Written comments may be submitted via email to Minneapolis Employment and Training and must be received by April 19, 2021.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Regional and Local Plan

The City of Minneapolis is preparing the 2022-2023 Housing Tax Credit (HTC) Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and Procedural Manual for release later this spring. The program’s purpose is to help finance the production, preservation, or stabilization of affordable rental housing projects located in Minneapolis, through the Federal HTC program. All the proposed changes (both substantive and administrative) are listed below and are noted in “track changes” mode in the draft documents. Additional context for two of the more substantive policy additions/changes is provided below.

Addition of Equitable Development points

A new equitable development scoring criterion is proposed for projects that demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion through meaningfully involving community members most affected by housing instability and housing disparities to inform the project proposal. The proposal must also demonstrate how the project is responsive to the needs of communities most impacted by housing instability and disparities and prevent unwanted displacement. This criterion matches new scoring included in Minnesota Housing’s Qualified Allocation Plan. More information is available in Attachment 1 of the QAP.

Continue evaluating cost reasonableness through use of Minnesota Housing’s Predictive Cost model and eliminate separate cost containment points that disincentivize housing production that meets important needs and goals

Cost containment remains a guiding principle, given great need for affordable rental housing and constrained resources, and continues to be incentivized, required through IRS code requirements and bond volume cap limits, and evaluated throughout project underwriting and selection. Elimination of this point category allows cost containment principles to better account for necessary factors related to City priorities of serving larger families, expanding the geographic distribution of affordable housing, increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of housing, and supporting long term affordability by considering long term cost savings as opposed to only the cost of construction. Minnesota Housing has also moved away from this scoring criterion and is no longer publishing the cost containment benchmarks on which the City has historically relied to execute this point category.  

Changes to the 2022-2023 Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP)

• General: A two-year QAP is proposed
• Article VII – F: Require a minimum affordability period of 30 years and waiver of Qualified Contract requirements for new 4% HTC applications.
• Article VII: Change minimum point threshold for 4% HTC projects to 30 points.
• Attachment 1 - Selection Criteria - 9% Tax Credits:
  • A1 and previous A3: Combine homelessness and supportive housing scoring criteria, add minimum threshold requirements, and create a unit range
  • A2: Clarify non-profit participation language
  • Previous A9/new A8: Increase lowest point category from one to three years
  • Previous A14: Remove Cost Containment scoring criterion
  • New A13: Create new Equitable Development scoring criterion
• Attachment 3 - Selection Criteria - 4% Tax Credits:
  • General: Reset scoring minimum threshold and add ‘has an existing City funding award’ to selection criteria priorities
  • 2: Reset long-term affordability scoring criterion for 40 or more years of affordability restrictions
  • 7: Clarify non-profit participation language
  • Previous 9: Delete Cost Containment scoring criterion
  • New 9: Create a new scoring criterion to incentivize 30% AMI and below units in 4% HTC projects

Changes to the 2022-2023 Housing Tax Credit Procedural Manual:

• Section III – E: Delete Cost Containment category from Unacceptable Practices and create a new Displacement of Tenants in Non-HUD-Assisted Units in Acquisition/Rehabilitation Projects category.
• Section III – new K: Permit non-awarded applicants to the Year 2022 9% NOFA the ability to use Census-tract-based maps from the Year 2022 9% NOFA for purposes of the Year 2023 9% NOFA. Census tract boundaries are expected to be updated by the Census Bureau later in 2021. An updated ACP50 map is included with the draft documents for public review.
• Section III – new M: Reset scoring minimum threshold and add ‘has an existing City funding award’ to selection criteria priorities
• Section IV – D: Delete language regarding project-based rental assistance from the Average Income minimum set-aside.
• Section IV – G: Add new language prohibiting leasing of HTC units to related parties.
• Section IV – K: Require a minimum affordability period of 30 years and waiver of Qualified Contract requirements for new 4% HTC applications. Deletion of similar reference language from prior years’ HTC Manuals.
• Section VII – Submission Requirements: Minneapolis will transition to the 2021 Green Communities Overlay (in coordination with MN Housing) with this proposed QAP update.

