Como by the Lake apartments obtains $80 million in funds

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MONITOR IN A MINUTE

By JANE MCCLURE

Building1The Como by the Lake apartment (file photo right) complex’s elderly and disabled residents worried several months ago that they could lose their homes when the property went up for sale. Purchase by nonprofit housing provider Aeon staved off that possibility, and the property will remain Section 8 housing.

In October the apartments at 901 Como Ave. were the site of Gov. Mark Dayton’s announcement of $80 million in funding for affordable housing projects this year. The funds will support 57 developments and 1,831 housing units across the state. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner Mary Tingerthal said that Minnesota doesn’t have enough housing for its needy. The $80 million is seen as a step in the right direction.

Had legislators passed a bonding bill this spring, Dayton said more funds would have been available.

Since taking over the Como building, Aeon has sought assistance. A bid for city-issued low-income housing tax credits from the city fell short in a close competition with a Summit-University project. From the state, $2.96 million in tax credits is earmarked for the Como by the Lake project itself.

Several other St. Paul projects were also funded.

Como by the Lake has provided affordable housing under the Section 8 program for 30 years. Its longtime owners wanted to sell once that contract was up. The building could have been sold and rented at market rate, displacing many residents, before Aeon stepped in. Aeon bought the building for $8.5 million in January and plans to make needed building improvements.

Liquor stores stay open longer

St. Paul liquor stores can keep their doors open until 10pm Monday through Saturday, as a result of a city ordinance change adopted Oct. 12 by the City Council.

The 8pm weekday Monday through Thursday closing has been one of the earliest in the state. The push for longer hours was championed by craft breweries, which under state law have to cease growler sales when liquor stores close. The new regulations take effect this month.

The change was brought forward by Ward Three Council Member Chris Tolbert. It drew a mixed reaction. Some liquor stores, including some in the Midway area, expressed opposition. Owners contended that the longer hours wouldn’t be profitable enough to cover the added costs. Store owners close to city borders and competitors with longer hours supported the change. That includes stores near the Roseville border.

Supporters said the longer hours are optional. Some plan to start with later Thursday hours and expand from there.

Craft brewers came out in force for the change, saying they lose beverage and food sales when customers cannot fill large bottles, called growlers, and take them home. The brewers can serve beer until 10pm. But the earlier cutoff in growler sales upset customers.

Street maintenance fees face challenge

St. Paul’s street right-of-way maintenance fees face another court challenge, according to attorneys representing property owners throughout the city. Attorneys for property owners faced off with City Council members Oct. 5 at a public hearing on the 2016 charges. The 2016 fees are due this month.

The fight already is due at Ramsey County District Court in December. Downtown churches won a round this summer at the Minnesota Court of Appeals when the court decided the fee functions as a general services tax, and not as an easement for a specific property’s benefit. The appeals court sent the issue back to district court for more review.

The fees, which vary by type of street or alley, increase 2.5 percent in 2016. The vote to approve the fee was 5-2.

The charges generate about $30 million a year, to cover costs of snow plowing, street sweeping, streetlight and sidewalk maintenance, and other related charges. Those arguing against the charges contend they are a tax and not a fee as city officials have contended for more than a decade.

Proponents believe the fees are a more equitable way of spreading the right-of-way costs around, assessing them to nonprofits and government properties.

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