Seward Redesign Inc

Programs: Real estate development - work to facilitate the implementation of residential, commercial, and industrial real estate development projects within the greater longfellow community and the surrounding neighborhoods that serve the needs of low and moderate income residents. In 2015, redesign in partnership with commonbond communities completed the lease-up of 60 apartments for low-income seniors at the cooperage, phase ii of the seward commons redevelopment. Redesign and commonbond also finalized a partnership for the refinancing and renovation of 640 affordable apartments at seward towers east and west, including a 20-year extension of the section 8 contract.

rental property operations - operation of the franklin east office building in the greater longfellow community and the seward commons development. The franklin east building continues to be fully leased with the addition of landreau insurance agency, a bi-lingual agency that specializes in serving small businesses. The lower level of franklin east continues to function as incubator space for small businesses as do the remaining buildings at seward commons. Redesign completed the lease up of 3300 east lake and placed permanent financing. Redesign also completed the lease-up of 2610 east 32nd street, an office and manufacturing building with multiple small business tenants.

business development/community planning - work to attract new businesses to the seward neighborhood and the greater longfellow and standish ericsson communities by providing technical assistance, loan counseling, and real estate development assistance and to engage existing residents, businesses and property owners in pro-active planning for future development and to advocate on behalf of community based development that serves the needs of low and moderate income residents. In 2015, redesign was able to finalize a consensus between residents, businesses and hennepin county and minneapolis public works to consolidate the intersection at franklin and cedar/minnehaha and to create a left-turn from southbound cedar to east 22nd street. Plans were also finalized for the reconstruction of snelling avenue and east 24th street as part of the seward commons redevelopment.

asset management - work to ensure the long term affordability and physical maintenance of key residential and commercial properties within the seward neighborhood, including properties that are partly and wholly owned by seward redesign.