Major Affordable Housing Developments Underway in Harbor Highlands

DULUTH, Minn. – 40 new single-family detached additions of affordable housing units broke ground Thursday in the Harbor Highlands neighborhood.

The Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Duluth held a ceremony which kickstarts Phase VI of the development project. 

This phase is focused on the construction of 10 1-bedroom, 14 2-bedrooms, 12 3-bedrooms, and 4 4-bedroom units. 7 units of housing are reserved for households exiting homelessness with supportive services. 6 units are reserved for families with disabilities.

“We are thrilled with the work that the HRA is doing here in this area with different phases to bring homes online for people who have been struggling to find housing. Sometimes that is for seniors, sometimes that is for people who have been struggling to find housing, sometimes that’s for seniors, sometimes it’s for people who need supportive housing, sometimes it’s for people in our veteran’s community,” started Matt Baumgartner, the president of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. “In this area, historically there have been dwelling units and there have been communities that have lived here. But this is really elevating it from dwelling units into homes for families, creating a neighborhood where people can grow up and thrive in this area.”     

All units apart of Phase VI have project-based vouchers where residents will only pay 30% of their income for rent and utilities. Phase VI of the Harbor Highland neighborhood development is expected to be move-in ready by summer of 2025. The final phase of this project will improve greenspaces in the neighborhood.

“These in-demand jobs that hard working Minnesotans are not able to afford housing, not able to pay for energy and utilities,” said Liish Kozlowski, representative of MN District 8-D. “Being able to create these housing that’s permanent, that’s transitional, that’s supportive is what we know is going to end homelessness and also what is economic development.”

Recently, the state passed the First-Generation Homebuyer Loan Program. The program offers loans up to $35,000 to approximately 1,500 eligible borrowers on a first come, first-served basis. For more information on the loan program click here.