Memo Pines Mobile Home Park RedevelopmentCITY OF HOPKINS
OVERVIEW
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 8, 1995
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jim Kerrigan, Director Planning & Economic Development
SUBJECT: Pines Mobile Home Park Redevelopment
Real Estate Equities is proposing a redevelopment project for the
Pines Mobile Home Park that would involve the construction of 60
townhouse units. In order to undertake this project, the HRA
would need to provide both up -front financial assistance of
approximately $1 million and facilitate the sale of an "essential
function bond." To provide the bond assistance and meet legal
requirements, the HRA would need to own the project for a three
to five -year period, during which the units would be rented.
Following the expiration of the period, the units would be made
available for sale to either the existing renters or other
buyers. The existing renters will have possibly already made the
required down payment on the units through their rents paid
during the first five years.
In September of this year the developer met with the HRA to
discuss this project in some detail. At that meeting, there
seemed to be a consensus among the board that Real Estate
Equities should continue to pursue this project, but that the
following needed to be addressed in order for the HRA to have an
interest in proceeding forward:
• Adequate guarantees to protect the City.
• Structured so that no other financial assistance would be
required, other than tax increments generated from the project
and the essential function bond.
• Relocation benefits resolved with existing property owners.
Real Estate Equities has been working over the last few months to
address the above items. At the November 14 work session, staff
is proposing to discuss the project status with the City Council.
Following this discussion, the Council needs to again provide
direction to Real Estate Equities on whether to continue pursuing
this project.
31(10315A
Memo to Honorable Mayor and City Council, November 8, 1995
Page 2
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES
What is the purpose of the essential function bond?
• This type of financing is available to municipalities to
finance publicly owned residential projects that are determined
by the governing body to fill a housing need within the
community. This type of bonding is tax exempt, and, therefore,
provides a lower interest rate in order to make the project
feasible. The City's legal counsel has stated that in order to
meet the requirements to be considered publicly owned, the
project would need to be owned by the HRA for a minimum of five
years.
What are the specifics of the project?
• The project as proposed would involve the construction of 60
townhouse units. During the first three to five years the City
of Hopkins would have ownership of the units. For this time
period, the units would be rented. Market rates would be
charged for the units (present market rates are $875 for a
2- bedroom /$975 for a 3- bedroom).. With expiration of the five
years, the units would be available to the individuals for
purchase. The developer is discussing with legal counsel the
possibility of structuring the rental agreements to allow a
portion of a tenant's rent to be used as a down payment. The
proceeds from the sale of the units would be used to pay off
the essential function bond.
What type of housing is proposed to be constructed?
• The sales price after the five -year rental period is presently
projected to be $105,000 per unit. The project would be
oriented toward moderate income households. The quality of the
units, based on the asking price, should be comparable to the
CitiGables project.
What assistance would be required by the City Council /HRA?
• The total cost for this project is presently estimated to be
approximately $7 million; $6 million would be provided with
proceeds from the essential function bond. The remaining $1
million would be provided as follows:
• $400,000 of tax increment assistance
• $600,000 project loan
• The $400,000 would be repaid to the HRA over time, as tax
increments are received for the project.
JK10315A
Memo to Honorable Mayor and City Council, November 8, 1995
Page 3
• The $600,000 loan would need to be provided by the City from
another source, which would need to be identified. (There may
be the possibility of including this amount in the essential
function bond.) This $600,000 loan would be repaid once the
units are sold.
• Payments on the outstanding balance of the essential function
bond would be provided through rents received.
What are the positive impacts of this project?
• Facilitate development of a deteriorated, under - utilized area.
• Ensure that residents of the Pines Mobile Home Park receive
relocation benefits. Under the City ordinance regarding this
matter, it appears that if the owner moves the existing tenants
off the site and upgrades the property to retain a mobile home
park, these individuals would not be eligible for any
relocation benefits.
• This project meets objectives that have been identified by the
City Council to encourage projects that provide owner - occupied
housing.
• The project would provide an increased tax base for the City
once it was owner occupied.
What are the risks to the HRA?
• The project is proposed to be rented for a three to five -year
period; however, if market conditions change drastically, all
or a portion of these units could remain rental units.
• There are five areas of financial risk to the City Council /HRA
that have been identified for this project. They are the
following:
• Relocation costs more than anticipated.
• Construction costs greater than budgeted.
• Operation income less than projected, i.e., higher vacancy
rate or lower rents than anticipated.
• Sale of units or purchase price less than projected.
