With Heritage Park’s future uncertain, residents begin a slow move-out
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spent time listening to Heritage Park resident Diana Jones. Jones was among a group of residents who attended a Board of Estimate and Taxation meeting to complain about the slow response to relocating residents.
Story and photos by David Pierini, Editor
When Candy Bakion moved to Heritage Park 20 years ago, she said it felt like the “Beverly Hills of North Minneapolis.”
Her building was a warm cream color with green trim, and the apartment was spacious enough to raise kids and later grandkids. It was stylish, with all-new amenities, including her own washer and dryer. She had her own garage and plenty of storage.
Last November, she was the only tenant remaining in her building, except for squatters in abandoned apartments. One day, after her son counted 10 mice caught in glue traps, Bakion and her son fled with only a change of clothes. They left behind their possessions, including photos, clothes, books and furniture. She said everything was covered in mold.
Residents of her longtime community were still waiting in September to receive financial assistance for moving as City officials, trusted Northside leaders and new management worked on relocation efforts and began to figure out if the decrepit Heritage Park buildings are worth salvaging.
The Minneapolis City Council, pressed by Ward 5 Councilwoman Pearll Warren, allocated $2.5 million in July to assist Heritage Park residents with moving costs. The City didn’t finalize details until mid-September, signing a contract with North Point Health and Wellness Center to oversee the funds.
NorthPoint staff began meeting with some residents on Sept. 16 at the Heritage Park leasing office. The City funds, meant to help with costs for new apartments for up to a year, are available to 83 individuals and families without a public housing unit at Heritage Park. Help for another 129 households covered by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority remains unresolved.
Heritage Park was once considered the future of affordable housing. But a change in management over the last 25 years led to neglect, including mold and rodents. Outside staircases were near collapse and there were long waits to get furnaces and air conditioners fixed.
To make matters worse, inspections ceased for six years because the City and the MPHA were confused over which entity had authority. Once inspections resumed last year, city inspectors recorded more than 900 violations.
A private developer, McCormack Baron Salazar, owned and operated Heritage Park until December, when the housing complex went into receivership. MPHA owns the land but does not own any of the units
Candy Bakion lived in Heritage Park for 20 years and fled one day with one bag of belongings in November after her son counted 10 mice caught in traps.
“I was sick all the time, and we had to get out,” Bakion said. “The funny thing is I miss my apartment. I miss the amenities and how things were when I first moved there.”
Community leaders say conditions are dangerous and merit a complete exodus by the end of the year.
A report from Insight Restoration, hired by the receiver of Heritage Park, Certis LLC, to inspect the properties, indicated 160 of 209 units “present conditions that may necessitate” demolition.
These buildings have “severe deterioration, water intrusion and prolonged moisture and deferred maintenance.” There was also cosmetic maintenance to “conceal widespread moisture-related deterioration” with two or more layers of vinyl flooring covering earlier surfaces. The report was filed Aug. 31 in Hennepin County District Court, which requires the receiver to submit updates.
A staircase railing brace was pulled out of the wall inside a Heritage Park building on Seventh Street North.
Mold frames a ceiling air vent in the apartment of Keandra Guilmant. She said management did nothing to mitigate the mold, which aggravates asthma for her and her son.
Boarded-up and abandoned units can be found throughout Heritage Park. City officials say many of the buildings have been neglected and may need to be torn down.
Thomas Berry, vice president of the Minneapolis NAACP, and Kenya McKnight, CEO of ZaRah Integrated Root Center, have co-led weekly meetings with residents to keep them apprised of their rights, encourage them to document health impacts and provide information on finding new housing.
Sonya Pargo listened to leaders at a recent weekly meeting of Heritage Park residents. She is one of the residents in 83 units who can move with help from city funds.
Berry has told residents to leave most of their possessions behind because landlords don’t want to risk mold entering their buildings.
“I want to be clear so that you all understand why everybody needs to leave, ideally by December 1,” McKnight-Ahad said at a gathering of residents on Sept. 15. “So, we have to keep fighting.”
A voice rang out, “We’ll all be dead before we win.”
McKnight assured, “We will not be dead, but we’re gonna fight.”
McKnight reminded residents that their advocacy has brought attention and resources to their plight. Several have regularly attended government meetings to raise awareness about the condition under which they live.
At a Sept. 9, City Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) meeting, residents criticized a Public Housing Authority plan to funnel money to repairs at Heritage Park and temporary hotel stays during construction.
Myra Cain began packing her belongings in her apartment but couldn't move until she received relocation assistance from a city fund.
In sharing their living conditions, residents asked the board to reject MPHA’s proposal to use any money to repair buildings and instead use it to help people.
Many of the residents who spoke directed their comments to Mayor Jacob Frey, who sits on the BET.
“You came to my church, you gave your word that it’s not about the buildings, it’s about the people, and we’re the people of Heritage Park,” Bessie Rogers said. “Everybody up there (on the board) is sitting comfortable. We’re not comfortable. It’s time for us to get up out of there.”