June 29th, 2006

6/23/2006

Northfield News

The proposed downtown “Building for Creative Professionals” would be a boon to the city by marrying the effort to further Northfield’s reputation as an arts town to the effort to create more affordable housing units in town.

The Northfield City Council this week voted to support the Mendota Homes/Northfield DowntownDevelopment Corp. (NDDC) artists’ building development as it submits an application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) for tax credit financing assistance. If the tax credits are granted, it would help Mendota Homes’ effort build the $7.6 million, 42-unit artists’ building. And the money wouldn’t come from the city.

The financial benefits of another 42 units of housing located in Northfield’s downtown and the people who would occupy seem obvious, but the greater effort to establish a housing unit that makes it easier for creative professionals to call Northfield home would have its own positive impact on the community.

The project has garnered the support of the city’s Economic Development Authority and its Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and now has the support of the city council as well. Hopefully, as the project moves forward, the MHFA also will see the positive impact such a project would have on Northfield and grant the needed tax credit financing.

The project is a proverbial win-win scenario for Northfield, and the NDDC and Mendota Homes should be credited for their effort to create an affordable housing development that caters to creative professionals in downtown Northfield. The CPB, as it is known, would be just one more project that would help re-shape the future of downtown Northfield and help keep it vibrant.
Mayors forum important to attend
It’s fairly obvious that the futures of both the cities of Dundas and Northfield are intertwined and it’s necessary elected officials in both cities keep open clear communication channels and regularly discuss issues that commonly affect both cities.

The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming mayors summit on July 12 is being held to allow the mayors of each city to describe what common issues exist, what the two cities are doing together and what still remains to be done. This type of forum, despite its focus on business growth, is an important event. Those who can should make the effort to attend and ask about the future of both cities.

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