8.2 SR 06-20-2023�,
Elk s �-
River
Request for Action
To Item Number
Ma Tor and CinT Council 8.2
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business une 20, 2023 Brent O'Neil, Economic Develo ment Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Duffy Development Compan�T Request for Support of Cal Pormer, Ci r Administrator
Coachman II State Funding Application Reviewed by
Action Requested
Approve, byT motion, a letter of support for Duffy Development CompanyT state funding application for the
proposed Coachman II housing project.
Background/Discussion
DuffyT Development (DuffyT) is proposing an affordable housing project on propertyT it owns near the North Star
Station. This propertyr is adjacent to Coachman Ridge ApaYtments, also owned by Duffyr as is The Depot at Elk
River Starion nearby. The proposed project is for appro�matelyT 50 units targeting residents aged 55 and older
with affordable rents for incomes at 30% to 50% of area median income. This correlates to rent range from $600
to $1,250 depending on the size of the unit The total project is expected to cost $15 to $18 million.
To support the affordabilityT component, DuffyT `vill applyT for funding through the iVlinnesota Housing Finance
AgencyT, which includes low-income housing tax credits. DuffyT has requested support from the cityT to ensure their
strongest application is submitted. The application is due in mid JulyT. State a`vards are tyTpicallyT determined
annually in DecembeY, with projects commencing 6-12 months afteY.
There are t�vo primaryT `vayTs the cityT can support the application. First, is an expression of support for the
application, which is included in the attached draft letter. Second, is an expression of local financial commitment
or financial participation in the project, which results in additional points within the application scoring rubric.
The project has been presented to the Housing and Redevelopment Authorit�r (HRr�) in `vork session at its MayT
and June meetings. The HRA has also reviewed the cityT's 2018 housing stud�T by Maxfield as part of this request.
The HRr� expressed support for the project and application based on the need for 55+ affordable housing as
identified in the housing studyT. The HRr� also provided feedback on potential local financial participation,
suggesting that an incentive could be considered based on the total need and impact, but that additional review
and analysis would be necessary prior to any foYmal consideYation. The HRA also expYessed a benefit of the
project is that substantial YesouYces to suppoYt this ty�pe of project in Elk River aYe from exteYnal souYces.
Additional requests to support the project would require working through established city processes and
protocols, including, for example in the case of a tax incentive, a formal application and thorough review. The
parcel in question is guided towards multi-familyT residential. As it is presentlyT zoned FAST, it would require a
rezoning to a multi-familyT housing district.
The Elk River Vision
A 2a�elcolning co�nlnunity 2a�ith T evolutiona� y and spizzted T esou� cefulness, exceptional
se�vice, and coln�nunity engagelnent that encou�ages and ins�iz•es pTo�pe�zty.
rowEREo ar
�I'1 ����
Update�l• January 2023
Due to the identified need for this tyTpe of housing, the Comprehensive Plan supporting multifamil�r housing on
this parcel, and the HRr�'s support of the project, it is recommended the Council provide a letter of support for
the Duff�r project state housing application.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
Elk River Mission
Attachments
■ Letter from Duff�T to HRA
■ PreliminaryT Site LayTout
■ Draft LetteY of SuppoYt
■ Maxfield Housing StudyT Summary
N:\Public Bodies\�lgenda Packets\06-20-2023\Final\x8.2 sL DuifS� Coachman II letteL oi supportdocx
DUFFY DEVELOFMENT COMPANY
REAL FSTATE DE`✓1�LOPN'IENT
AI�ID CONS'�'R[TC'TIOI>I �VIANA�GEIVII�,NT
April 25, 2023
Mr Brent O'Neil
Economic Development Director
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
Re: Senior Housing Proposal
Dear M�Neil, `��-e,v--�
Duffy Development Company is a developer specializing in affordable and workforce
housing. The City has been a strong partner in our past developments, The Depot and
Coachman Ridge, near the Northstar Rail parking lot. Duffy Development has secured
another parcel in the same area and would like to add additional housing for a very
under�erved population: Lower-income, independent senior, members of the community.
Until recently, creating new construction affordable housing for senior citizens has been
nearly impossible in Minnesota. The focus of the state housing finance agency has been
on housing for working families, much like what we have done with The Depot and
Coachman Ridge. In the past couple of years, Minnesota has provided small amounts of
funding for senior housing. The funding could only support 2-3 developments in the entire
state. However, it is expected that the state legislature will approve a substantially larger
funding source for the next biennium, most of which will be from a source that is one-time
money available only due to the large current state budget surplus. I give you this
background because we are in a uniquely strong position to create a new asset here in
Elk River.
Duffy Development is proposing a 45-55 unit independent senior housing development
for ages 55+. All units will be affordable to incomes at or below 60% of the area median
income with rents that will be at 30% and 50% of area median income. To put this in
perspective, rents on a one-bedroom home will range from $600 -$1,045 and two-
bedroom homes will be $725 -$1,250.
