NEWS RELEASE
January 27, 1976
DEVELOPING QUALITY INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE
Construction will begin this month on the $2.5 million Robbins Landing, a 110 unit seven story housing for low and moderate income elderly, in the City of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. It was announced today by Robert J Boisclair, President of The Boisclair Corporation, the developer of the project.
This facility represents the first of its kind in Minnesota and perhaps the Nation to receive rent subsidies in behalf of its elderly residents under the new Section 8 low and moderate income leased housing program as provided in the Housing and Conmunity Development Act of 1974.
“This development also represents a goal realization of over seven years of steadfast commitment by the City of Robbinsdale and its Housing Authority to provide adequate and affordable housing for its elderly citizens”, Mr. Boisclair said. Through tax increment financing, the
Robbinsdale Housing Authority was able to write off the land cost that effected the project’s initial feasibility, according to Mr. Boisclair. Both the mortgage financing and the Section 8 subsidy were secured through the aegis of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. The project’ subsidy combined with others were granted to the Agency by the local area office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“The exceptionally fine cooperation that existed between HUD’s area office and the State Agency in developing this new program created a well deserved leadership role for both agencies that will serve as a model nation-wide”, Mr.”Boisclair said.
The project architect is Miller-Hanson Westerbeck Bell Architects Inc., Minneapolis, in association with Akira Yajnashita of Boston, Massachusetl The general contractor is J. S. Sweitzer and Son, Inc. and Bomarc Building Corporation, a joint venture.
On January 30, ground was broken for the Senior Citizen Building,
“Robbins Landing.” William Radloff, the senior citizen who lobbied for the
building, was Master of Ceremonies. Andrea Bonney Scott, a granddaughter of Andrew B. Robbins, was a guest. Robbins had built a home for his daughter, Amy Robbins Ware, on that site facing Crystal Lake. The Chairman of the Housing Authority, Norma Kelly, was pleased at the opening of the building in December, because this was the first big accomplishment of the HRA.
The amassing of money from five sources and the clearing of the land which included the Hess and Ralph Linderholm service station on West Broadway, took about five years. Robert Boisclair was chosen as developer. The building has 110 units, is federally subsidized, with tenants paying a certain percentage of their income as rent. Mayor James McDonald presided at the opening ceremony.
