The Bessemer
Date
2021Category
Featured, Housing,History
The Bessemer was developed as part of the larger vision for Seward Commons, a multi-phase effort to transform former industrial land into a mixed-use, mixed-income community in the Seward neighborhood.
For decades, Seward had seen little new housing development – and no housing that served a range of income levels. As a result, the neighborhood faced increasing pressure: limited supply, rising demand, and few options for households who did not qualify for subsidized housing but were also priced out of higher-end market-rate developments.
Completed in partnership with Schafer Richardson and Noor Companies, The Bessemer marked a significant milestone. It became the first apartment building constructed in the neighborhood in over 40 years without income restrictions.
Its location along the Hiawatha bike corridor and near the Franklin Avenue Light Rail Station positioned the building within a transit-rich, highly connected part of the city.
The Vision
The Bessemer represents an important expansion of what equitable development can look like.
While much of Redesign’s work focuses on affordable housing, we also recognize that healthy neighborhoods require a full spectrum of housing options. The Bessemer was intentionally developed to serve households that earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing but struggle to find other stable, well-located, and reasonably priced options.
By including market-rate housing within the broader Seward Commons development, Redesign and its partners aimed to create a more balanced and inclusive neighborhood fabric that supports economic diversity and long-term stability.
The building’s design also reflects a commitment to connectivity and public benefit. With direct access to the Hiawatha bike trail and a publicly accessible trail connection created through a park dedication easement, The Bessemer extends beyond its footprint, contributing to the surrounding public realm and reinforcing the neighborhood’s pedestrian and bike-friendly character.
Community Mission & Impact
Today, The Bessemer provides 128 units of housing for residents seeking quality, well-located homes in Seward, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.
Its impact lies in how it complements, rather than competes with, other forms of housing in the neighborhood.
By introducing housing for middle-income residents, The Bessemer helps relieve pressure across the broader housing ecosystem, creating more pathways for people to live and remain in the community. It also strengthens the long-term viability of mixed-income development at Seward Commons, where a range of housing types work together to support a more resilient neighborhood.
The Bessemer demonstrates that equitable development is not only about affordability at the lowest income levels. It is also about creating a continuum of housing that allows people to find stability, opportunity, and connection at every stage.
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