HRA board identifies priorities for the next year

Each year, the Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority board meets to talk about goals and priorities for the following year. The June HRA business meeting was preceded by that strategic planning conversation.

HRA Executive Director Jeff Brand told WTIP that while no formal action was taken during the strategic planning discussion, the board members had the chance to examine whether they were meeting their goals, and what community needs may have changed since the last time they held this type of meeting.

Strategic planning

“The goal is to talk about what is our mission, our vision, our values, to kind of make sure that we’re still staying in pace for what the needs of the community and the county are,” Brand said. “And then to look at our goals that we have set forth and to see what we’re missing. What are some opportunities in our community for now and in the next foreseeable year?”

At the top of the priorities list were exploring new funding tools, like establishing a local housing trust fund, continuing with the Energy and Envelope program, providing housing options for elders, and helping local land owners navigate the newly enacted Residential Open Space Overlay (ROSO) district ordinance.

Brand said one of the big takeaways from the strategic planning conversation was the need to consider intersectional issues within the county. He said that questions around access to transportation and childcare came up in the conversation about affordable housing.  Addressing these different facets is not something the HRA will be able to do alone. Brand said, “I’m big into creating new opportunities to work together collaboratively on things. I think you’re going to start to see more of that happen in our community as well.”

Project updates

As the HRA board works on strategic planning, several HRA-backed projects hit or are approaching milestones. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held for the Heights in early June, and earthwork on that project has continued. Brand also mentioned Temperance Trail, a proposed development in Tofte. The developer on that project, Green Bull, LLC, has until the end of July to receive final plat approval from the county. The HRA has already extended his contract once, and has not indicated that they would again.

Questions about Green Bull’s owner Peter Grubish’s legal battles in connection to past building projects were raised earlier this year. Brand said that in response to those concerns, the HRA board has also been considering their vetting process for future developers. While he did not share specifics, Brand said he has created applications for developers in the hopes of better establishing “a paper trail” for interested in working with the HRA.

State funding for housing

Part of the impetus for considering alternative funding options for housing programs is the anticipated shortfalls in funding from the state and federal governments.

While during the 2023-2024 budget period the legislature allocated $1 billion to housing projects across the state, this year, according to the 2025 legislative summary, the state opted to allocate $183.9 million to housing projects across Minnesota. Brand said it will not be enough.

“It’s a very average, lackluster type of a housing bill,” said Brand. “When you look at the needs of the state, just Minnesota, we need 100,000 homes more than we have now in our housing stock. And that’s at every level of that spectrum of housing, emergency housing, all the way to million dollar mansions.”

Brand said that while accessing state and federal money will still be important, the board is hoping that tools, like a  housing trust fund, could be a way to access more local resources and increase community investment.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with HRA Executive Director Jeff Brand. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski June 24, 2025