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HOPE VI PDF Print E-mail

The HOPE VI Program was developed as a result of recommendations by the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing, which was charged with proposing a National Action Plan to eradicate severely distressed public housing. The Commission recommended revitalization in three general areas: physical improvements, management improvements, and social and community services to address resident needs.

 

HOPE VI grant funding is provided by the federal government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth (Duluth HRA). Typically, the HOPE VI program demolishes severely distressed public housing units and replaces them with new housing units in a revitalized neighborhood. The newly built neighborhood includes public housing rental units, private rental units for low, moderate and market rate renters and homeownership units that are affordable to low-income families, as well as moderate-income and market-rate homeowners. In March, 2003, the Duluth HRA was awarded a $20 million grant to revitalize the public housing units built in the 1950s at Harbor View. Phase I included a partnership among the Duluth HRA, the Communities Group, Duluth LISC, and others for the construction of 44 units. Learn more about the Harbor View Hillside Revitalization below.

 

Harbor View Hillside Revitalization

Rebuilding the Neighborhood from the Inside Out

The Harbor View Hillside revitalization is led by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth and its lead developer, The Communities Group, in association with the Duluth LISC. The physical revitalization includes the existing Harbor View Homes, the surrounding Hillside neighborhood, and selected higher income neighborhoods.

When completed, 200 units of barracks-style public housing will be demolished and replaced with a new, mixed-income neighborhood. Residents will operate a neighborhood convenience store located at a new village center. The Copeland Community Center will expand to include child care, early learning, after school programs, and a technology training center. There will be new parks, an outdoor softball field and skating rink, and an indoor sports facility.

Six acres will be added to the original site. Land acquisition will stimulate the construction of a new mixed-use commercial and residential shopping complex, bringing a new grocery store to anchor business recovery and provide improved shopping to neighborhood residents.

FOR RELEASE ON April 27, 2010
CONTACT:  Rick Ball, Executive Director
Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) of Duluth, MN
Phone:  (218) 529-6341
Fax:  (218) 529-6344
Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Harbor Highlands Phase IV Construction Sparked by Stimulus Funding

The Duluth Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) announced that the fourth phase of construction is now underway at the Harbor Highlands – “A Village With A View” revitalization site near Central Entrance and Mesaba Avenue.   Upon completion, this phase will provide an additional 38 mixed-income rental housing units consisting of duplex and fourplex townhomes to the existing 127-unit, mixed-income development, which also includes a village green, a day care center, and a community center.

This phase of development was stalled when the value of the tax credits used to finance the $10.1 Million project lost value due to the recessionary economy in late 2008.  The HRA successfully applied for competitive “gap-finance” funding made available by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act known as the “Stimulus Bill”, and was awarded $3.3 Million to get the project moving.  It is expected that approximately 250 workers will be employed by the construction project over the next twelve months with 29 sub-contractors and suppliers involved. The construction project will also create opportunities for “Step-Up” program workers who will learn building trades and begin a new career path. 

Additional stimulus funding was made available through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.  Other partners in the development effort include the City of Duluth, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Minnesota Power, LISC, the State of Minnesota, and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Congressman Oberstar expressed praise for the development efforts indicating:  “this is exactly what the federal stimulus funding was intended to do -- to create jobs and get people working on important community-building projects which will have lasting impact, and get the economy moving.  I’m very impressed and pleased to see this development back under construction.” 

Dexter Sidney, the Director of the Minneapolis Field Office for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development commended the Duluth HRA for being awarded this competitive grant, noting that upon it’s completion 322 new housing units will have been constructed through the agency’s efforts, noting: “the Rosetta stone of this new development available for people of all income levels, is that over $4 Million in payroll will get people working again, including the hiring of residents to learn new skills and create a career track in the construction trades.”  He also commended the HRA for consistently achieving high performer status for its management of housing programs in Duluth. 

The HRA’s development partner is TCG Development Services, and the general contractor is Johnson-Wilson Constructors.  Rental information for the development’s 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units for all income levels is available from Bowman Companies at 722-3131, or on their web site at www.bowmanproperties.com.