Cinnaire joined our partners from Project for Pride in Living and Emma Norton Services to celebrate the grand opening for Restoring Waters and Nellie Francis Court, two new affordable housing developments in St. Paul’s Highland Bridge development. Project for Pride in Living (PPL), an equitable and inclusive organization committed to elevating the voices of the communities it serves, developed both projects while Emma Norton Services serves as supportive services provider. Cinnaire provided a $7.1 million Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investment to support Restoring Waters and a $7.1 million LIHTC investment to support Nellie Francis Court.
Restoring Waters will be home to more than 60 formerly homeless individuals and families in a supportive housing residence, and provide the foundation for every person to heal, recover and build a more stable and harmonious future. The project was designed to serve the unique needs of women who have experienced trauma in their lives. The state-of-the-art development incorporates key features of a trauma-informed dignity and respect for residents, safety and privacy, inviting spaces, and a sense of stability and security. Emma Norton Services, established in 1917, is a trauma-informed organization that promotes healing and recovery, operating at a scale that brings a full array of resources to women, individuals and families who have experienced homelessness.
“A supportive community plays a vital role in recovery,” said Chris Jillings, Cinnaire SVP, Business Development. “Pairing high-quality affordable housing with support services in a calming environment creates a comprehensive and supportive ecosystem that promotes the recovery and empowerment of families and individuals. Restoring Waters is a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared vision and determination to make a difference.”
Nellie Francis Court provides 75 apartments for low-income working individuals and families. The homes are for those who earn less than 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The building also includes a community room, workspace, wellness space, bike room, and underground parking that will be shared with Emma Norton residents. The building is named after Nellie Griswold Francis, founder of the Everywoman Suffrage Club (ESC) in 1914, which later became the Everywoman Progressive Council, dedicated to the promotion of political and economic equality and social justice.
Both developments are part of a master planned community development project known as Highland Bridge at the site of a former Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant on the banks of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and Minneapolis. After Ford announced they would be closing the plant, the City went through years of planning to develop a Master Plan that would pave the way for a vibrant, mixed-use and mixed-income neighborhood offering over 55 acres of public and open space, office and retail space, and residential options including affordable housing, senior living, market-rate apartments, single-family, condos and rowhomes. As the first affordable housing developments in the new 135-acre Highland Bridge neighborhood, Restoring Waters and Emma Norton Services are helping to achieve the community’s vision to create a new, inclusive, walkable neighborhood where residents of all incomes and backgrounds can live in a high opportunity, amenity-rich, and sustainable area.
“Cinnaire is immensely proud to partner in these two projects, bringing homes to those who need us the most and uplifting individuals recovering from homelessness,” said Jeremy Bergwerff, Cinnaire Equity Underwriter. “These projects underscore the power of community partnerships in driving positive change. They represent a significant milestone for Highland Bridge, marking a new era of accessibility, inclusivity, and opportunity.”
Photo credit: Alex Carroll Photography
