EMERSON UNION
Adaptive reuse of historic school creates affordable housing
LOCATION
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CONSTRUCTED
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PROJECT DATE
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PROJECT SIZE
New Ulm, MN
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Trellis (formerly Community Housing Development Corporation/CHDC)
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1915-1956
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2017-2021
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Historic tax credit certification, condition assessments, design guidance for historic building redevelopment
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90,000 sq. ft., 49 units
Historic tax credits pair with low-income housing tax credits for an award-winning redevelopment project.
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CHALLENGE
The former New Ulm High School was decommissioned by the New Ulm School District in 2007. New owners planned to complete a renovation of the building for multi-family housing using state and federal historic tax credits as well as low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC). To succeed, the project needed to navigate the unique challenges of utilizing historic tax credits for a multi-owner site and preserving the historic character of the school while meeting requirements for a residential reuse.
SUCCESS
New History led the historic tax credit application process and worked with the project team to develop design solutions that met preservation standards, including a solution for reusing the school’s historic library space. In 2021, the completed project received a Minnesota Real Estate Journal Award.