MODEL CITIES PROPERTIES

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

L112

Classification

1000

Street

839 UNIVERSITY AVE W

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

• MODEL CITIES PROPERTIES ENCOMPASSES ALL OF MODEL CITIES' REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. OUR MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENT, MODEL CITIES BROWNSTONE, IS LOCATED AT THE VICTORIA STREET LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) STATION OF ST. PAUL'S GREEN LINE. THE DEVELOPMENT IS A 4-STORY, MIXED-USE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDES 35 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING; APPROXIMATELY 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL, OFFICE AND COMMUNITY SPACE; AND CLOSE TO 7,000 SQUARE FEET OF OUTDOOR SPACE DEDICATED TO A POCKET PARK. IN 2025, 44 INDIVIDUALS (31 HOUSEHOLDS) WITH LOW INCOMES GAINED ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT OUR BROWNSTONE LOFT APARTMENTS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.SINCE OPENING IN 2017, BROWNSTONE HAS BEEN AT OR NEAR 100 PERCENT OCCUPANCY (APPROXIMATELY 94% ON AVERAGE EACH YEAR) FOR THE 35 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT. THE POPULATION OF RESIDENTS IS DIVERSE WITH A MIX OF RACES, AGES, AND FAMILIES RESIDING AT BROWNSTONE. INTEREST CONTINUES TO REMAIN HIGH IN THE RESIDENCE AS WE TYPICALLY GET MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS FOR VACANCIES WHEN THEY ARISE. IN ADDITION, MODEL CITIES IS INCREASING ITS CAPACITY AS A PROPERTY MANAGER AS IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY MET ALL THE LIHTC COMPLIANCE ISSUES THAT CAME WITH THE PROJECT. ALL FIVE COMMERCIAL SUITES ALONG UNIVERSITY AVENUE HAVE CONTINUED TO THRIVE DURING THEIR LEASE. COMMERCIAL TENANTS HAVE BEEN A BLEND OF BUSINESS OWNERS FROM THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUDING A SOMALI-OWNED CONVENIENCE STORE/DELI, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN-OWNED BARBERSHOP, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN OWNED EVENT CENTER, A BIPOC-OWNED APPAREL STORE, AND AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN-OWNED RESTAURANT. THESE SHOPS HAVE EMPLOYED NEARLY 20 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE PAST YEAR, MANY OF WHOM ARE RESIDENTS FROM THE AREA.

  Expenses $480,375 · Revenue $464,844

• MODEL CITIES PROPERTIES ALSO SERVES AS A HOLDING COMPANY FOR OUR SANKOFA AND FAMILIES FIRST SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH PROVIDE 37 LONG-TERM, LOW-COST HOUSING UNITS AT NO MORE THAN 30% OF FAMILY INCOME. SANKOFA SERVES PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 17-25. FAMILIES FIRST SERVES SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES, MOSTLY SINGLE MOTHERS WITH A HISTORY OF HOMELESSNESS.

  Expenses $362,388 · Revenue $394,920

• MODEL CITIES CONTINUES TO WORK ON A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (652 SHERBURNE), A VACANT 8-UNIT BUILDING LOCATED IN THE FROGTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD OF ST. PAUL. MODEL CITIES, ALONG WITH THE FROGTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (FNA), HOPE COMMUNITY, HISTORIC ST. PAUL, AND THE HOUSING JUSTICE CENTER, CAME TOGETHER AS THE SHERBURNE COLLECTIVE TO JOINTLY REDEVELOP THE BUILDING INTO A SIX-UNIT COMMUNITY-OWNERSHIP BASED PROJECT. RONDO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST WILL OWN THE LAND IN A TRUST ENSURING THAT THE BUILDING WILL REMAIN IN COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP IN PERPETUITY. THIS $2.9 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT INCLUDES A COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING, CONVERTING SOME OF THE UNITS TO MUCH NEEDED FOUR-BEDROOM FAMILY UNITS. FUNDING HAS BEEN COMMITTED FROM BOTH RAMSEY COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ST. PAUL. MODEL CITIES SERVES AS THE DEVELOPER AND MANAGES THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND WILL PROVIDE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES UNTIL THE UNITS CAN BE CONVERTED TO OWNERSHIP UNDER A CONDO OR COOP MODEL. THE RONDO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST OWNS THE LAND. FNA WILL CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WITH HOPE COMMUNITY, HELP PREPARE ELIGIBLE FAMILIES FOR OWNERSHIP. REHAB OF THE BUILDING BEGAN IN SPRING 2024 AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2025, WITH OCCUPANCY ANTICIPATED IN LATE FALL 2025.

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

• KIZZY DOWNIE

  CEO/BOARD SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $119,955

  From this org

  $0

  From related orgs

  $108,985

  Other

  $10,970

  Hours/week

  10 + 30 related

• OSBORNE STRICKLAND

  CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1 + 3 related

• AMY SCHWABE

  VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1 + 3 related

• JONATHAN COOPER

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1 + 3 related

• BRENDA BAILEY

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 1.5 related

• JUDITH AMINMENTSE

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 1.5 related

• BRENDA BOLAR FORD

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 1.5 related

• MARILYN PORTER

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 1.5 related

• HEIDI LEISE

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 1.5 related

• TIFFANY PHILLIPS

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 1.5 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2025

  Revenue

  $1,044,074

  Expenses

  $1,105,245

  Contributions

  $115,845

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2024

  Revenue

  $1,932,986

  Expenses

  $1,111,932

  Contributions

  $1,035,539

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $1,236,844

  Expenses

  $1,111,533

  Contributions

  $412,653

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $732,722

  Expenses

  $1,060,143

  Contributions

  $95,009

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $753,626

  Expenses

  $964,254

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,312,230

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $679,057

  Expenses

  $914,167

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,472,023

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $599,217

  Expenses

  $824,956

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,688,784

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $839,571

  Expenses

  $770,263

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,993,402

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,039,254

  Expenses

  $588,702

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,183,786

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $909,040

  Expenses

  $236

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,786,296

• 2015 · 990-EZ

  Revenue

  $0

  Expenses

  $0

  Assets (EOY)

  $0

• 2014 · 990-EZ

  Revenue

  $0

  Expenses

  $0

  Assets (EOY)

  $0

• 2013 · 990-EZ

  Revenue

  $0

  Expenses

  $0

  Assets (EOY)

  $0

• 2012 · 990-EZ

  Revenue

  $0

  Expenses

  $0

  Assets (EOY)

  $0

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

No itemized grant names this organization as a recipient. Only grants over $5,000 are itemized, and only by filers of the full Form 990.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

Other IRS files