Edina HRA Approves $1M Heroes Housing Grant
The Edina Housing & Redevelopment Authority approved a $1 million grant agreement with the Edina Housing Foundation for a Heroes Down Payment Assistance Program during its Oct. 30 meeting, despite concerns raised about equity and taxpayer impact.
Commissioner Risser, who voted to remove the item from the consent agenda for discussion, expressed reservations about using public funds for targeted housing assistance. She questioned the fairness of designating certain professions as "heroes" while excluding others, such as retail workers, and noted that the program allows home purchases up to $600,000 with household incomes as high as $106,000.
"The more I think about it, the more I think it should be coming from private sources instead of the public," Risser said, adding concerns about the impact on taxpayers facing tight budgets.
The program will provide down payment assistance loans to qualifying public safety officers, teachers, and other designated essential workers employed in Edina. The funds come from pooled Tax Increment Financing dollars from the former Southdale TIF District, which the city secured special state legislation to use specifically for affordable housing purposes.
In other business, the HRA indefinitely tabled a proposed financing structure discussion for a public parking garage at 701 France Avenue South at the developer's request. Commissioner Risser expressed frustration that this marked the third time the item had been scheduled and then postponed, noting the waste of staff time and community engagement.
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The Edina Housing & Redevelopment Authority met on October 30, 2025, to discuss several key items including a $1 million grant agreement for a Heroes Down Payment Assistance Program and a proposed parking garage financing structure. The meeting featured significant discussion about the appropriateness of using public funds for targeted housing assistance, with Commissioner Risser expressing concerns about equity and taxpayer burden. The Heroes program was ultimately approved, while a parking garage financing discussion was indefinitely tabled at the developer's request.
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