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HOUSING IMPROVEMENT AREAS INFORMATIONAL SHEET The 1996 Minnesota State Legislature enacted a law (428A.11) intended to provide cities with a means of assisting homeowners associations, and the owners of housing units within the associations, in paying the costs of housing improvements made to the common elements of the development. In order for a city to provide such assistance, the City Council must first designate the area in which the improvements are to be made as a Housing Imvrovement Area. The Citv Council may designate the City's Housing & Redevelopment Authority as the implementing entity responsible for implementing and administering the Housing Improvement Area. The law, Minnesota Statutes, Sections 428A.11 to 428A.21, can seem complex at times. The following information is intended to assist in the understanding of that legislation and the process that must be followed if a Housing Improvement Area is to be designated. There currently are no Housing Improvement Areas within the boundaries of the City of Rosevi�Ie. However, ; I�ti Roseville Housing & Redevelopment Authority could explore the use of this option to help financing major common area housing improvements for condominium andlar town home complexes. What is a Housing Improvement Area? A Housing Improvement Area is a designated portion of the City in which housing improvements are financed, in whole or in part, with public funds that are repaid by fees imposed against the benefited housing units much in the same manner as property taxes or special assessments. The law is designed to assist areas where common elements of a development are maintained by condominium or home owners associations. 2. What types of improvements can be included? The enabling law provides that the improvements are to be made to the common elements of the housing structures. Common elements are generally those maintenance and capital improvement items which are the responsibility of the association and not the individual home owners such as windows, siding, roofing and parking lots resurfacing. 3. When is a Housing Improvement Area designation appropriate? A Housing Improvement Area can be established only ii a. The proposed improvements to the common elements are necessary to maintain and preserve the housing units, and b. The proposed improvements could not be incurred financially by the condominium or town home association or housing unit owner.