Union Flats brings new affordable housing options to a neighborhood undergoing change in St. Paul, Minn.
Developed by Dominium, the 217-unit development is located on land that was once home to Hunt Electric. Union Flats helps revitalize the area, which is still largely industrial, and serves as an important transition to the retail-rich University Avenue just one block away. The development is the first project of its kind to be built off this core street.
“There hasn’t been that catalyst for new construction off University Avenue,” says Devon Quist, development associate at Dominium. “There’s a goal to expand redevelopment across the region, and this project creates transit-oriented affordable housing on this corridor.”
After remediating contaminated soil from the site, the developers were able to build a development two blocks from a light rail station. In addition, the development helped improve the area’s pedestrian walkways, and the city is working to establish dedicated bike lanes in the neighborhood to tie into the nearby bike trails.
Built for residents earning no more than 60% of the area median income, the one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes promote an urban lifestyle at an affordable price. Recognizing the transit-oriented nature of the area, Union Flats includes a bike lounge and repair shop for residents.
Now that Union Flats has opened its doors, it allows for more redevelopment of this underutilized neighborhood.The $67 million development is financed with 4% low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds.
