About Plymouth

• News & Issues
• Plymouth
  A to Z
• Covenant
• Liberal Theology
• Worship & Music
• Arts
• Social Action
• Sierra Leone-
  Plymouth Partnership
• Education Focus
• History &
  Congregational Roots
• Governance
• Affiliations
• Children
  & Youth
• Ministers
  & Staff

[November 2006]

Housing initiative with
Westminster celebrated

Jim Gertmenian, R.T. Rybak and Tim Hart-Andersen

Plymouth and Westminster Presbyterian Church have created a joint endeavor – the Housing 150 Initiative – committing leadership and financial resources to have a significant impact on the preservation and creation of affordable housing in our community.

With both congregations celebrating their 150th anniversaries in 2007, they have ambitious plans to raise close to $1 million through their Sesquicentennial Capital Campaigns for this initiative. The Housing 150 Initiative will rely on the technical expertise of Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation.

Housing 150 was celebrated at Abbott View – the first affordable housing project of the initiative – at 1801 1st Ave. So., two blocks northeast of Plymouth. Participating were Jim Gertmenian; Tim Hart-Andersen, Westminster pastor; Mayor R.T. Rybak; Tim Marx, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner; Sesquicentennial Campaign Co-Chairs Jim & Carmen Campbell of Westminster and Roger Hale and Carol Truesdell of Plymouth; Abbott View tenants; and Lee Blons of the Plymouth Foundation. About 150 people attended.

Through the purchase and renovation of Abbott View, Housing 150 will prevent the displacement of lower income tenants who would have lost their housing if this historic apartment building had been converted into market-rate condominiums as planned. Given the gentrification of the neighborhood, the acquisition will preserve this affordable housing not just for the existing tenants but as a resource for the community into perpetuity.

The building has 21 units – 18 one-bedroom units, two two-bedroom units and one studio. The acquisition and redevelopment of the property will cost about $3 million, including significant rehabilitation – a new roof, extensive brick work, updating of kitchens and baths and a new community room. The name, “Abbott View,” was chosen due to its location across from the original historic Abbott Hospital.

The Housing 150 Initiative committed the first funds ($200,000 from Westminster and $50,000 from Plymouth) to the project. Over the next year, additional resources will be secured to fully rehabilitate the building.

In a federally rent-subsidized property like Abbott View, very low-income tenants have the ability to live in safe and decent housing because their rent is based on 30 percent of household income. The average rent payment by the current tenants is $215 a month, leaving them enough money for food, transportation and health care.

Abbott View meets Housing 150 Initiative investment priorities:

Investing in housing for those most in need.
· The average income of tenants is less than $10,000.
· Many of the tenants live on fixed incomes due to disabilities.
· 20 percent of the units in the future will be set aside for those who are homeless.

Investing to have the most impact.
· Preserving federal rent-subsidized housing ensures continued federal funding of more than $2 million for the next 20 years.
· The Initiative’s $250,000 investment will leverage more than $2.5 million in capital investment from the state and local governments.

Investing in neighborhoods near the churches.
· Located within 10 blocks of both churches.
· Preserves an historic building in desperate need of repair.
· Preserves a community of long-term tenants.