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Authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply to the Metropolitan Council for grant proposals submitted to the Livable Communities Act (LCA) programs for site assessment, cleanup or environmental remediation, other predevelopment activities, and or funding for new construction or redevelopment from LCA Round Two of 2026.
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WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul (the "City") is a participant in the LCA Programs and the Local Housing Incentives Account Program for 2026, as determined by the Metropolitan Council, and is therefore eligible to apply for LCA funds; and
WHEREAS, the City has confirmed that the proposed projects outline below are in alignment with both Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan goals and policies and meet eligibility criteria for LCA program participation, and are in alignment with the Metropolitan Council’s Imagine 2050 goals and policy; and
WHEREAS, the City has the institutional, managerial, and financial capability to ensure adequate project administration; and
WHEREAS, the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the grant agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City agrees to act as legal sponsor for the projects contained in the grant applications submitted by the City on or about October 15, 2026, and
WHEREAS, only a limited amount of grant funding is available through the Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities Demonstration Account during each funding cycle, and the Saint Paul City Council has determined it is appropriate to request allocation of these scarce grant funds only to eligible projects that would not occur without the availability of LCA funding.
WHEREAS, the City finds that the project components for which Livable Communities grants are sought will not occur solely through private or other public investment within the reasonable, foreseeable future, but could occur if the City receives a grant award contract.
WHEREAS, the City represents to the Metropolitan Council that the City has undertaken reasonable and good faith efforts to procure funding for the project components for which Livable Communities program funding is sought, but was not able to secure sufficient funds from other sources necessary for project completion, and states that this representation is based on the following supporting facts:
• The City of Saint Paul has no general fund resources available to invest into these projects; and
• Planning and Economic Development staff seek all potential sources for a proposed project's completion, encouraging developers to seek private, county, and state funding for required predevelopment, cleanup, and development costs for housing and economic development purposes to leverage equity, loans, other committed grant awards, those on approach, and or other funding sources committed or being sought.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that after appropriate examination and due consideration, the Saint Paul City Council, as the governing body of the City:
Finds that it is in the best interests of the City’s redevelopment goals and priorities that the following proposed projects occurring at each site would benefit from participation in LCA Programs for Round two in 2026 as follows:
Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) Grant Program Proposals for Redevelopment Projects:
• 470 White Bear Ave.(The Aragon)
• 750 Chatsworth Street (The VEER Co-Living)
• 680-694 Minnehaha Ave. (Historic Hamm’s Brewery Redevelopment - West End)
LCDA Predevelopment Grant Program Proposals for Projects:
• 1730 University Ave. W. (Paradigm Central Housing)
• 425 Rice Street (Rondo CLT Heritage Capitol District)
• 834 Rondo Avenue (Reconnect Rondo Innovation Hub)
Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA) Site Investigation Grant Program Proposals for Projects:
• 1730 University Ave. W. (Paradigm Central Housing)
• 834 Rondo Avenue (Reconnect Rondo Innovation Hub)
TBRA Cleanup Grant Program Proposals for Projects:
• 680-694 Minnehaha Ave. E. (Historic Hamm's Brewery Redevelopment - West End)
The Director of Planning and Economic Development is authorized to apply to the Metropolitan Council's Livable Communities Act programs for the above proposed grant applications for predevelopment activities, site investigation for Environmental Site Assessments to approve the scope of cleanup required, proposals for demolition, new construction or redevelopment components as described within the city proposed project descriptions in partnership with the private sector development team, and to execute such agreements or documents as may be necessary to implement any grant awards on behalf of the City, wherein said agreement contains indemnification provisions in favor of the Metropolitan Council.