Comments regarding these proposed changes are being accepted until May 2, 2021 at 4:00 p.m., CDT. Deliver written comments or e-mail to Amy Geisler. 

• 2022-2023 QAP draft
• 2022-2023 HTC Procedural Manual draft
• 2022-2023 MPLS 9% HTC Scoring Worksheet draft
• 2022-2023 MPLS 4% HTC Scoring Worksheet draft
• 2021 ACP50 Map

The City of Minneapolis is preparing the 2021 Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) Program Policies and Procedures and the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for release later this spring. The Program’s purpose is to help finance the production, preservation, or stabilization of affordable rental housing projects with 10 or more units in Minneapolis. This program is revised on an annual basis. There are a number of changes proposed this year. All the proposed changes (both substantive and administrative) are listed below and are highlighted in yellow in the draft documents. Additional context for three of the more substantive policy additions/changes is provided below.

1. Addition of a Community Preference Policy to Affordable Housing Trust Fund projects In 2020 as part of the City’s anti-displacement and racial equity work, the City of Minneapolis adopted a Community Preference Policy that applies to housing units resulting from the sale of City-owned property or financed through certain City funding programs. A community preference policy gives residents residing or formerly residing within certain geographies preference for specific city programs or housing projects. The goal of the preference policy is to disrupt involuntary displacement of Minneapolis residents, which disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, People of Color and immigrant households. Under this proposal, preference for up to 50% of the applicable units created under the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall be given to eligible residents in the initial rental of those units. Eligible residents are former (since January 1, 2007) and existing residents of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)-designated areas of the city who self-certify to having experienced or being at risk of involuntary displacement due to extreme economic forces. More information is available in Attachment 19 of the AHTF Program Policies and Procedures and in this City Council action.
2. Addition of Equitable Development points A new equitable development scoring criterion is proposed for projects that demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion through meaningfully involving community members most affected by housing instability and housing disparities to inform the project proposal. The proposal must also demonstrate how the project is responsive to the needs of communities most impacted by housing instability and disparities and prevent unwanted displacement. This criterion matches new scoring included in Minnesota Housing’s Qualified Allocation Plan. More information is available in Section III, T of the AHTF NOFA.
3. Continue evaluating cost reasonableness through use of Minnesota Housing’s Predictive Cost model and eliminate separate cost containment points that disincentivize housing production that meets important needs and goals Cost containment remains a guiding principle, given great need for affordable rental housing and constrained resources, and continues to be incentivized, required through bidding requirements, and evaluated throughout project underwriting and selection. Elimination of this point category allows cost containment principles to better account for necessary factors related to City priorities of serving larger families, expanding the geographic distribution of affordable housing, increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of housing, and supporting long term affordability by considering long term cost savings as opposed to only the cost of construction. Minnesota Housing has also moved away from this scoring criterion and is no longer publishing the cost containment benchmarks on which the City has historically relied to execute this point category.

All Changes to 2021 AHTF Program Policies and Procedures:

1. Section VIII W Green Communities updates
2. Section VIII II addition of Community Preference Policy and Supportive Housing Services
3. Section VIII JJ addition of 2BR or more at 30% AMI award of $40,000
4. Section VIII LL language regarding AHTF restricted units and rents
5. Section VIII PP language allowing second AHTF award date to supersede first award date
6. Section VIII TT language regarding AHTF restricted units and rents
7. Attachment 17 new language regarding Supportive Housing Services
8. Attachment 19 new addition of Community Preference Policy: AHTF

All Changes to 2021 AHTF Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA):

1. Section VIII new language regarding emerging developer status
2. Section IX new application requirements

All Changes to 2021 AHTF NOFA Scoring Criteria:

1. Section III H new language regarding Supportive Service Housing
2. Section III K deleted cost containment
3. Section III M updated senior housing policy goal ward eligibility
4. Section III S updated language for alignment with Minneapolis 2040 Goals
5. Section III T new scoring category Equitable Development

Comments regarding these proposed changes are being accepted for the next 45 days until 4:00 p.m. on May 2, 2021. 

2021 AHTF Program Policies and Procedures draft

2021 AHTF NOFA draft

2021 AHTF Supporting Documents draft

For more information, contact Carrie Goldberg

The City of Minneapolis is seeking input on the Satori Apartments Tax Increment Financing Plan (the “Plan”).

