEDG is excited to work in St. Paul on its first Minnesota project. The Board received and filed the report; action is scheduled for October 28, 2026, with a closing on or before November 30, 2026.
To order roll call, please. Ooh. Here. Coleman? Here. Joe's here. Kim. Yang. Chair Johnson? Here. There are five present. Two absent. That being Commissioner Yang, who is excused, and Commissioner Kim. Item number one for discussion, resolution RES 26-1708. Reservation of year 2027 low-income housing tax credits for the Argonne development located at 470 White Fair Avenue, District 1 Ward 7. All right, thank you, Kelly. We had a staff report on this item last uh last week. We talked a little bit about the project, heard about the submissions that we had and the staff recommendation. I'll uh make a motion to approve all those in favor. Aye. All opposed. Six in favor, zero opposed. Resolution is adopted. Item number two, resolution RES 26-1709. Approving a partial waiver of the substance sustainable building ordinance for Afton View Apartments. 371 and 373 Winthrop Street South, 2180 and 2178 London Lane and 365 Winthrop Street South, District 1 Ward 7. And we also had a staff report on this. See, non-director McMahon, is there anything that you want to add? Okay. I'll take a motion from Vice Chair Joes to approve. All those in favor. All opposed. Six in favor, zero opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item number three is public hearing resolution. Public hearing RESPH 26-290 resolution authorizing the issuance and sale conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds for the Afton View Apartments project located at 371 and 373 Winthrop Street South, 2180 and 2178 London Lane. And 365 Winthrop Street South, approving the execution related documents, waiving the policy and develop developers fees and adopting a housing program. Alright, we are at the public hearing section for the Housing Redevelopment Authority. If you're here to testify, please come to the mics. Each person would have two minutes to be able to share. See no one running up to the podium. All those in favor? I'm five. All opposed. Six in favor, zero opposed. The public hearing is closed. I know there were a couple of questions that came up as we were going through it, so I just want to open the floor if there's any additional questions regarding the matter or any discussion or clarification further that's needed. Just uh the uh thank you, Madam Chair.