This duplex on Blue Stem Drive in a new housing development is owned by the Blue Earth HRA.

Housing is an integral part to the success of any community. After all, the growth of a community depends upon its ability to attract and maintain residents, and residents will only come if they have a place to, well, reside.

Blue Earth’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) serves to advocate for the provision of adequate housing within the community.

Accordingly, the HRA is an impactful cog within the grinding gears of city development. Yet, their doings often fly under the radar.

The housing market has recently offered a frustrating lack of options for potential buyers, to the point where those who wish to relocate may be forced to stay put due to a literal inability to secure a roof over their heads.

Lars Bierly, current chairman of the HRA, echoes this reality.

“Everyone is buying, and there’s not enough supply,” Bierly reasons.

Bierly, who joined the HRA long ago in 2003, shares the board is pursuing several projects which it hopes will add valuable options to the desert-dry housing market.

“We have a couple units for sale right now,” Bierly shares. “We’re trying to work to add some more affordable rental options in the future. And, of course, we have available lots if people decide they want to build.” 

Bierly identifies a few achievements which the HRA has secured this past year, such as rehabilitating properties to contribute to Blue Earth’s housing market.

“Top projects for the Housing Authority (HRA) have been the new duplexes we got built,” Bierly explains.

The units include duplexes on Fourth Street and Blue Stem Drive. The Fourth Street duplex is owned by the HRA, and the Blue Stem property, though similarly owned by the HRA, sits on city-owned land.

“We have the Fourth Street one on the market,” Bierly says.

Meanwhile, the HRA plans to rent out the Blue Stem Drive property in the future.

A third project of a similar nature is still being pursued: a four-plex on the corner of Eighth Street and Rice Street. The project is currently awaiting further development.

“There are supply chain issues and cost issues the Housing Authority (HRA) is trying to work through with the contractor,” Bierly says.

Bierly is uncertain of what the project’s exact timeframe will be. However, he says, “We’d like to get that project back rolling forward.”

The combined cost of completing the projects is still unknown, as several are still in development. However, the cost, which is subject to change, is estimated to be $1,715,375.

According to city administrator Mary Kennedy, the HRA used general obligation tax abatement funds, via bonds, to pay for the construction of the properties.

Deputy city clerk Echo Roggenkamp shares the HRA typically receives an annual budget of $80,000 a year, which comes out of the city’s levy.

“The HRA is a separate entity,” Roggenkamp clarifies. “None of their stuff touches the general fund.”

Apart from the continued development of the Rice Street four-plex, another goal which the HRA hopes to pursue in 2022 concerns properties across the street from Putnam Park.

“We own some properties across the street from the tennis courts,” Bierly says. “Our goal in the long run has been to hang on until we are able to develop the entire block into some housing in the future.” 

The HRA is currently working to contract a developer for the area. “There was some talk about APX building an apartment complex there, but it hasn’t moved forward,” Bierly says.

Mayor Rick Scholtes clarifies the stall is mostly due to supply chain issues.

Bierly adds the HRA hopes to acquire a few additional properties in the area.

“The idea is to redevelop that whole area,” Scholtes confirms. “There are two lots we don’t own yet. The HRA could acquire some of the homes not worth fixing up that need to be torn down, and put some sort of single or multi-family housing there.”

“Eventually, if we could wait and acquire the other properties, we would have a huge chunk that the city could develop,” Bierly summarizes.

One additional local property which the HRA is responsible for is Crescent Apartments, a federally-subsidized and HRA-operated apartment building which is located on East Seventh Street.

Bierly shares the Crescent Apartment complex, which determines a resident’s rent according to their income, has had a successful year.

“They are keeping the building full,” Bierly says. “As a group, we’re really happy with everything going on at Crescent right now.” 

Megan Hanson-Haase, Crescent Apartments housing director, confirms the facility has consistently remained at capacity.

“We have 54 units, and we’ve been at 95 percent capacity, with a waiting list of 24,” Hanson-Haase says.

“We’re one of the few income-based facilities,” she explains. “We really fill that niche for safe, stable housing for humans with a set income. I probably field at least 10 calls a week looking for low-income housing.”

“The fact that we are so perfectly located is also a huge plus for us,” Hanson-Haase adds.

No matter whether the property in question is apartment units, duplexes, four-plexes, or single family housing, the HRA’s overall goal is to identify housing that is needed within the community, and support its development so Blue Earth may continue to grow.  

“We have a lot going for us in Blue Earth,” Bierly reflects. “The people here are great. There’s a good core group of businesses. There’s jobs, and the availability of Broadband here.”

“It’s a great place to live,” he concludes. “The Housing Authority (HRA) is trying to make Blue Earth a place where you can find a place to live, or build a new one.”