HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-10 MINUTESCity of Cottage Grove Human Services/Right Commission
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 10, 2001
Members Present: Kathleen Klein, Grace Knumn, Bruce Schmidt, Tracy Poncin, Kristin
Haertl, Jim Shinn, Michael Watts
Members Absent: Bart Fischer
Staff Liaison: Scott Johnson
Council Liaison: Rod Hale (absent)
Guests: Doug Mayo, Common Bond
Bazbara Dacy, Washington County HRA
7:07 PM Call to Order
The Commission approved the minutes from the September 12, 2001meeting. Next, the
Commission welcomed Doug Mayo from Common Bond and Barbaza Dacy from
Washington County IIRA to discuss senior housing issues.
Doug Mayo informed the Commission about Common Bond. Common Bond currenfly
has 42 developments with 3100 units. They will have up to 3500 units by the end of
2001. Doug Mayds organization is geared toward helping seniors stay independent.
Common Bonds goal is to meet the affordable housing needs for all groups (family,
seniors, special needs). Common Bond is able to do the full-development. They can
identify land, set up re-development agreements, find financing for projects, and any
other step in the process. According to Mr. Mayo the need for senior housing of all
levels does exist in Cottage Grove
Bazbaza Dacy from Washington County HRA explained how her organization could heip
with the development process for affordable housing. She reiterated Mr. Mayo's earlier
statement that there is a need for senior housing in Cottage Grove. HRA has done some
larger mixed-use developments for senior housing (no retail). She explained that market
rate senior housing "will take caze of itselP' in Cottage Grove. Ms. Dacy knows the city
needs to take an active role to put together a functional and attractive low-income or
mixed income senior housing development. She spoke about how HRA could do a mix
of services for a mixed income senior housing project in Cottage Grove.
Mr. Mayo and Ms. Dacy said the project funding could take two-years to secure for a
low-income senior housing complex. Doug Mayo also explained the advantage of having
a mixed-income development. He explained that a low-income senior housing complex
only has one or two possible sources for funding. When the project is opened up to a mix
of income levels the funding options increase.
Doug Mayo also spoke about the possible sites in Cottage Grove. He likes the Cottage
Squaze and Armory sites because of the surrounding amenities for seniors. These
amenities include: pharmacies, transportation, and retail. The other sites in the City are
to faz away for seniors to access the necessary amenities. He also spoke about a possible
mixed use of senior housing and retail. According to Mr. Mayo, Common Bond has done
some mixed projects with retail, but the senior housing was not in the same building as
the retail. Common Bond was considered a sub-tier developer in this situation. Mr.
Mayo offered the Commission tours of their mixed-income properties in Northfield and
Red Wing.
The Commission would like to report to the Council on their senior housing findings.
They would like some direction from Council on this issue and want to set up a meeting
before a Council meeting.
Jim Shinn made a motion to adjoum. The motion was seconded. The meeting adjoumed
at 8:45 PM.
Next meeting is November 14, 2001