Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

On September 17, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity dedicated eight homes at Ripley Gardens, a unique mixed-income development in North Minneapolis.

  The collaborative efforts of Aeon (formerly Central Community Housing Trust), Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH), its volunteers, local and national businesses, the faith community, government officials and neighborhood representatives have resulted in a unique affordable housing development that will provide 52 rental units and 8 homeownership opportunities. 

Several philanthropic partners came together to make the eight Habitat homes at Ripley Gardens possible, including Wells Fargo as lead development sponsor; Entrepenuer's Build,  Andersen Corporation , GMAC ResCap, and WomenBuild (Andersen Corporation, Hugh J. Andersen, Joyful Women Fund, Ryland Homes and Lowe's) were additional primary sponsors.  

As the designated 2006 WomenBuild site, one of the homes at Ripley Gardens provided women from all backgrounds the opportunity to join together and actively work to solve the affordable housing crisis.  The project offered a unique, female-led and female-supervised construction experience.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ripley Gardens is home to three historic structures: a Tudor cottage, a bungalow, and the centerpiece of the project-the former Martha G. Ripley maternity hospital.  The site is named in honor of Martha Ripley, one of the first female doctors in this country and founder of the Maternity Hospital.