A historic resource survey and historical research supports renovations to affordable housing in Duluth.

​

CHALLENGE

The Windwood Townhomes have provided affordable housing to the Duluth community since 1971. By 2021, the townhouse complex was in need of repair and updates, including the construction of accessible units and amenity space. Because the project involved funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the renovation was subject to review by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. In order to complete the Section 106 process and close on the financing for the project, the project’s potential impact on historic properties needed to be assessed.

SUCCESS

New History completed historical research on multi-family housing in Duluth and an architectural-history survey to evaluate the potential effect of the proposed project on historical properties. New History’s recommendation that the project would not have any impact on historic properties was reviewed and approved by the SHPO, completing the Section 106 process and allowing the project to proceed as planned.