(KNSI) – The St. Cloud City Council will get the public’s opinion Monday night before deciding whether to allow the construction of a low-income apartment building on the former YMCA site.
Center City Housing wants to build 40 one-bedroom apartments on the vacant lot on Northway Drive. The property is currently zoned commercial and needs to change its planned unit development to allow for housing. The land was approved for a grocery store, but that project couldn’t move forward.
CCH is no stranger to the city, having operated the River Crest Apartments since 2011 and the adjacent River Heights facility on Lincoln Avenue Southeast since 2023. Those buildings and the proposed new Elm Ridge Apartments will use trauma-informed and harm-reduction housing models to get people suffering from drug addiction, mental illness, and other disabilities into permanent housing. If the proposal is approved, it will take another two or three years before the building can open.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on May 13th. At that time, three people spoke in favor of the proposal, though some were not from St. Cloud. One person who works near the site wasn’t against the idea but had concerns over the safety of their clients and staff. One person spoke against the project, fearing it would harm property values.
The land was the home to the St. Cloud Y until 2017, when a new facility opened across the street, and the old building met the wrecking ball.
The public hearing will be held on Monday, June 2nd at 6:00 p.m. inside St. Cloud City Hall.
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