Memo- Hopkins Village ApartmentsMemo
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Skepper, Public Housing Manager
Date: 04 /09/98
Re: Hopkins Village Apartments
Page 1
Hopkins HRA
Residents of the Hopkins Village Apartments have requested they be permitted to
make a short presentation to the Hopkins City Council at the April 14, 1998 Work
Session. Attached you will find a chronology of events related to the decision of the
owner to opt out of the 236 low income mortgage and section 8 project based
programs.
The tenants desire to bring the Council up to date and discuss problems they are
currently experiencing.
A
August 27, 1997
August 29, 1997
September 10. 1997
September 24, 1997
October 9, 1997
October 16, 1997
October 21, 1997
October 27, 1997
October 31, 1997
0 November 13, 1997
November 14, 1997
November 20, 1997
December 18, 1997
January 23, 1998
January 28, 1998
February 26, 1998
Chronology of Events at Hopkins Village
Hopkins Village owners, Don and Jeff Hagen held meeting with Betty
Ann Murphy, John Voller and Regis Yunker. Told us about canceling
HUD contract.
The Hagens gave letters to 64 residents informing them of one year
notice to end Section 8 in building.
Hagens held informational meeting with all residents.
Resident meeting held at Hopkins City Hall with Home Line. Formed
Hopkins Village Planning Committee (HVPC) to work on keeping
Hopkins Village affordable.
Betty Ann and Regis held meeting at Hagen's office. Purpose was to ask
Hagens if they would be interested in selling the building to a non - profit.
HVPC met with Joe Errigo of CommonBond, a local non profit developer.
Betty Ann, Regis, and Joe Errigo met at Hagen's office. Joe Errigo
explained CommonBond to Hagens. Joe asked for up to six months to
present a purchase figure and that nothing else be done during this
time. Hagens said they would have to contact other partners for
approval.
Residents meeting held in building by HVPC.
All 161 apartments received letters from Hagen's office telling of future
pre - payment of mortgage and cancellation of the HUD contract.
Information received from CommonBond that the Hagens partners said it
is okay to proceed with negotiations with CommonBond and sale as long
as the owners came out with some cash.
Telephone conversation between Joe Errigo and Jeff Hagen. Joe was
told he could pick up information regarding building next week.
Representative Betty Folliard held meeting in our building. 115 people
attended. Main topic was low income housing prepayment, and how this
is happening everywhere. Representatives of Federal, State, and local
government were present to hear about the problem.
Karen Skepper, from the city of Hopkins housing came to building with
applications for portable Section 8 vouchers so residents could be on
waiting list if it came to that need.
Had meeting with Joe Errigo. Hagen's office is not returning calls to
CommonBond. CommonBond does not have the materials needed to
proceed with negotiations.
Joe Errigo has been calling Hagen's office repeatedly. Finally got Don
Hagen today. Joe was told it would take about two weeks for
materials requested. Hagens will call Joe when materials are ready.
Don also stated that "partners don't want to sell."
HVPC met and a letter was formulated and sent the same day to
Don Hagen requesting meeting either March 4 or March 11th.
March 3, 1998
March 4, 1998
March 10, 1998
March 13, 1998
March 25, 1998
March 27, 1998
March 31, 1998
Betty Ann called Don Hagen to verify which date for meeting. Don said
he would meet with committee at 2 pm on March 12. He also stated that
they had applied to the state of Minnesota for 4 -D Property Tax
Classification Program. Don said his son Jeff had talked to Joe Errigo
and given him this information. He also said he had never agreed to
negotiate 6 months with Common Bond for a sale of Hopkins Village.
Betty Ann called Joe Errigo. Joe had not heard form Jeff Hagen nor had
any of his staff.
Betty Ann called Don Hagen to tell him meeting on March 12th would be
held in Apt 611 instead of community room, because the community
room was being used for tax preparers. Betty asked Don to bring copy of
4 -D application. He said he would. Half an hour later, Don called Betty
Ann and canceled the meeting. He said he had a meeting with his
partners that day. Regis called Don Hagen and was told Don needed
input from one of the partners, Iry Appel, and another representative from
the other partner. Don will call Betty Ann on Friday, March 13th to
reschedule a future meeting.
Betty Ann called and spoke to Jeff and Don Hagen. Hagens said the
owners involved in the March 12th meeting decided not to sell building.
He said that they would accept vouchers when they ended the HUD
contract. He said he did not know what the rents would be or any other
information. Hagen said he would call Joe Errigo about this decision.
Regis called Don Hagen. Said they don't have enough information at the
present time. No idea how much rents would be. Needs new mortgage
figures first. Regis suggested they look into Senate File 3367 legislation
which could give monetary incentives to stay in present program. Also up
asked that a letter be sent to residents giving them information on the
present situation.
Regis received call from Beth Kodluboy of HOME Line regarding
possible amendments to the 4d Property Tax Program. Regis called
Senator Kelly's office, Representative Folliard, Jim Rhodes and Ann Rest
requesting their support of a moratorium of one year regarding owners
who have pre -paid or are planning to pre - prepay mortgages.
Committee held general meeting of residents to bring them up to date. A
letter was read by one of the residents which had been given to her from
management. The first paragraph of the letter stated as follows: " Those
residents who are currently receiving a Section 8 subsidy here at
Hopkins Village will automatically receive a permanent Voucher or
Certificate to be used either here or anywhere else that accepts them.
This will enable you to stay in your current apartment for as long as you
so desire. " This paragraph is misleading. It encourages residents by
promising them something it can not give.
Betty Ann and Regis met with Karen Skepper, Steve Mielke, and Jim
Kerrigan discussed most all phases of our housing problem as well as
how the future looks regarding our building.
x