FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bonnie Kollodge - 651.602.31357

St. Paul—Dec. 13, 2012--The Metropolitan Council has approved $10.1 million in grants to projects that will help promote economic development, housing and jobs along transit corridors, where there is, or will be, transit infrastructure and high-frequency transit service. Communities awarded funding are Bloomington, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Fridley, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The funds are awarded from a newer category of grants within the Livable Communities program to advance Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).  Awards from the Livable Communities Demonstration Account and Tax Base Revitalization Account TOD funding categories support development along rail and bus routes that is high density, mixed use, near transit stations or bus stops, and designed to be pedestrian friendly.

“Investing in development and jobs along transit corridors is a key Council priority,” said Council Chair Susan Haigh.

“These are smart investments. As we continue to build out the region’s transit system, we need to ensure that transit supports the nearby land uses, and that the nearby land uses support these major transit investments. Development has to go hand-in-glove with transit investment so both can be successful.  At the same time, we’re helping to create jobs, as well as affordable and market-rate housing and getting people where they need and want to go.”

TOD grants are awarded on a competitive basis.  Applicants must be participants in the Livable Communities program and their proposed projects must meet criteria approved by the Council.

“Projects awarded grants must meet the evaluation criteria, be able to generate jobs and/or affordable housing, encourage private investment and serve as a model of transit-oriented development,” said Guy Peterson, Metropolitan Council Community Development Director.

Anticipated outcomes from these investments include 870 new housing units, including 376 affordable units, 1,535 construction jobs, clean up of four acres of polluted land, nearly $205 million in private investment and nearly $12 million in other public investment.

Development projects awarded funding:

Central Station Hotel, Bloomington--$1,000,000 for street construction that supports the development of a hotel and connections to the nearby Bloomington Central Station on the Hiawatha (Blue) LRT Line.  The project is part of a mixed-use, transit-oriented zone with a mix of high-density office, retail and residential space, which will serve as a catalyst to additional housing investment.

Corcoran Triangle, Minneapolis--$505,000 to make improvements that support the mixed-income housing development on an oddly-shaped parcel near the Hiawatha (Blue) LRT Line and Lake Street Station.  The grant will support stormwater management and other improvements that enhance the surrounding environment and improve pedestrian and transit connections.

Currie Park Lofts, Minneapolis--$993,229 to make improvements that support the Currie Park Lofts mixed-use development near the Cedar Riverside Station on the Hiawatha (Blue) LRT Line. The development will add housing diversity to the neighborhood and create a pedestrian-friendly environment near the station. The grant will support stormwater management and other infrastructure improvements to the development.

Junction Flats, Minneapolis--$548,500 for environmental investigation and remediation to support development of an apartment complex in the city’s North Loop neighborhood, located near the planned Interchange, a regional transit hub.  The project will convert an underutilized industrial area to housing and commercial redevelopment in close proximity to transit.

Mill City Quarter, Minneapolis--$2,000,000 for remediation, stormwater management and other improvements that support this mixed-use redevelopment in the downtown area, to include senior affordable and life-cycle housing, as well as retail.  The development will include connections to bike and pedestrian trails and is also within walking distance of two LRT platforms on the Hiawatha (Blue) LRT Line and a high frequency bus line.

Central Exchange, St. Paul--$110,550 for soil remediation to support development of this mixed-use project between the Victoria and Dale stations along the Central Corridor (Green) LRT line.  The project will replace vacant and blighted lots with public space and retail storefronts, as well as affordable housing in close proximity to transit.

City Limits, St. Paul, $1,944,774 for land acquisition, site preparation, stormwater management and other site improvements to support development of this apartment complex near the Westgate Central Corridor (Green) LRT Line Station, which will include affordable units, a tot lot and amenities to enhance the station area.

Old Home Plaza, St. Paul--$1,558,361 for land acquisition and demolition at the Old Home Dairy site at 370 University Avenue, which will be transformed into a mixed-use, transit-oriented development with housing and commercial, retail and community uses in close proximity to transit.  The development will preserve historic buildings and build new to develop on an entire city block across from the Western LRT Station on the Central Corridor (Green) LRT Line, anchored by a central plaza that will provide social and recreational opportunities for residents.

Prior Crossing, St. Paul—$927,015 to help with acquisition and demolition and abatement/remediation costs to support a housing development with supportive services for young adults experiencing homelessness.  The project, located near the Fairview Station on the Central Corridor (Green) LRT Line, will provide connections to transit and jobs, and promote educational and vocational goals to achieve independence.

Rayette Lofts, St. Paul--$348,101 for lead abatement to support the reuse and rehabilitation of an historic building for rental housing and retail in close proximity to the Union Station on the Central Corridor (Green) LRT Line.  The project is a mixed-use, high-density development that will add to the vibrancy of Lowertown.

Pre-development projects awarded funding:

Foley Boulevard Station Area Planning, Coon Rapids—$40,000 for design workshops, an alternatives analysis and zoning tools to help develop a station area plan to transform the auto-oriented environment into one that is multi-modal and supports transit in an area near commuter rail.

TOD Zoning District Ordinance, Eden Prairie--$60,000 to help the city, working with the public, develop a zoning ordinance for five future LRT stations in Eden Prairie that will promote walkable, pedestrian-oriented station areas and encourage land uses that support transit, including higher density redevelopment.

Fridley Northstar TIF Master Plan, Fridley--$100,000 to support the station area planning process by providing land-use alternatives analyses to encourage more transit-friendly development near commuter rail.

Ramsey awards:

In addition to the 13 TOD grants, the Council also approved two Livable Communities projects in Ramsey that were pending until some planning issues could be addressed.

The Center of Ramsey (COR) Center Street project will receive a TOD grant of $650,369 for infrastructure improvements that will support pedestrian and auto connections to the Ramsey Station and other nearby amenities.

A $100,000 pre-development TOD grant to the city for the Mississippi Skyway project will help fund planning activities that will help the city, Met Council and National Park Service compete for funds to build a bridge that connects the rail station to the city’s trail and sidewalk system, as well as federal, state and regional trails.  

TOD funding comes from Livable Communities grants the Council previously awarded to communities, but which were returned to the Council when qualified development projects did not move forward as planned during the recession. Council officials say the downturn in the economy meant some communities had to postpone or abandon planned development projects that were funded with Livable Communities dollars.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system and Northstar commuter rail, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

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