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Man becomes first Rondo descendant to receive ‘Inheritance Funds’
Qualifying descendants of the historic African-American neighborhood may receive up to $110,000 in down payment assistance.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A teenage Anthony Bradford never imagined by 22 he’d own a home.
“I walk in and I fall in love with it at first sight,” Bradford said at a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. “That means a lot to me when at 18 I was homeless.”
He’s a descendant of Rondo, St. Paul’s historic African-American neighborhood, where in the ’50s and ’60s at least 700 homes were demolished to make way for I-94 construction.
“My family did seek refuge from the historical race riot bombings in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They came up north in order to seek refuge from that,” Bradford said. “They actually owned a duplex [in Rondo] and that was removed.”
In August last year, Mayor Melvin Carter proposed the Inheritance Fund, qualifying Rondo descendants to receive up to $100,000 in down payment assistance to buy a home anywhere in the city and an additional $10,000 if located “within the boundaries of historic Rondo.”
The St. Paul City Council approved the plan in January and applications opened in February. Now Bradford is the first recipient.
“Government can be the cause of harm and be the cause of mitigating that harm,” the city’s housing director, Tara Beard, said.
“I’m grateful that government has decided that they will not just talk about it but actually do something about it,” added Mikeya Griffin, executive director of the Rondo Community Land Trust after announcing Tuesday it will receive $2.2 million in state funds.
Mayor Carter said the Inheritance Fund program is designed to be “intentional about wealth creation and asset building through home ownership.”
Bradford was intentional in his work to prepare for homeownership.
“I went to a community educational class … I read those books front and back,” he explained. “Knowing I need something – to now working hard for it and being in an environment where I know I can do it and I know I have support to do it – this is the world to me.”
Inheritance Funds are available for down payments and home repairs but there’s a wait list for both programs. The city has temporarily stopped taking applications to catch up on the hundreds already received.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
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