A new housing initiative is set to bring relief to St. Cloud’s housing shortage. Dreamliner Estates, a locally founded housing development company, is spearheading a 34-home project on the city’s south side. This ambitious plan, named the Southern Ridge Twin Homes project, is backed by a $3.4 million grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.
A Vision Rooted in Community
Dreamliner Estates was founded just eight months ago by three dedicated St. Cloud residents: Ryan Daniel, Eunice Adjei, and Emmanuel Oppong. With professional backgrounds spanning public transit, finance, and community engagement, they came together with a shared goal—creating attainable housing opportunities through a public-private partnership model.
“We decided that we can come together to solve the housing problem and decided to go with it from a community-based approach, where you have private-public sector collaboration,” said Oppong, who also serves as the City of St. Cloud’s Community Engagement Director.
Thoughtful Design for Growing Families
The Southern Ridge Twin Homes are designed with families in mind. Each home will feature four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a two-car garage, ensuring enough space for long-term living. The open floor plan was intentionally crafted to support family life and foster a sense of belonging within the community.
“If you want to start a family, we are able to help you attain stable housing for you and your family to live in and not just live in but thrive in,” Oppong said.
Addressing Housing Disparities
Minnesota ranks among the highest in homeownership rates nationwide, yet the state also faces one of the largest disparities between white and minority homeowners. According to a 2021 report from Minnesota Housing, while 76.9% of white households own homes, only 43.6% of Black, Indigenous, and households of color do.
Dreamliner Estates aims to help bridge this gap. “We’re looking at the generational wealth aspect of it, too,” Daniel said. “Home ownership amongst people of color and other underrepresented communities, when they think of owning a home, that’s like a dream. But we want that dream to be a reality.”
Streamlining the Path to Homeownership
Understanding that the homebuying process can be complex, Dreamliner Estates is working closely with local banks and organizations to make it easier for first-time buyers. They plan to assist with paperwork and guide potential homeowners through every step of the journey.
“(We are) making it easier for folks in our community to be able to afford a home without the intimidation that comes with it because we’ve been able to build trust for several years within the community,” Oppong noted.
Moving Forward
While the Southern Ridge project is still in the early planning stages, Dreamliner Estates is preparing to submit the proposal for city approval and public hearings. Their goal is to break ground later this year.
In the meantime, the team is focused on building partnerships and engaging with future homeowners. “It’s exciting because it’s something new,” Adjei said, “and we’re waiting for other people to join the party.”
Source: St. Cloud Times