Minnesota Legislature funds critical safety measure
Seward Tower East and Seward Tower West in Minneapolis have a combined 640 units and 921 residents. These properties are home to a vibrant community of residents and families who truly care for their community and neighbors.
At CommonBond, part of our mission is to provide stable homes and strong futures for folks living in our communities. To foster this sense of stability, we do our best to make residents feel safe and comfortable where they live.
In an effort to do just that, we are proud to have completed a fire sprinkler installation at CommonBond’s Seward Tower West, thanks to funding from the Minnesota State Legislature in 2023. Sprinklers are also currently being installed in all 320 units in the neighboring CommonBond community Seward Tower East.
This project came about in part from the tragic fire at Cedar-Riverside in 2019 that claimed five lives. After a report was released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) that the five people could have been saved if there had been sprinklers in the building, it became clear that installing sprinkler systems in high-rise buildings should be a major priority.
“CommonBond is committed to providing quality, dignified housing,” said Henry Parker, Director of Asset Management for CommonBond Communities. “We are appreciative of the Minnesota State Legislature for these vital funds and to Seward Towers Corporation for providing the match.”
A press conference was held this January with partners from the National Fire Sprinkler Association and the Minnesota State Legislature, including two key figures who helped pass the legislation: State Senator Zaynab Mohamed (DFL- District 63) and State Representative Mohamud Noor (DFL- District 60B).
Thanks to Senator Mohamed and Representative Noor, legislation was passed in 2023 that created a $10 million program addressing the need for high rises to be retrofitted with fire sprinklers. Up to $4 million in state funding was provided for the fire sprinkler installation in Seward Towers, with $1 million matched by Seward Towers Corp.
At CommonBond, we know we need to pair our work of providing affordable housing and wraparound services with macro-level systems change for us to truly build vibrant communities for all.
The funding for the Seward Towers sprinkler project is a great example of what can happen when advocacy comes together with government resources. We are grateful to the Minnesota State Legislature and the many partners who teamed up to help make this life-saving project possible.
