06/28/2024
City of Hibbing Government calls special meeting:
The Hibbing City Council has called a special meeting for 5 p.m. this Monday, July 1, to reconsider its purchase agreement with the Hibbing Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for parcels in the 3200 block of 2nd Ave. W., commonly known as Cobb Cook Park. The agenda also calls for discussion of an alternative site for the housing project.
HRA’s proposal of building 52-units in the Cobb Cook neighborhood to replace the blighted housing units located at Haven Court Apartments (commonly known as Greenhaven Apartments) has received opposition, leading to spirited discussion on social media, park gatherings, a rally on the city hall lawn and several speakers addressing the city council during the Public Forum at the Wednesday, June 26, city council meeting.
“I want to thank those who attended and spoke before the city council on Wednesday. We appreciate the decorum everyone showed,” said Mayor Pete Hyduke.
“Our job as city leaders is to listen and to problem solve. We listened to the speakers. We listened to the HRA. We’ve continued to have conversations, brought more people into the table and are looking to move this project forward.”
HRA Executive Director Jackie Prescott was at the center of those talks.
“We have paused the application (to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency) at this time to determine whether we have the option of an alternative site,” she said, noting the application is due to the MHFA on July 12.
“Through conversations with the City this week, we are reconsidering a parcel that was previously looked at and eliminated due to what we felt were fatal flaws. With this renewed partnership with the City, we have a better chance at overcoming these obstacles together.”
The HRA and City are now assessing an undeveloped, city-owned parcel in the 4000 block of 5th Ave. W., immediately east of Grace Lutheran Church. While more work needs to be done on the property, the council is anticipated to discuss and consider it for the housing project and upcoming MHFA application.
“We need this housing project for our community and to attract people to our community,” said Hyduke. “We look forward to working with the HRA to make it a reality.”
The HRA’s ability to pivot at this time is a testament to its belief in the project. The strengthened alliance has also provided a renewed hope.
“The fact that the city is willing to partner with us, put development money toward it and help remove the barriers makes this alternative site much more attractive,” said Prescott. “We are grateful for the community conversations and the expanded collaboration with the City.”
The HRA is pursuing funding to construct 3 buildings with 52 workforce housing rental units. The proposed complexes would include a three-story apartment building (one- and two-bedroom units) and town homes (three- and four-bedroom units). This new housing development could house a minimum of 110 people.
For the application, the HRA must have site control of the parcel, meaning the City and HRA will need to agree to a purchase agreement prior to submittal. If -- and only if -- funding is secured from the MHFA would the project move forward.
The HRA would learn of the possible funding award in December from MHFA. These state-appropriated funds can only be used for affordable housing, not other purposes such as a public safety center or recreational facilities.
Read on: https://hibbingmn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=174
