Title
Celebrating Karen Reid on her retirement as Director of the Neighborhood Development Alliance.
Body
WHEREAS under her leadership, NeDA developed 97 units of affordable rental housing, refinanced another 35 units, and developed 59 units of ownership housing; and
WHEREAS Karen oversaw NeDa’s provision of home rehabilitation loans to West Side residents and expanded NeDA homeownership counseling programs to include foreclosure prevention, financial coaching and financial literacy workshops; and
WHEREAS Karen also oversaw development of NeDA’s community Development Financial Institution, NeDA Centro de Finanzas LLC, as well as NeDA’s general contracting arm, NEDAHOME LLC; and
WHEREAS Karen participated in the development of the West Side Flats Master Plan and update (2001 and 2015), Harriet Island/District del Sol Concept Plan (2003), Stryker-George Precinct Plan (2006), West Side Community Plan (2013), and District del Sol Plan (2013); and
WHEREAS Karen served on the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network Board, Robert Street Transitway Alternatives Study Committee, Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization, Capital Improvement Budget Streets and Utilities subcommittee; and
WHEREAS Karen also served on other boards and loan committees, including the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, Trellis Company, Shared Capital Cooperative, West Side Community Organization and Riverview Economic Development Association; and
WHEREAS Karen has left NeDA in the hands of its successors a valuable and strong institution, poised to continue service to the West Side neighborhood and the city; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that we hope Karen enjoys hours tending to her garden, and that she will, when asked, provide advice and encouragement on how to navigate our interwoven community of interests and possibilities; and be it
FINALLY RESOLVED that the City of Saint Paul honors Karen for her 26 years of tireless service and accomplishments and celebrates the legacy she leaves for Saint Paul.