HRA secures new developer for workforce housing project

A proposed 16-unit workforce housing project is moving forward again after the Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) secured a new developer to take it over.

The new developer is Wisconsin-based company Vision Inc. The company has previous experience working in Grand Marais and worked on the construction of the Gunflint Vue apartment building.

HRA Executive Director Jeff Brand said the HRA and Vision Inc. are currently “negotiating a developer’s agreement.” The HRA intends to finalize and discuss the developer’s agreement during a special meeting on July 29.

Brand said if the HRA votes to approve the developer’s agreement, next steps will include review and approval from the Cook County Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Grand Marais City Council.

“We’ll move forward from there,” Brand said. “I’m really hopeful that this can get accomplished, and we can still meet that window of development.”

A preliminary design of the 16-unit workforce housing project by developer Vision Inc.

In 2025, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency awarded the project $1.3 million in funding, to be administered by the EDA. The caveat is that in order to use the granted funds, the project must be completed by January of 2028.

The proposed project is planned for the site of the former Tomteboda Motel next to the WTIP radio station. The project has been under discussion by City of Grand Marais and HRA officials since early 2024. The parcel is currently a vacant lot, and in past city council meetings, the city has stated it would sell the land to the HRA for $1 for the proposed project.

With the project receiving state funding, rental costs per unit are set by Minnesota Housing on a county-by-county basis using Area Median Income (AMI) guidelines.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with HRA Director Jeff Brand following a July 15 HRA board meeting to discuss several items, including the 16-unit workforce housing project. Below is audio of Part One of a conversation with Brand.

Kalli Hawkins July 18, 2026