The City of Bloomington celebrated a wall raising ceremony for two single-family homes with attached accessory dwelling units on Park Avenue, marking progress on an affordable homeownership initiative designed to serve local families.

The project at 9030 and 9036 Park Avenue represents a partnership between the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and Homes Within Reach. Each home will feature four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with one-bedroom, one-bathroom accessory dwelling units attached to provide additional affordable housing options.

Funding for the development comes from multiple sources, including grants from the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Housing's impact fund, along with support from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity serves as the general contractor, while Homes Within Reach provides the land through a trust model designed to maintain long-term affordability.

The homes will meet or exceed Energy Star standards and utilize quality building materials, according to project organizers. Construction involves volunteers working alongside site supervisors and AmeriCorps members. The project aims to accommodate multigenerational families, with the possibility of grandparents living in the accessory units while younger family members occupy the main homes.

Interested homebuyers can contact Homes Within Reach for information about purchasing opportunities. If the accessory units become rentals, they must be priced at affordable rates established by HUD and rented to income-qualified tenants.