Title
Authorizing the Ramsey County Housing & Redevelopment Authority to exercise its powers within the City's Housing and Redevelopment Authority area of operation at the same time the City exercises the same powers.
Body
WHEREAS, Ramsey County, the City of St. Paul, and our entire region are facing an affordable housing crisis that has been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent economic downturn; and
WHEREAS, many residents of the City of St. Paul and Ramsey County struggle to find or afford stable housing along the full housing continuum; and
WHEREAS, nearly half of renters and 20% of homeowners in Ramsey County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing expenses; and
WHEREAS, the current market is not building or preserving enough affordable housing to meet the needs of these residents, including seniors, low-wage workers, and others who make less than $25,000 annually; and
WHEREAS, at the current pace of construction and if all construction was dedicated to affordable housing, it would take more than 21 years to build enough units to meet the demand; and
WHEREAS, this housing shortage is anticipated to grow in the City of St. Paul and Ramsey County, and will place further strain on the housing market and city and county services for all households; and
WHEREAS, throughout Ramsey County the availability of land is scarce and nearly all development that occurs or will occur will be redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, redevelopment challenges are very site specific and contribute to the added cost and time necessary to ready and advance projects; and
WHEREAS, affordable housing is a smart investment of taxpayer dollars and a long-term solution addressing the root cause of homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the City of St. Paul established the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the “City HRA”) prior to June 8, 1971 and levies a tax upon all taxable property within the City of St. P...
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