New units by Hmong developer will open on east side of St. Paul

A newly constructed apartment building on the east side of St. Paul will provide housing for lower income tenants.

The promenade apartments at 1428 7th St. E. include 60 highly affordable, Section 8-eligible units, funded in part by the city.

St. Paul leaders, including Mayor Melvin Carter, State Senator Foung Hawj, and City Council members Jane Prince and Dai Thao, attended a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting at the exterior of the building last week. Developer JB Vang is based in St. Paul.

“It’s a moment of transformation,” Thao said. “We always talk about Hmong business, Hmong leaders coming together to work for the community, and here is such an inclusive example.”

The building will include nine one-bedroom units, 18 two-bedroom units and 33 three-bedroom units.

“I look forward to working with the city, county and state to develop more community-responsive and family-friendly affordable housing projects in the future,” said J. Kou Vang of JB Vang.

Carter thanked Vang and the development corporation for building the apartments as the city works to meet its critical housing needs, including more affordable housing for large families.

“Projects like this – it’s exciting,” Carter said. “It helps our families have a stable place to live with dignity as they pursue their dreams and education or build their businesses.”

Building amenities include a community hall, fitness center, makerspace, and indoor bike locks. Outside, the property offers a playground, picnic area, dog run and walking path. The well-lit accommodations face the woods.

St. Paul is geared towards families, said Prince, who represents the area and recalls working with Michael Thao on the apartment development as far back as 2016.

“The range of incomes that can live in this building is from very, very low, up to 60% of the area’s median income,” she said. “We are very proud of that.”