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Granting preliminary approval to the project and the program pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462c, and authorizing the Housing and Redevelopment Authority to issue housing revenue bonds for the Northern Warehouse Project.
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WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462C (the "Act) confers upon cities, or housing and redevelopment authorities or port authorities authorized by ordinance to exercise on behalf of a city the powers conferred by the Act, the power to issue revenue bonds to finance a program for the purposes of planning, administering, making or purchasing loans with respect to one or more multi-family housing project developments within the boundaries of the city; and
WHEREAS, The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "HRA") has been designated, by ordinance, to exercise, on behalf of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "City") the powers conferred by Minnesota Statutes, Section 462C.01 to 462C.081; and
WHEREAS, The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "HRA") has received a proposal from Artspace Northern Warehouse Limited Partnership, a Minnesota limited partnership (the "Borrower"), that the HRA undertake a program (the "Housing Program") to finance the Project hereinafter described, through the issuance of housing revenue bonds in the estimated principal amount of $7,300,000 pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462C (the "Bonds"); and
WHEREAS, The Project to be financed by the Bonds is the acquisition of an existing 6 story building (or a condominium unit therein) and the renovation thereof into an approximately 52 unit rental housing facility located at 308 Prince Street in the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, The proposal calls for the HRA to loan the proceeds realized upon the sale of the Bonds to the Borrower pursuant to a loan agreement wherein the Borrower will be obligated to pay all costs and expenses of the HRA and the City incident to the issuance and sale of the Bonds; and
WHEREAS, The City desires to facilitate the acquisition and renovation of the existing building (or a condominium unit therein) into a multifamily housing facility within the City; and the Project will assist the City in achieving these objectives; and
WHEREAS, A public hearing on the Housing Program and the Project was held on this date following duly published notice, at which time all persons that desired to speak were heard; and
WHEREAS, No public official of the City has either a direct or indirect financial interest in the Project nor will any public official either directly or indirectly benefit financially from the Project.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, as follows:
1. The City hereby gives preliminary approval to the proposal of the Borrower that the City undertake the Project, described above, and the program of financing therefor, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462C, consisting of the acquisition and renovation of an existing building (or a condominium unit therein) into a multifamily rental housing facility within the City pursuant to the Borrower's specifications.
2. On the basis of information available to the City it appears, and the City hereby finds, that the Project constitutes a multifamily housing development within the meaning of subdivision 5 of Section 462C.02 of the Act; that the availability of the financing under the Act and the willingness of the City to furnish such financing will be a substantial inducement to the Borrower to undertake the Project, and that the effect of the Project, if undertaken, will be to encourage the provision of multifamily rental housing opportunities to residents of the City, and to promote more intensive development and use of land within the City.
3. The Project, and the program to finance the Project by the issuance of the Bonds, is hereby given preliminary approval by the City subject to final approval by the HRA, the Borrower and the purchasers of the Bonds as to ultimate details of the financing of the Project, all subject to the availability of an allocation of tax exempt bonding authority for the Bonds.
4. Pursuant to Chapter 72, Saint Paul, Minnesota Administrative Code, the City hereby authorizes and directs the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "HRA") to issue the Bonds to finance the Project and to take all actions necessary or desirable in connection therewith, and no further approval or authorization of the City shall be required.
5. The Borrower has agreed and it is hereby determined that any and all costs incurred by the City or the HRA in connection with the financing of the Project whether or not the Project is carried to completion and whether or not approved by HRA will be paid by the Borrower.
6. Kennedy & Graven, Chartered, acting as bond counsel, and such investment bankers as may be selected by Borrower, with the consent of the HRA, are authorized to assist in the preparation and review of necessary documents relating to the Project and the financing program therefor, to consult with the City Attorney, Borrower and the purchaser of the Bonds as to the maturities, interest rates and other terms and provisions of the Bonds and as to the covenants and other provisions of the necessary documents and submit such documents to the HRA for final approval.
7. Nothing in this Resolution or the documents prepared pursuant hereto shall authorize the expenditure of any municipal funds on the Project other than the revenues derived from the Project or otherwise granted to the City or the HRA. The Bonds shall not constitute a charge, lien or encumbrance, legal or equitable, upon any property or funds of the City or the HRA except the revenue and proceeds pledged to the payment thereof, nor shall the City or the HRA be subject to any liability thereon. The holders of the Bonds shall never have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of the City or HRA to pay the outstanding principal on the Bonds or the interest thereon, or to enforce payment thereon against any property of the City or the HRA. The Bonds shall recite in substance that the Bonds, including the interest thereon, are payable solely from the revenue and proceeds pledged to the payment hereof. The Bonds shall not constitute a debt of the City or HRA within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation.