HILLCREST VILLAGE
WCCO’s story on Hillcrest Village and how unique it is.
Northfield Project aimes to tackle twin crisis of climate change and affordable housing.
Hillcrest Village is a 17 unit, all electric, affordable housing community in Northfield, MN. This project was led by the Northfield Community Action Center. By prioritizing the needs of low-income individuals and families, not only are we providing affordable housing, but we are also empowering them to lead environmentally responsible lives.
Our vision of a greener future has led us to create this innovative community, where low-income families and individuals can enjoy comfortable, energy-efficient homes without exceeding financial limits. With affordability being at the forefront of the planning process, we are committed to providing a sustainable and affordable living option for all.
Steve Schmidt has been instrumental in bridging the connection between Northfield’s community needs and resident and business altruism. Over the last 40 years, Schmidt Homes has built nearly 500 homes in the area.
Steve is most excited about the Hillcrest Village housing project because of its thoroughly researched energy component. With its practical application of double-wall insulation, Steve forecasted the future outcome of buildings that will pay dividends on cost savings. “The housing units offer to pay back over many years,” said Steve. “That’s years of smiles from the people living in the houses.”
While on the CAC Board of Directors, Steve spearheaded the Hillcrest Village housing project. From the initial architectural research and building design to bidding and construction, he poured four years of personal time into building these revolutionary housing units. Steve recognized the importance of business cooperation for the good of the community. As such, he enlisted the help of other construction companies to create this unique, six-building, seventeen-unit development. When asked what pushed him to volunteer thousands of hours to build low-income units and housing for the homeless, he simply said, “Northfield has been good to me.”
“I had previously been a bit skeptical about the affordability of constructing such energy efficient homes. Through the process, I am changing the way I will build in the future.”
– Steve Schmidt, President Schmidt Homes
