Lincoln Park Apartment Project in Duluth is Now Underway!

"YOU MAY BEGIN CONSTRUCTION" - Four of the more enjoyable words you'll hear from a title company. As of today the Lincoln Park Apartment project in Duluth, MN is underway! The team will begin construction next week on the conversion of the former Lincoln Park School in Duluth, MN into fifty units of affordable rental housing, including seven units designated for households experiencing long-term homelessness. The conversion from school to apartments will take approximately 10 months. Lincoln Park Apartments is an important redevelopment project for the City of Duluth. The building currently sits vacant, with the exception of partial use by local nonprofit organizations that will maintain long term operations in the building even during the construction period. Benefits of the project include an increase in available affordable housing in west Duluth; an assurance of the continued, productive use of the Lincoln Park School building; and the ongoing provision of excellent household resources, including the availability of numerous service providers on-site in an adjacent portion of the building (Boys & Girls Club, Community Action Duluth, and Human Development Center). The project has received significant local support, including ranking of the project as the top priority to Minnesota Housing by the City of Duluth; an allocation of ten project-based Section 8 vouchers from the Duluth HRA; and approval of Tax Increment Financing from the City of Duluth. Historically, Lincoln Park School served the Duluth community in an educational capacity since its original construction in the late 1800’s. Successively, the school underwent multiple additions between 1915 and 2000 creating unique architectural details and characteristics. The rehabilitation is designed to capitalize on these features, including wall-to-wall windows; original built-in wood cabinets; and terrazzo flooring, among other distinctive finishes. Residential occupancy is planned for Spring 2015!