Construction began this week at the Commons at Penn, a 47-unit affordable housing apartment building at the corner of Penn Avenue and Golden Valley Road in north Minneapolis.
The project is the first by a local nonprofit called Building Blocks, which will have office and community space in the building. Building Blocks was founded by Devean George in 2011 as part of an effort to help youth and families by providing a variety of supportive services, including housing and mentoring. George is a former pro basketball player born in Minneapolis. The NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center will also have space for an outreach clinic on the first floor that will offer health education classes, events and health care services.
"Our team at Building Blocks believes that we can make a real and lasting difference by working to revitalize our community one block at a time," George said. "Commons at Penn embodies this philosophy and provides a space that will allow us to go even further in our efforts to partner with young people and their families."
The project is being funded in part by the City of Minneapolis Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Hennepin County's Environmental Response Fund and tax-exempt housing revenue bonds.
Construction is expected to finish by mid-2015, and the first residents will move in later that fall.