The Satori Apartments Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan has been prepared to help finance the construction of a 112-unit six-story apartment building.   JADT Development Group, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (the “Developer”), proposes to develop 89 units of market-rate and 23 units of affordable apartments and 3,000 square feet of commercial/retail space at the intersection of West Broadway and Bryant Avenue North. 

The Plan establishes a new housing TIF district to help finance various public project costs and includes a budget for the use of tax increment revenue generated by the new TIF district.

Please submit your comments by noon on Monday, May 3, 2021 via email to Tiffany Glasper, Senior Project Coordinator, Department of Community Planning and Economic Development.  If you or your group would like to meet to discuss the Plan, or if you have questions, please contact Tiffany Glasper.

Satori Apartments Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan

It is expected that the Plan will be considered at the following meetings of the Minneapolis City Council and its committees:

Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee
(A public hearing will be conducted at this meeting)
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

City Council
Friday, May 14, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.

All meetings will be held in Minneapolis City Hall, 350 S. Fifth Street, Room 317.

During the declared local public health emergency, Minneapolis has transitioned to an electronic format for its public meetings and hearings, authorized under Minn. Stat. Section 13D.021, to minimize the risk of exposure to or potential spread of COVID-19. If you wish to participate by phone during the public hearing portion of the meeting, please register by submitting the online form found under the “participate by phone in the meeting” heading available at: minneapolismn.gov/meetings. If you need an accommodation to fully participate, or if you need this document in a different format, please call 311 or 612-673-2157 (TTY).

Public Comments to the Thirty-Eighth Street THRIVE Strategic Development Plan

The City of Minneapolis is seeking community feedback for the final revision to the Thirty-Eighth Street THRIVE Strategic Development Plan. The deadline to submit comments is Monday, December 7th by 5:00pm. Please provide public comments to Breyonne Golding. If you or your group would like to meet to discuss the Plan, or if you have questions, please contact Breyonne Golding.

The plan has been created by community stakeholders of the Thirty-Eighth Street Cultural District, in collaboration with the City of Minneapolis. Proposed changes would best describe where and how the community wants to grow, based on historical roots, a desire for stronger community vitality and sustainable economic growth in the future. For more information, please review:

  •  Thirty-Eighth Street THRIVE Strategic Development Plan (clean)

The plan will be revised and presented at the following meetings of the Minneapolis City Council and its committees:

Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

City Council
Friday, February 12, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.

Minneapolis City Council online meeting information.

The City invites community members to provide feedback about proposed changes  to the sustainability requirements of the Minneapolis Homes: Financing (MHF) program .  Minneapolis Homes has a variety of programs that seeks to produce affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing that eliminates racial disparities in homeownership. Potential changes include increasing the minimum standard from Enterprise Green Communities Criteria to Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes and to provide incentives  to produce homes that are built to even higher standards of efficiency such as Net Zero and Passive Housing.

The public is welcomed to review a Passive House Study completed by Intep - Integrated Planning to learn more about an analysis of sustainable home design. City staff, along with Intep – Integrated Planning, and Center for Energy on the Environment conducted a public information sharing session Monday, October 26th. To watch the session and listen to questions and answers please visit the City’s youtube page.

Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.

City Council
Friday, December 4, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.

Minneapolis City Council online meeting information.
 

The City of Minneapolis invites you to provide comments on the Draft 2020 Regional Assessment of Fair Housing (AI) .

The purpose of the public comment period is to receive comment on the content and findings of the draft AI. Completion of the regional AI is required of communities that receive housing and community development funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Written and/or oral comments may be submitted to: Matt Bower. Please include “2020 Regional AI Public Comment” in the subject line.

Written comments will be accepted now through October 1, 2020.

The Fair Housing Implementation Council (FHIC), a partnership of the Cities of Coon Rapids, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, St. Paul and Woodbury; the Counties of Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington; and the Community Development Agencies of Carver and Scott Counties, contracted the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to produce the Assessment.

Minneapolis AI Public Meeting

City staff will summarize all comments for the Minneapolis City Council as they consider adoption of the regional AI tentatively scheduled for October 2, 2020.