Danielle Robertson took the oath of office as the HRA's newly appointed city council representative commissioner, administered by Deputy City Clerk Matt Brillhart. She was appointed to the seat at the January 5, 2026 city council meeting.
The HRA voted 6-0 to defer 2026 payments (about $197,723 each, totaling roughly $395,446) on the affordable housing trust fund loan to AEON for Blooming Meadows South, a 306-unit affordable complex in the South Loop. AEON cited pandemic-era revenue losses, high operating costs and vacant common areas; the deferral aligns with the senior lender's own deferral and buys time for a decision on a $20+ million Minnesota Housing Community Stabilization Fund award expected in February. Commissioners noted that without state funds AEON would likely need to sell the property, though land covenants and the city's tenant protection ordinance would preserve some affordability protections for residents.
The board voted 6-0 to approve the Bring It Home rental assistance program appendix to the 2026 Housing Choice Voucher administrative plan, along with 2026 payment standards. The state-funded, $2.6 million, two-year program targets families at or below 50% AMI (priority to those below 30% AMI with children), creates a separate waitlist with no portability outside Bloomington, sets aside 20 vouchers for a partnership with the Hennepin County School to Housing program, and removes the 'family right to move' provision allowing transfer to a standard voucher after 12 months.
Staff and commissioners discussed proposed strategic priorities for 2026, including exploring a 4D property tax reduction program for naturally occurring affordable housing, a city-owned land disposition policy for potential home development, expanded down-payment assistance, more proactive property maintenance/preventive repair programs, and improved public communications to counter inaccurate narratives about HRA programs. No formal vote was taken; final work plan adoption is expected at the February annual meeting.
The HRA administrator announced the project-based voucher waitlist for the Rosalyn, a senior housing property for residents 55 and older, is open for applications online until February 6, 2026.