The primary source of financing for developments such as these, comes from Minnesota
Housing, the state's housing finance agency. To access the financing, Minnesota Housing
uses an RFP application one time per year. The applications are substantial, and to
secure the funding, it is a very competitive process. It is typical that for every development
funded through Minnesota Housing, four or five other developments are rejected.
12708 Wayzata Blvd. ° Suite 400 ° Minneapolis, MN 55305
PH. (952) 544-6769 ° FAX (952) 544-6091
Therefore, we come before the City to ask for help in submitting the strongest possible
application, and give this project the best chance of securing a portion of these state
resources for the residents of Elk River.
The application scoring is made up of 23 different scoring criteria. Much of the scoring is
based on location and population served. There are two specific scoring items based on
the degree of support an application receives from other funding partners, such as cities,
counties or philanthropic organizations. It is within these scoring criteria where the City
of Elk River could be most helpful to create a competitive funding application.
We are happy to discuss this in further detail before the Monday meeting but examples
of support we have received from other cities include: Tax Increment Financing (TIF),
direct grants/loans, waivers of fees (Park Dedication, SAC/WAC, Building Permit, etc.) or
combinations of any of these together.
Our deadline for an application submittal to Minnesota Housing is mid-July. Any City
action would need to be completed by the end of June. We would like to work with the
City to secure support of this project as soon as possible to make sure we have all needed
approvals by the end of June.
We look forward to a robust discussion at your upcoming meeting on May 1St
Thank you for considering this request, and thank you for your past support of The Depot
and Coachman Ridge.
Sincerely,
� '
Jeffrey J. Von Feldt
,.�h
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City
E
June 20, 2023
Mr. John DuffyT
Mr. Jeff Von Feldt ❑X Sent via email to
Duffy Development Company, Inc. jduffyr@duffydevelopmentcom
12708 Wayrzata Blvd., Suite 400 jvonfeldt@duffyrdevelopmentcom
Minnetonka, MN 55305
RE: Proposed Elk River Affordable Senior Apartments (Coachman Ridge II)
Dear Mr. Duffy and Mr. Von Feldt
At its most recent meeting, the Elk River Cit�T Council reviewed the proposed Coachman Ridge II affordable
senior housing development proposal which proposes a 45-55-unit, ne��, multifamil�T construction project in
the CityT of Elk River. We understand that yTou `vill be submitting a funding application through the Minnesota
Housing Finance AgencyT (MHFA) Consolidated RFP process in JulyT of 2023, and that the project is proposed
to target individuals 55+ and with incomes at 30% to 50% of aYea median income.
The need for this tyTpe of housing in Elk River is evidenced byT the Comprehensive Housing Market StudyT
Updates completed for the cit�T byT Maxfield Research on FebruaryT 15, 2018, and PreliminaryT AnalyTsis for Elk
River Apartments completed for Duffy Development by Market Analyst Professionals on Mayr 20, 2023.
The proposed parcel for the propertyT is adjacent to other multifamily propertyT and the North Star light rail
station. The cityT's Comprehensive Plan guides the propertyT for multifamily use and would be subject to
standard local entitlement processes if approved for state funding.
The City- Council moved to support �rour application at its June 20, 2023, meeting. On behalf of the Council,
please accept this letter of support for yTour application to the MHFA.
Sincerel�T,
John J. Dietz
May or
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
763.635.1000
E1kRiverMN.gov
P 0 W E R E D e r
�������
April 3, 2023 Elk River HRA Meeting v2
Comparison of Units Added since 2018 Maxfield Housin� Study
The City of Elk River received a completed housing needs assessment in early 2018. Since that
time, several housing units have been constructed towards satisfying the identified needs for
additional housing. The study recommended a minimum of 690 to 785 new housing units be
developed in Elk River through 2025. Staff has evaluated the number of units constructed since
2018 through March 31, 2023. A breakdown of those units by type along with the
recommended breakdown by type is listed below.
Rental (multi-family) housin�:
235 to 275 units recommended (165 market rate and 90 affordable at mid-point).
108 units have been constructed (40 at market and 68 affordable), and another 232 have been
permitted and are underway (180 market and 52 affordable).
Senior housin�:
115 to 140 units recommended.
35 constructed approximately (includes for-sale 55+ community).
Sin�le family housin�:
360 units recommended.
431 units constructed/permitted.
Notes:
Sherburne Co. also conducted a study through Maxfield, completed in 2020, with a horizon
through 2030. For Elk River, it anticipated rental demand of new 480 units through 2030.
Estimated permitted and completed units in Elk River since this study is approximately 290. The
Jackson Hills I project occurred between the two studies.