• Tax increments not sufficient to repay the City. This should
only occur if, once the units are sold, a number of the
owners did not pay their property taxes.
JK10315A
Memo to Honorable Mayor and City Council, November 8, 1995
Page 4
• Real Estate Equities has detailed a number of guarantees to
reduce the City's risk related to the above items. Staff and
Sid Inman, from Publicorp, have reviewed these guarantees and
feel that the developer has attempted to minimize any risk to
the HRA, based upon the experience of similar market rate
projects in surrounding communities. A market study will
need to be completed to provide assurances,that the following
will take place as projected by Real Estate Equities.
• The units will rent at the projected rents.
• The units will sell at the projected prices.
What is the basis for the public financial assistance?
• The main reason that the public financial injection is required
for this project is the site assemblage costs, which include
both acquisition and relocation. The purchase price that Real
Estate Equities has been able to negotiate with the owner is
$1.1 million. Although it could be argued that the owner is
asking an unrealistic price, the value needs to be looked at
not only from a reuse standpoint, but also from the existing'
use of a mobile home park. If the park were updated, which in
turn would justify escalating lot rents, and, subsequently,
additional units were brought onto the site, the $1.1 million
should be able to be justified from a value standpoint.
Furthermore, according to research by Real Estate Equities, the
present owner paid over $1 million for the subject property.
What would be the responsibilities of Real Estate Equities?
• Real Estate Equities would essentially function as a developer
for this project. They would act as the agent for the City
Council /HRA in overseeing acquisition, relocation, building
construction, rent -up, and property management during the
rental period and as sales agent at the end of the rental
period.
What are the specifics of the guarantees?
• Real Estate Equities is proposing guarantees as part of the
project to minimize City risk concerning budget costs or
shortfalls. A portion of these guarantees would be funded
(dollars actually in the project) and a portion would be
non - funded (legal obligation of Real Estate Equities). Of the
$1.3 million in funded guarantees, approximately $1 million
would be included in the essential function bond, with the
remaining provided by Real Estate Equities. This $300,000
would be the up -front financial risk for Real Estate Equities
if the project did not perform as anticipated.
JK10315A
Memo to Honorable Mayor and City Council, November 8, 1995
Page 5
What additional actions n ed to occur to proc d with this
project?
• If the City Council /HRA is interested in continuing to move
forward with this project, staff would propose that Real Estate
Equities complete the following steps:
• Meet with the residents adjacent to the Pines Mobile Home
Park to discuss the project (prior to meeting with the Zoning
and Planning Commission).
• Schedule a concept review with the Zoning and Planning
Commission to discuss the proposal and use (tentatively
scheduled for November 8, 1995).
Following completion of the above, staff proposes that the
developer return to the HRA (tentatively scheduled for December
6, 1995). At that time, consideration would be given to
authorizing preparation and execution of a preliminary
redevelopment agreement to complete the following:
• Complete a market study.
• Negotiate relocation benefits with the Pines Mobile Home Park
residents.
With receipt of this information, staff would be in a position to
make a recommendation to the HRA on whether to proceed forward
with execution of a development agreement (possibly February of
1996). This document would commit the HRA to the project.
What alternatives are available?
• Try to facilitate the project as proposed by Real Estate
Equities.
• Proceed with the project as proposed by Real Estate Equities,
but do not use the essential function bond. This would
eliminate any City ownership and would not require the
five -year rental period. In order to make this feasible, based
upon the existing financial terms of the project, the HRA would
need to provide an additional approximate $400,000 to $650,000
to the project for a public financial injection of $1.4 to $1.6
million. There would be no source of repayment for these
additional dollars; therefore, they would need to be provided
as basically a project grant.
• Rezone the property to commercial. This type of project would
allow a developer to pay a higher purchase price, and,
therefore, could reduce or eliminate any public financial
participation.
JK10315A
Memo to Honorable Mayor and City Council, November 8, 1995
Page 6
• Do nothing at this time. With this scenario, the following
could occur.
• The property could potentially be redeveloped to conform to
the existing zoning of Medium High Density, Multi - family.
Based on this zoning, it appears that approximately a
170 -unit rental project could be constructed on this site.
With the existing purchase price, however, there would
probably still be a need for some public financial assistance
to make such a project feasible.
• The property could be maintained as a mobile home park. In
order to continue such an operation, the owner is required to
make some improvements to the park. These improvements are
not aesthetic in nature; therefore, the area could continue
to be a visual blight. Real Estate Equities has been told by
the owner that if the subject project does not proceed, he is
considering adding new manufactured housing units on this
site (at a cost of approximately $9,000 per unit) and selling
or leasing these units.
