Housing & Redevelopment Authority

Meetings

Fourth Tuesday of each month
4 p.m.

City Hall
Council Chambers
801 Washington St.
Northfield, MN 55057

Important documents and links

Housing and Redevelopment

Housing & Redevelopment Authority Bylaws (PDF)

Annual Update to Council 2020 (PDF)

Rules of Business (PDF)


Housing Study information

Housing Study - Demand and Supply

Housing Study - Demographics

Housing Study - Housing Inventory

Housing Study - Final Report

Upcoming HRA meeting

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Agenda Packet

Public monitoring

Members of the public may monitor the meeting  by watching the live stream or electronically from a remote location.

Live Stream

Watch the live stream             

GoTo Meeting

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.                
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/577203189

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122

Access Code: 577-203-189

eComment

The City of Northfield has an electronic comment (eComment) feature for HRA meetings. eComment provides an easy way for residents to add their voices to the process and makes participation in public meetings convenient when it may be difficult to the attend the meeting in person. 

Once the agenda is published, the eComment link will be active. Residents can review agenda items details, indicate their position on an item and leave feedback by clicking on the eComment tab on the HRA meeting page:

City of Northfield - HRA

Comments may be submitted until 2:00pm on the day of the meeting. 

Agendas and Minutes

City Meeting Archives Opens in new window
The City meeting archives contain agendas, minutes, handouts and additional information.

  1. City Meeting Portal Opens in new window
    The City meeting portal allows you to view live streamed meetings and agendas with clickable links.

Members

Name Title Term expiration
Brent Nystrom Chair December 31, 2022
Jayne Hager Dee Secretary December 31, 2023
Kevin Fink Vice Chair December 31, 2021
Teng Lee Member December 31, 2024
Clarice Grabau Council Representative December 31, 2022
Sandra Gerdes Member December 31, 2023
James Crow Member December 31, 2024
George Zuccolotto Council Liaison (non-voting) December 31, 2024
Annie Sanders Youth Representative (non-voting) 2020-2021 school year
TJ Myers Youth Representative (non-voting) 2020-2021 school year

Staff liaisons

Name Title Phone number
Melissa Hanson Housing Coordinator 507-645-3047
Kari Bonde Administrative Associate 507-645-3036

Overview

Special meetings are occasionally called. The City of Northfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority's (HRA) mission is to provide a sufficient supply of adequate, safe, and sanitary dwellings in Northfield. The primary goals of the HRA are to:

  • Protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Northfield
  • Clear and redevelop blighted areas
  • Perform said duties according to the city’s Comprehensive Plan
  • Remedy the shortage of housing for low and moderate income residents
  • Redevelop blighted areas in situations in which private enterprise would not act without government participation or subsidies

The HRA also partners with other organizations, such as the Cannon River Community Land Trust, to implement affordable housing initiatives in Northfield.

The commission consists of five members appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Each member serves a five-year term. There is no term limit. Members do not receive monetary compensation.

Membership requirements

The mayor recommends applicants to the City Council based on their interest in affordable housing and redevelopment issues, along with willingness to serve and background.

Applying

  1. Apply for a board, commission, or task force

    Applications are also available at:

    City Hall
    801 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057

    Northfield Public Library
    210 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057

  1. 2020 accomplishments
  2. 2019 accomplishments

Accomplishments

  • Responded to households experiencing economic hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing grant funding of $53,600 to the Community Action Center (CAC) of Northfield to assist households with rent and mortgage payments 
  • Sponsored a housing market study and need analysis that will be completed the first quarter of 2021; study will be used to inform strategy and policy decisions, community specific housing and funding priorities and will convey market opportunities to the private investment market
  • Sponsored a rental housing policy review to support improvements to the City of Northfield’s overall housing licensing program and policies
  • Advanced the Spring Creek II Townhome Project (32 units); construction is anticipated to begin 2021
  • Provided street assessment assistance of $10,318 to six households
  • Reaffirmed partnership with Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) Homelessness Program (Wallflower Project) and provided $15,000 grant for the Wallflower Project, which is used to fund a full-time social worker and other programs
  • Provided $10,303 as well as organized a fall clean up event for residents of Northfield Estates and Viking Terrace and Riverside Mobile Home Parks
  • Provided $2,000 to and partnered with Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), Growing Up Health-Healthy Communities Initiative, and Faribault HRA to provide winter weatherization kits to mobile home park residents in Northfield and Faribault

Community Development Block (CDBG) Projects

  • Used $42,0000 of CDBG funds to remove eight abandoned coaches at Riverside Mobile Home Park
  • Increased the amount of money available to income-eligible individuals through the Down Payment Assistance Program to $25,000
  • Created the Manufactured Home Rehab Pilot Program that made $61,000 available for homeowners at Viking Terrace Mobile Home Park for repairs and improvements which include:
    • Bringing buildings up to code and increase compliance with local housing regulations
    • Modifications for accessibility for disabled household members
    • Repairs that address roofs, windows, floor supports or faulty plumbing or electrical