Untitled E PARK PLAZA COOPERATIVE
Park Plaza Cooperative
Board of 1260 Onondaga Street NE
Directors Fridley, MN 55432
Natwidad Seeteld November 27, 2012
President To Whom It May Concern:
Judd Matheson
vice-President The residents of Park Plaza Cooperative would like to investigate opportunities with
Nikki Caldas the City of Fridley and Anoka County to apply for CDBG grant funding or other City
Secretary or County administered resources for community improvements We would like to
request a meeting to discuss any resources that you might help us to identify
Doug Thompson that would augment the significant investment in private funds that we have
Operations Manager
already made.
The demographics of Park Plaza Cooperative align very well with Anoka County's
Housing Goals and Priorities for 2010-2014 as laid out by the Community
Development Department of Anoka County. In fact. a High Priority housing needs
area for the County is listed as owner-occupied housing serving residents at 30% or
less of area median income (AMI). Forty percent (40%) of Park Plaza residents earn
below 30% of AMI and 32% earn below 50% of AMI Over 90% of our residents are
owners of their individual homes and the park itself is owned by a cooperative of
residents. Approximately 40% of our residents represent racial and/or ethnic
minorities.
We believe that our story is one of community success. which demonstrates how
citizens of the City of Fridley and Anoka County at large are investing in quality and
affordable housing options for local residents In 2009, we, the residents of Park
Plaza Cooperative received word that our park was going to be sold: however, we
were presented with an option to purchase the park before it was placed on the
market. This threat spurred us into action to form a resident-owned park cooperative,
making us one of only five unique park cooperatives within the state of Minnesota.
By enlisting the help of Resident Owned Communities USA (ROC USA) and
Northcountry Cooperative Foundation (NCF), both national and local nonprofits
dedicated to providing technical and financial assistance for manufactured park
resident co-ops, we successfully secured financing from ROC USA (with participation
from MHFA and Twin Cities LISC) in order to purchase our land (S4.2M) We have
set into place the structures to incorporate and manage our resident corporation
which enable us to determine and prioritize park regulations. operating processes,
and improvements. To date, we have made both physical and management
improvements to our community.
While we have taken significant strides to make Park Plaza Cooperative a quality
community for local residents, and a good neighbor to others, there are a number of
long-term capital improvements on our docket. which are essential to ensure the
welfare of our community. In September of 2010 we hired Braun Intertec
Corporation to conduct a Baseline Property Condition Assessment for Park Plaza
Cooperative. Based on those report findings, we believe the following improvements
are necessary to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of this community.
Issue 1 Item Current Status Improvement Needed Est. Cost
1. Sewer/ Piping temporarily repaired Installation of permanent I S262,950
water services with boots where previous ` iron piping to replace
leakage occurred at water boots. Upgrade water
main. Water main is 2" services to 1' copper and
galvanized steel piping and sewer piping to 4" PVC
sewer main assumed to be as homes are relocated
6" clay pipe Water or replaced. Upgrade
j services are currently 1" water piping to 6". plus
galvanized iron pipe- No associated vents. valves,
i fire hydrants on site. and hydrants. Perform
i regular video surveys of '
i sewers and repair
sanitary as necessary
based on survey.
2. Roads i Several areas of localized Repaving of roads and $96,000
i broken pavement and the installation of a
alligator cracking. Also concrete center swale.
visible ponding on many
roads.
3. Electrical Newer homes have 100 ^ Upgrade electrical $30,000
services amp service pedestalsservices as needed and
while older homes have 60 new home are placed. i I
amp service.
4. Security & Minimal lighting fixtures Install additional lighting 522.000
i
landscaping and broken privacy fenceand security fencing at
Mature trees and grass path between east and
with privacy fencing. The west sites. Trim
west portion of the site is overgrown plants and
mostly paved with minimal clear brush. Plant
landscaping. decorative plantings at
j areas of interest to create
focal points. Install new. `
larger park signage I
particularly at entrances.
Thank You
Natividad Seefeld