CONCLUSION
The project, as proposed by Real Estate Equities, is one that
could have some very positive impact on the west end of
Mainstreet also. The project would help to meet the City Council
goal of providing additional owner - occupied housing in the City;
however, in order to secure this project, there is a fairly
substantial public investment. As detailed above, there would be
the need for public ownership for a period of time, which
increases the potential financial risk to the HRA over and above
what would be experienced with the normal tax increment
redevelopment project. Real Estate Equities has done a good job
of providing guarantees to deal with what are projected to be
"reasonable" risks; however, they have not been totally
eliminated. If there were a drastic change in the market or the
overall conclusions of the market study were inaccurate, the HRA
is still potentially exposed.
The City Council /HRA needs to decide at this time whether to
proceed, based upon the following:
• Is this a good project for the City?
• Has the financial risk to the HRA been reduced as much as
possible?
JK10315A
Memo to Honorable Mayor and City Council, November 8, 1995
Page 7
The City Council /HRA should direct the developer to move forward
only if they feel reasonably comfortable with this project as
presently structured. This needs to be a consensus, as the
property will also be required to be rezoned, which needs a 4/5
vote. Real Estate Equities will have to spend a significant
amount of dollars to complete any market study and negotiate
relocation benefits. If the City Council /HRA indicates they
should proceed forward to address these items, there needs to be
sufficient commitment that if the market study is positive
regarding feasibility of this project, and relocation benefits
are adequately negotiated with all residents, they are willing to
consider entering into a development agreement to undertake this
project.
Attachment
JK10315A
SUMMARY OF PINES PROJECT
• 60 -unit townhouse project
• Total project cost of approximately $7 million
• Source of funds - -$6 million bond and $1 million in public financing
• Public financing to be repaid through TIF and proceeds from sale of units at end of 3 to 5 year
rental period
• Developer to provide adequate guarantees to minimize City risk, plus $300,000 cash at start of
project
• First 3 to 5 years of project, HRA would have ownership of project and rent units at market
rate
• After 3 to 5 years, units would be sold at estimated price of $105,000
• Developer will be responsible for overseeing construction, lease -up, management, and sale of
units
• Developer is to negotiate all relocation benefits prior to entering into development agreement
with City
PS11035A
Study will be completed to determine the market for the proposed project prior to HRA
entering into a development agreement
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jim Kerrigan - City of Hopkins
FROM: Sid Inman
DATE: November 1,1995
RE: Pines Mobile Home Park Redevelopment
As your aware, we have been reviewing the proposal from Real Estate Equities for the redevelopment of the
Pines Mobile Home Park.
As part of that review we have identified 5 areas of potential risk to the city:
1. Relocation Costs
2. Construction Costs
3. Project Rental Income Estimates - lease up rate, vacancy rate, rents
4. Unit Sales - amounts, and take -down schedule
5. Tax Increment Income
Items 1,2, and 5 are risks that we believe can be dealt with prior to final commitment by the city and can be
minimized to a great extent.
Risks 3 and 4 are based on what is acceptable risks using projected rental and sale market data. The
developer has looked at the various aspects of the market and designed various guarantees around what they
believe the market conditions are. For example, the current market for rental vacancy rate is assumed to be
3 %. The developer then designed cash guarantees that would allow for a 20% vacancy rate. This gives the
H.R.A. almost 7 times coverage comparing the current vacancy rate to the vacancy rate cash guarantees.
With this concept, the developer is guaranteeing the normal market risk and the H.R.A. would only be
responsible for risk of the market that are possible but not probable.
While we believe that guarantees closely reflect the market place. we would recommend that the next step
is to proceed with the independent market analysis. Once we have this data, we can adjust the guarantees
(if necessary) and the H.R.A. can proceed to measure what it's risks are and if they wish to proceed.
N:IWPO OPKIN
from the desk of
Sid Inman
Development Consultantftnaneial Advisor
Publicorp Inc./Ehlers and Associates, Inc.
