Center City Housing Proposes New 40-Unit Supportive Housing Complex After Northway Drive Project Falls Through

(KNSI) – Center City Housing is taking another swing at building permanent supportive housing in St. Cloud after a similar project fell apart earlier this year.

A public hearing will be held on a proposed 40-unit apartment building for formerly homeless individuals is headed to the St. Cloud Planning Commission after city staff recommended approval of the project.

Center City Housing, which operates the RiverHeights permanent supportive housing complex in east St. Cloud, has entered into a purchase agreement with the Church of St. Anthony of Padua to buy a 1.68-acre parcel at 55 25th Avenue North. The lot has served as overflow parking for the church for roughly 25 years and has been listed for sale for more than three years.

The project would require an amendment to the St. Anthony Catholic Church Planned Unit Development to allow construction of the three-story building. The apartments would serve extremely low-income individuals who have experienced homelessness or who are living with mental health conditions, chemical dependency, or other disabilities. All 40 units would be one-bedroom.

A community meeting on the project is scheduled for April 13th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the St. Anthony of Padua parish hall, with a presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m.

It marks a second attempt by Center City Housing to build permanent supportive housing in St. Cloud. The organization received city council approval in June 2025 for a similar 40-unit complex at 1530 Northway Drive, on the site of the former St. Cloud Area Family YMCA. That project, known as the Elm Ridge Apartments, drew sharp criticism from neighbors and was scrapped in January 2026 without explanation. Messages sent by KNSI News seeking more information were never returned.

In paperwork filed by Center City Housing Development Director Jeff Phillipich, the organization states it currently has more than 200 names on its waiting list at its existing St. Cloud properties.

The 2024 Mayor’s Taskforce on Homelessness called for 100 additional units of permanent supportive housing in the city, and the 2024 Comprehensive Housing Assessment identified a need for more such housing to reduce pressure on emergency shelters. The proposed site plan meets or exceeds most development standards for the R5 multi-family zoning district, though the requested density is slightly above the R5 standard.

Parking remains a point of discussion. Center City Housing proposed building 20 off-street spaces initially and banking 20 more for future construction. City staff, however, recommended 30 spaces be built up front with only 10 banked.

Staff recommended approval with conditions, including the revised parking arrangement and a parkland dedication payment of $31,680.

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