10/03/2023
Wanting to keep you all informed.
This article will be in this week's Independent News Herald. Even though we did everything Minnesota Housing Partnership advised us to do with the 2023 grant proposal, it is very sad news, we did NOT receive funding for 2024. There was a 70% increase in applications, and the Hilltop Regional Housing Campus -Hilltop Square application lost out for funding in the first round by 2 points.
Please, please, please continue to Support this project! Central Minnesota Housing Partnership is 100% behind this, believes in it strongly and ALL of you! But we will move forward again for the next round of applications.
Can we ask? Please talk to your legislators, let them know RURAL Minnesota, small/small town Minnesota, needs housing. We are looking at 23 units, and this matters just as much as 100 unit housing. Share your frustration!!
****We also are in desperate need of ROOF REPAIR of the entire 3 story & auditorium section. There was so much damage from last winter/melting snow. We are going to ask for tax deductible donations for roof repair only. We are considering even "Sponsor a square foot" for roof repair. This would be a temporary repair until we are officially, finally, fingers crossed funded. Please private message if interested or contact the City of Eagle Bend if you willing to make a donation towards roof repair.
Eagle Bend Housing project boldly
moves forward after 2-point denial
Jay Eckel gave a tour recently to several visitors including Todd County Commissioners Tim Denny, Randy Neumann and Barb Becker
along with Todd County Coordinator Chris Pelzer.
by Karin L Nauber
visits and letters to legislators
More tours took place and
“Hilltop Square Apartments
explaining the need for housing
more local funding projects
is a needed project in Eagle
karin@inhnews.com
There are many people who
and the need for the money to
were held while waiting.
Bend and Todd County as a
have been working on a housing
be used to construct rather than
Sadly, last week, Hemmesch
whole. With so many quality
project in Eagle Bend for up to 10
destruct.
received word that the project
attributes making this project
years or longer.
Soon, tours began to take
had been denied funding.
unique, CMHP will continue
One of those people is Verna
place throughout the building
“Although there was more
to look for ways to fund for this
Toenyan.
showing interested parties how
state money allocated to hous
much needed project,” Hem
She is a huge proponent for
the plan could look as one bed
ing projects in 2023, there were
mesch added.
senior housing in rural Minneso
room apartments while still
70% more requests for housing
With that in mind, the group
ta. So are Sharon Notch and Jay
keeping much of the “flavor” of
projects submitted to Minnesota
will be looking for addition
Eckel from Eagle Bend.
the building as it had been as a
Housing throughout the state.
al community support for the
Together, along with the
school including keeping certain
This made the competition for
project as well as looking at oth
support of the Eagle Bend City
fixtures like built in shelves, light
housing funding that much more
er ways to raise funds.
Council
and
Administration,
ing and blackboards.
fierce,” began Hemmesch.
“We will be resubmitting
they have made huge gains in
According
to
Blumentals
“Hilltop Square Apartments
the application next July,” said
getting support and funding op
Architecture, Inc. Architect Jim
was very competitive. Unfortu
Toenyan.
portunities for the conversion of
Moy, “The Eagle Bend School
nately, the project missed receiv
“Although the project did
the former Eagle Bend School
building is a robust structure
ing funding by two points. We
not receive funding in 2023,
into senior housing apartments.
built in the 1940’s out of mostly
will work on ways to increase
CMHP is willing to continue
One of the things that had to
concrete. With proper care and
the points for this project and re
to advocate for Hilltop Square
happen first was to get the build
ongoing maintenance, there is no
submit another application,” she
Apartments and the needs with
ing into the ownership of the city
reason it should not survive an
said.
in the community,” added Hem
of Eagle Bend.
other 100 years.”
This news came as quite a
After the dissolution of the
“This is huge and what makes
mesch.
blow for those who had been
Eagle Valley School District on
the project a huge return on the
“Safe and affordable senior
working so tirelessly to get this
June 30, 2017, the Eagle Bend
investment,” added Toenyan.
housing is essential to grow our
project off the ground.
building became the property of
The newly formed Hilltop
rural communities. Our senior
They are down, but far from
the Bertha-Hewitt School Dis
Square Apartments began to seek
citizens are a vital part of our
out!
trict.
funding with the help of the Cen
Hemmesch said, “I have
overall community success,”
After the building was suc
tral Minnesota Housing Partner
worked on housing develop
added Executive Director of
cessfully transfered to the city
ship, Inc. (CMHP) with Execu
ment for over 13 years. I have
the Todd County Development
of Eagle Bend, the next step was
tive Director Deanna Hemmesch
never worked with a communi
Corporation Rick Utech.
to transfer $1.5 million that had
at the helm.
ty so driven to make a housing
It’s clear wherever you look
been slated to go toward demoli
Last July, an application was
project work. I am amazed at
that housing is needed.
tion of the building to now go to
submitted to Minnesota Hous
the community support for this
ward renovation of the building.
ing and then the waiting game
project.”
This was approved after many
began.
