It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, thousands of volunteers joined us for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project and broke ground at The Heights. Since then, this 112-acre site on St. Paul’s East Side has been buzzing with activity and transformation. Together, we’re creating Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s largest development ever with 147 affordable homes that will give families a bright, stable future.
Take a look at a year of progress at The Heights: from concrete slabs and piles of lumber to beautifully finished houses, ready to welcome new families.
In June, IKEA staged our very first model home—a three-level, four-bedroom townhome designed with multigenerational living in mind. Now potential buyers can walk through every floor and truly imagine what life at The Heights will feel like. The home opened for tours by appointment only in July, thanks to our partnership with the Sandy Green Realty team, who will guide buyers through the sales process while Habitat continues to be alongside families every step of the way.
As of this summer, 60 homes are under construction. Single-family and twin homes are being built with the help of Habitat volunteers, and Doran Companies is leading triplex and quad townhomes.
This spring’s dynamic weather didn’t slow down progress. Volunteers have been hard at work building garages and moving inside to drywall, flooring, and millwork. On the Doran-led townhomes, all siding is installed and most units are in the interior finishes stage. Across the site, mass grading has been completed, and permanent power was trenched and installed in June.
Sustainability continues to be a priority at The Heights with the installation of solar shingles, air source heat pumps, energy efficient windows, and more. Read about Habitat's sustainability efforts at The Heights - it's on track to be one of the most eco-efficient developments in the state of Minnesota!
Since the Carter Work Project, 4,580 volunteers have completed 8,924 days of work at The Heights. Late spring brought a wide range of groups: six Regular Crews, seven community partners, two youth groups, several faith partners through Holy Hammers, and a strong showing of corporate volunteers.
During the busy summer season, the site hosted up to seven volunteer groups a day—nearly 100 volunteers daily! The large scale of The Heights means we can welcome more corporate partners while still engaging our Regular Crews and individual regular volunteers.
The Heights is more than housing. It’s a vibrant, mixed-use community taking shape:
Xcel Energy is building a new service center, expected to open in 2027.
Ever-Green Energy is installing one of Minnesota’s first aquifer thermal energy storage systems.
St. Paul Port Authority resumed infrastructure work this spring, prioritizing underground water and sewer on the north end of the site and moving forward with lighting, streets, and sidewalks across the development.
Permanent power and alley paving were recently complete, and this fall, Habitat will break ground on two additional single-family homes, expanding construction to both the north and south ends of our current clusters.
It’s been an incredible first year at The Heights, and we’re just getting started. With every home built and every volunteer who swings a hammer, we’re bringing hundreds of families closer to the stability of homeownership. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow this landmark community on St. Paul’s East Side.
When all is said and done, the story of The Heights can't be told without the Carter Work Project. The energy and determination on display during the event set the tone for everything that has followed. The siding volunteers hung, the walls they raised, the concrete they poured—those contributions are now part of the very fabric of The Heights. Every new milestone we celebrate builds on the foundation of their hard work, and we are deeply grateful for the lasting imprint they’ve left on this community.