Buy a Home in Dayton's Bluff for $1.00!

Dayton's Bluff is a scenic historical neighborhood on the East Side of Saint Paul. The gorgeous area along the river bluff boasts sweeping views of the Mississippi River Valley and downtown. The opposite end of the neighborhood is bordered by both Mounds Park and Swede Hollow, offering acres of green space. Although it is accessible to downtown, Dayton's Bluff is separated by ravines, rail lines, freeways and bluffs. This separation has helped to establish Dayton's Bluff as its own entity.

For a community with so much to offer, Dayton's Bluff has never quite fulfilled its potential. Throughout the years there have been economic problems and cultural issues all leading to a lack of investment in the neighborhood.

Some feel that Dayton's Bluff is a hidden jewel that should be restored to its former beauty. The Dayton's Bluff Urban Partnership is a collection of different groups with similar goals of resurrecting the neighborhood, and restoring the historical homes that line the streets.

Some of their main objectives are:

- To create a safe and welcoming environment.

- Provide ample public and greens spaces for the community. The current parks are mainly located in the interior and used for organized sports. The bordering Mound Park and Swede Hollow are difficult to access because of their terrain.

- Tempering of excessive traffic and introduce more means of mass transit, pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes.

- Create jobs and training for the residents.

- Offer a broader range of housing to suit varying income levels.

- Promote high quality schools.

- Support local businesses.

- Improve the neighborhood character and encourage restoration of the historic structures.

In an effort to achieve some of these goals, the Dayton's Bluff Urban Partnership, Community Council and other partners have developed the Saint Paul’s 4th Street Preservation Project in Dayton’s Bluff. In an aggressive move to promote restoration and encourage home ownership, the City's Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is selling off 11 single-family homes and duplexes between $1.00 and $50,000.

It's not as easy as it sounds, and definitely comes with certain conditions:

1. Applicants must prove they have the financial backing to complete the necessary renovations required to rehabilitate the property, and must be able to qualify for a mortgage ranging from $140,000 to $190,000.

2. Applicants must restore the properties by adhering to proper development and historic preservation specifications.

3. Applicants will either become eventual homeowners or will work with buyers to purchase and occupy the homes upon completion.

4. Buyers will receive technical assistance from the HRA to complete the renovation.

Visit the project website at www.stpaul.gov/4thstpp to obtain applications and rehabilitation guidelines.

Per HRA rules: "Proposals will be evaluated based on financial feasibility; compatibility with the East 4th Street Preservation Project Development Principles, Conformity with Dayton’s Bluff Historic District Guidelines, Energy Efficiency Improvements, and overall property improvement."

If you are a developer looking to purchase the property for resale, your proposal will be evaluated based on:

1. Experience and adherence to federal, state and local laws.

2. Capacity of staff and consultants.

3. Working capital.

4. Construction capacity.

5. Marketing capacity.