2950 Nonvest Center
90 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 339.9291
FAX: (612) 3390854
/arias
Qakhill Cottages, New Scandia, MN
Park Place Apts., St. Paul Park, MN
Parkside I, Cottage Grove, MN
Muller Manor, Hugo, MN
Lakeville Senior Apts., Lakeville, MN
Woodland Park, Cottage Grove, MN
(Construction Financing)
Parkslde II, Cottage Grove, MN
Jergens Estates, Forest Lake, MN
Briar Pond, Oakdale, MN
Northway A & B, St. Cloud, MN
Orleans Terrace, Stillwater, MN
Dakota County LIRA
Pooled Housing Program
Raymie Johnson, Oak Park Heights, MN
Cobble Hill Apts., Woodbury, MN
Landfall Terrace, Landfall, MN
Northview Manor, Bemidji, MN
Jordan Tower II, Red Wing, MN
Trails Edge, Faribault, MN
Laurentian Manor, Virginia, MN
Pooled Hsg. Refunding Bonds (1)
East Metro Transitional Housing
Lake Grace Apartments, Chaska, MN
Dakota County General Obligation
Summary of Miller & Schroeder's
Essential Function Housing
Bond Programs
D'aii rc Id
04/01/89
07/01/89
07/01/89
07/01/89
04/01/89
04/01/88
07/01/90
07/01/90
11/01/90
12/01/90
02/01/91
05/01/91
07/01/91
1 1/01/91
11/01/91
12/01/91
01/01/92
03/01/92
05/01/92
10/01/92
03/18/93
04/28/93
05/13/93
Loci:
Washington County BRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Dakota County HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
St. Cloud HRA
Washington County HRA
Dakota County HRA
We St. Paal
Burnsville
Eagan
Hasrings
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Bemidji EDA
Red Wing HRA
Faribault HRA
Virginia HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Carver County HRA
Dakota County HRA
Burnsville
Inver Grove Heights
Lakeville
Apple Valley
Bond
Utz _want
20 5765,000
36 $1,174,510
40 61,690,313
28 51,548,862
40 $3,220,000
180 S 10,355,000
32 $1,315,000
30 51,440,000
196 513,200,000
102 54,390,000
50 63360,000
187 610,190,000
42
40
65
40
120 55,730,000
45 62,945,000
348 $7,270,000
60 53,800,000
104 54,825,000
50 53,380,000
80 65,050,000
0 318,700,000
20 51,095,000
91 54,100,000
140 68,990,000
20
50
20
50
311 a=1
Senior
Fancily
Family
Senior
Senior
Family
Credit
TI
SBT
SBT
SBTfTI
SBT/1T
Fancily SBT
Senior SBT
Family L/C
Pam. & Sr. Section 8
Senior SBT
Senior SBT
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Fam. & Sr. Section 8
Senior SBT
Family
Senior ODA
Senior Section 8
Family TI/SBT
Senior SBT/II
Pam. & Sr. SBTITI
Family Section 8
Family SBT
Senior County G.OJSBT
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
continued
Summary of Miller & Schroeder's Essential Function Housing Bond Programs - continued
Pooled Housing Program
Northland Community College Housing
Prairie Acres Apamncnts Project
Cliathassen Apartments Project
Chanhassen Apartments Project
LJC - Letter of Credit
ODA - Operating Deficit Agreement
SBT Q Special Benefit Tax
TI - Tax Increment
06/29/95 Northwest MN
Multi- County HRA
Baudene
Thief River Falls
Rostar
Badger
06/29/95 Thief River Falls
08/01/95 Worthington HRA
08/01/95 Carver County HRA
08/01/95 Carver County HRA
'btu'
410 (1) Refunded seven previous issues.
(2) Refunded previous issue.
(3) Refunded two previous issues and financed 20 units of new construction senior housing.
E.
August 28, 1995
174 S12,615,000 Fam. do Sr.
42
83
41
8
40 52,690,000
16 $1,005,000
65 64,130,000
65 3705,000
3,552 $218,781,685
Fart. & Sr.
Fat. & Sr.
Family
Family
Student
Family
Senior
Senior
City GO/ODA
City GO
City GO
Summary of Miller & Schroeder's Essential Function Housing Bond Programs - continued
Pooled Housing Program 05 /27/93
Humphrey Manor East, Wader's, MN
Whispering Oaks Projects, Oakdale, MN
Erick Pond Apartments, Stillwater, MN
Lakeshore Place & Forest Park West Apts
Germain Towers, St. Cloud, MN
fp Pooled Housing Program Series A & B
East Metro Transitional Housing (2)
Lake City General Obligation
Washington County G.O. (3)
4i FamilyApts., Sandstone, MN
) Mesabi Community College Housing
07/06/93
09/08/93
09/08/93
10/13/93
12/22/93
05/17/94
08/01/94
08/24/94
11103/94
12/30/94
06/15/95
Southeentrai MN
Multi- County HRA
Arlington
Courtland
Gaylord
Gibbon
Henderson
Janesville
Lafayette
Madelia
St. Clair
St. James
Sherburne
Minoru
VVinthrop
Wadena HRA
Washington County HRA
Washington County HRA
Grand Rapids HRA
St. Cloud HRA
Nonhdest MN
Multi-County HRA
Ada
Argyle
Clearbrook
Crookrtott
Erskine
Fertile
Fisher
Fosston
Greenbush
New Folden
Park Rapids
Shelly
Warren
Washington County HRA
Southeastern MN
Multi- County HRA
Washington County HRA
Sandstone EDA
Virginia HRA
332 $20,315,000 Pant. & Sr.
