Construction underway for second affordable housing community for seniors ages 55 and older
CommonBond Communities is excited to be expanding their footprint at the Highland Bridge site in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with Harken. The new community will have 60 units in total, with seven reserved for people coming out of homelessness. Most of the units (75%) will be set aside for households whose median income is at or below 30 percent average of the area median income (AMI).
We are also proud that the project will be Energy Star rated and will be up to state energy efficiency standards. This is intended to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building, reduce energy costs, and increase resident comfort.
A few blocks away from its sister site The Lumin, Harken will include a community room, on-site management, bike storage, and 38 underground garage spaces. Residents will also have access to CommonBond’s wraparound Advantage Services.
Our signature Advantage Services include offerings specifically for older residents to combat isolation, build community, and help maintain independence. Advantage Services supports residents with everything from budgeting and connecting folks with resources, to providing arts and health and wellness classes.
“The increasingly high cost of living becomes even more difficult to manage for seniors who are retired and living on a fixed income,” says Executive Vice President of Real Estate at CommonBond Communities, Heidi Rathmann. “The need for affordable senior housing in our communities is clear, and we are proud to add Harken to our efforts to meet this moment.”
The 2024 State Housing Profile from Minnesota Housing Partnership reports that 66% of senior renters are cost-burdened and are making the tough choice between paying for housing or other basic needs. By providing residents with the foundation of a stable, affordable home, we can then help them maintain stability and independence through our Advantage Services. When people don’t have to worry about where they will sleep at night, they can focus on the other things that matter. We look forward to opening Harken to the community to help more of our neighbors experience the stability of home.
We are grateful to our funders, lenders, and partners who made this possible:
- Aspen Blue
- Cinnaire
- City of Saint Paul
- First American Title Company
- Frana Companies
- Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
- Mahoney
- Metropolitan Council
- Minnesota Equity Fund
- Minnesota Housing
- Ramsey county
- Saint Paul Public Housing Authority
- UrbanWorks Architecture
- Winthrop & Weinstine
