As part of a push to bring more affordable housing to the county, the Hennepin County Board this week approved a new round of funding to support more than two
Created: May 12, 2021 09:45 AM
On Tuesday, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved $17.1 million to support 27 affordable housing and development projects, the largest amount of funding ever awarded by the board at once to support affordable housing.
These awards represent more than double the amount of county funding available for affordable housing as recently as 2018, according to a release.
The move will help to create or maintain 2,270 units of housing, including 1,550 affordable units, of which 360 will be affordable to households with the lowest incomes earning less than 30% of the Area Median Income, or about $31,450 for a four-person household.
Funding will also support a wide range of housing services such as rent assistance, predevelopment assistance, community development and infrastructure projects.
Improvements at Edina park showcase climate change protection Hennepin County officials say the $3.1M Arden Park project in Edina is an early model of what can be done. May 5, 2021 8:52pm Text size Copy shortlink:
As Hennepin County leaders commit to an ambitious new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect residents from the perils of a warming planet, officials gathered Wednesday to show off an early step in the long-term fight against climate change at a park in Edina.
The $3.1 million project at Arden Park included rerouting Minnehaha Creek, installing a stormwater treatment system, removing invasive vegetation and planting 400 trees and other plants improvements designed to reduce erosion, control flooding and improve water quality.
Bracing for increased flooding and other extreme weather conditions brought on by climate change, Hennepin County is taking a fresh look at the performance of everything from pavements to stormwater systems.
At the heart of the effort is the county’s new 91-page climate action plan. Approved Tuesday by the county board, the plan offers a “framework” for how the county can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and “adapt to the changing climate.”
“I think it really is a public declaration of our commitment to bold and resilient action on climate change,” County Commissioner Chris LaTondresse said in an interview Wednesday. “I think it not only positions us as a national leader on climate, it’s a promise to our residents to align our policies, budget, and capital investments with the ambitious goals in this plan.”
Hennepin County Board rejects resolution condemning use of chemical weapons and less-lethal projectiles Commissioners also discussed the use of the Government Center s public plaza for protests.
By David Chanen, Star Tribune April 27, 2021 5:56pm Text size Copy shortlink:
The Hennepin County Board narrowly defeated a resolution Tuesday to condemn the use of chemical weapons and less-lethal projectiles by law enforcement officers against demonstrators.
Those who voted against it said it was only a symbolic gesture since the County Board has no authority over the County Sheriff s office. The resolution, offered by Commissioners Irene Fernando and Marion Greene, didn t leave room for board members to lay it over for further conversations with law enforcement and community groups.