26
30
8
12
26
12
14
16
8
12
24
36
8
28
14
10
8
8
59 52,770,000
93 S1,985,000
40 51,150,000
96 86,405,000
60 83,300,000
347 523,635,000
31
8
6
10
40
30
10
14
14
12
12
12
8
36
60
8
16
20
0 51,095,000
50 53,000,000
20 88,565,000
72 55,048,000
24 81,835,000
Family
Senior ODA
Family
Senior
Senior
Sertik r
Fami
Family
Senior
Senior
Family
Senior
Senior
Family
Senior
Senior
Family
Senior
Senior Section 8
Family SBT
Family SET
Fam. & Sr. ODA
Senior Section 8
, Fam. & Sr. ODA
Senior
Family
Family
Senior
Family
Senior
Family
Senior
Family
Family
Senior
Fancily
Family
Family
Senior
Family
Family
Senior
Family
Senior
Faro. & Sr.
Pam. & Sr.
Student
Section 8
City GO
County GO
City GO /ODA
continued
Educational Facilities
11
Total S4I,748,095
Etaln
7/13/92
7/15/92
9/01/92
11/01/92
12/01/92
12/16/92
4/22/93
4/30/93
7/15/93
10/01/93
7/26/95
81,755,000
S1,875,000
5418,103
89,450,000
8549,992
$ 1,380,000
81,250,000
8860,000
53,710,000
82,500,000
518,000,000
Correctional Facilities
laatc A1310Jini
10/01/81 86,000,000
2/01/85 815,833,684
8/15/86 812,360,000
8/15/86 88,100,000
12/01/86 85,780,000
8/01/87 81,830,000
9/01/88 $11,350,000
7/15/91 835,000,000
3/01/93 56,430,000
4/01/93 $39,895,000
ls�
Richfield ISD No 280 Cert of Put Honeywell, Inc.
Grand Rapids ISD No 318 Cents of Part Honeywell. Inc,
Nashwauk- Keewatin ISD No 3219 Certs of Part Honeywell, Inc.
Washington County HRA Lease Rev Bonds Ser 1992 So Washington County Schools Project
St Anthony —New Brighton ISD No 282 Certs of Part Honeywell, Inc.
Notth Branch ISD No 13$ Certs of Part Honeywell. Inc.
Monticello ISD No 882 Cents of Part Honeywell, Inc.
Crosby— Ironton ISD No 182 Cells of Part Honeywell, Inc.
Mounds View ISD No 621 Certs of Part Honeywell, Inc.
St. Paul HRA Comm Dev Rev Bonds Ser 1993 St. Paul Academy d4/ Summit School Project
Washington County HRA Celt of Part Ser 1995 (Northeast Metropolitan Intermediate School District 916)
Anoka Jail Facility Rev Bonds Ser 1981, Anoka Cty Unlimited Tax Lease Obligation
St. Cloud Law enforcement Center Rev Bonds Ser 1985 Stearns County Unlimited Tax Lease Obligation
Dakota County HRA Jail Rev Bonds Ser 1986, Dakota County Unlimited Tax Lease Obligation
Dakota County Certs of Part, Dakota County Building Authority Court Expansion Project
Anoka Jail Fac Rev Rfdg Bds Ser 1986, Anoka County Unlimited Tax Lease Obligation
Dakota County HRA Jail Fae Rev Bonds Ser 1987, Dakota County Unlimited Tax Lease Obligation
Stearns County Cents of Part, Stearns County Building Authority, County Administration Building project
Washington County HRA Ja1I Refunding Rev Bonds Ser 1991, Dakota County Unlimited Max Lease
Obligation
Dakota County BRA Jail Refunding Rev Bonds Ser 1993, Dakota County Unlimited "ILx Lease Obligation
Washington County HRA Jail Facility Revenue Bonds Ser 1993, Washington County Unlimited Tax Lease
Obligation