Lt. governor, DNR announce plans for affordable housing at Fort Snelling Upper Post

Plan would rehabilitate 26 historic buildings, create 190 affordable housing units

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 23, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Lt. Gov. Tina Smith joined the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to announce that preliminary approval has been given to a proposal that would rehabilitate 26 historic military buildings on the Upper Post of Fort Snelling. Upon completion, the project is expected create approximately 190 rental apartments for low-income families.

“Despite their prominent place in Minnesota history, these historic buildings have fallen into disrepair,” said Lt. Governor Smith. “I am proud to support this renovation. It will restore an important part of Minnesota’s history, and transform these buildings to serve a new purpose: to improve the lives of hundreds of Minnesota families.”

The plan by Dominium, a Plymouth-based company that develops and manages affordable housing, was selected from among three plans submitted in response to a request for proposals issued earlier this spring.

“We’re pleased that we can move forward with reuse of this historic site,” said DNR Parks Director Erika Rivers. “And we’re excited to be working with a partner that has Dominium’s track record in re-purposing historic properties.”

Dominium has led redevelopment of St. Paul’s Schmidt Brewery on West Seventh Street and the Minneapolis Pillsbury A-Mill into artist’s lofts, as well as other historic properties around the country. Founded in 1972, the company owns and manages more than 22,000 housing units at nearly 200 sites in 19 states.

“Dominium is very excited to have the chance to preserve the historic Fort Snelling Upper Post while bringing much needed affordable workforce housing to the area,” said Mark Moorhouse, senior vice president and partner at Dominium. “We have successfully transformed other Minnesota landmarks in the past, and we look forward to doing the same at the Upper Post.”

Located near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Upper Post of Fort Snelling was a major hub for military activity throughout the late 19th and much of the early 20th century. It served as an induction and training center during both World Wars. The site, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, was turned over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 1971. Many of the buildings subsequently have fallen into disrepair.

In 2013, a joint powers board was formed to solicit and oversee options to re-use the property; it includes the DNR, the National Park Service, Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Minnesota Historical Society.

Now that the Dominium proposal has been given preliminary approval, the company will negotiate lease terms with the DNR. Because the project would rely on a long-term lease of state property, the terms would need final approval by the State Executive Council, which consists of Minnesota’s Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Auditor and Secretary of State. The company hopes to start construction in 2017.