Housing & Redevelopment Authority

Meetings

Fourth Tuesday of each month
4 p.m.

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

Quick links

Housing and Redevelopment

HRA Bylaws

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 Phone number
Vacant Member December 31, 2024  
Jayne Hager Dee Secretary December 31, 2023 507-663-1568
Kevin Fink Member December 31, 2021 507-804-7937
Brent Nystrom Chair December 31, 2022 507-581-6715
Erica Zweifel Council Representative December 31, 2020 507-663-7131
Sandra Gerdes Member December 31, 2023 507-645-8866 EXT 104
Vacant Member December 31, 2024  
Mila Matney
 Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available
Signe Hauck Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available

Staff liaisons

Name Title Phone number
Melissa Hanson Housing Coordinator 507-645-3047
Kari Bonde Administrative Assistant 507-645-3024

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, morals, 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.

2019 accomplishments

  • Spring Creek II Townhome Project – 32 Units
    • Three Rivers Community Action Agency (TRCA), in partnership with the Northfield HRA, received approval for Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
  • Workforce Housing Summit
    • Partnered with Rice County HRA and the cities of Faribault, Lonsdale, and Morristown to sponsor a Workforce Housing Summit in June
  • Street Assessment Assistance
    • Provided street assessment assistance of $18,403 in 2019 to 10 households
    • Provided $143,709 in assistance for 64 households since the program began in 2012
  • Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) Homelessness Program (Wallflower Project)
    • Partnered with NUY and provided $15,000 grant for the Wallflower Project
    • The NUY leveraged the HRA grant to attract additional funding to support a full time social worker and other program costs
  • Housing Market Study
    • Approved funding of $25,000 for a housing market study for the City of Northfield

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects

  • Residential Rehabilitation Program
    • Worked on rehab of 9 dwelling units expected to be complete spring 2020
    • Used $44,727 of CDBG funding
  • Down Payment Assistance
    • Assisted a first-time homebuyer with a $15,000 down payment assistance loan
  • Manufactured Home Rehabilitation Program
    • Approved $61,000 for manufactured (mobile) home rehabilitation program beginning in 2020


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