The Cluster Concept
Make big changes in a small area. That’s the idea behind the focus on small geographic areas, or “clusters”—to make a noticeably positive impact on the housing stock and to stabilize and strengthen the homeownership market of North Minneapolis neighborhoods.

Specific components of the cluster projects include the redevelopment of vacant and boarded homes, community outreach and organizing, the administration of a health impact assessment survey, a housing inspections component, foreclosure prevention and the establishment of a development partnership to identify and implement residential development opportunities within the cluster.

This multi-faceted approach aims to bring about improvements that are so noticeable that positive change radiates to adjacent blocks.

Current Cluster Projects
Neighborhood groups throughout North Minneapolis identified areas in their communities that they believed would have a catalytic impact on the surrounding neighborhood if targeted by the Northside Home Fund efforts. The first demonstration cluster was selected from these recommendations in April 2005. As of January 2007, five additional clusters have been selected for inclusion in the pilot project initiative. The six current clusters are located in the following neighborhoods: Hawthorne, Jordan, McKinley, and Willard-Hay.

Click here for recent news regarding the Northside Home Fund and related cluster activities.