Angela M. Christy is a partner in the Faegre Baker Daniels real estate practice. Devoting much of her practice to housing, particularly affordable housing, and community development, Angela may be "the strongest person in the state in this area," according to clients interviewed for the Best Lawyers in America 2010 survey. She has represented non-profit and for-profit developers, investors and governmental entities in more than 250 low-income housing tax credit transactions throughout the United States.

Angela has also represented numerous contractors and developers regarding construction documents for housing, office buildings and other developments. She is a Minnesota Certified Real Property Specialist and a lecturer at local and national seminars on affordable housing and other real estate topics.

Housing

Most of Angela's clients develop projects with many layers of financing. In her practice, Angela assists clients in structuring developments to assure the compatibility of various financing sources. As a real estate practitioner, she focuses on creating real estate structures that are compatible with the financing. This results in the use of condominiums, townhouses, leasehold cooperatives, vertical plats, use restrictions and easements and unique subdivisions and plats.

The developments include projects for homeless youth, chronic alcoholics, and mixed-income developments. She has also worked extensively with townhouse style development in rural communities and scattered site developments on Indian land. Angela has also worked extensively on preserving important historic buildings as both affordable housing and luxury condominiums.

Federal Programs

Angela has represented clients in working through the maze of ever-changing federal programs. Her projects have included:

• Low-income housing tax credits
• HOME funds
• Section 8
• CDBG
• Federal insurance
• Historic tax credits
• Façade Easements
• Tax increment financing
• Supportive Housing Program
• Public housing funds
• HOPWA
• NAHASDA
• Housing revenue bonds
• 501(c)(3) bonds
• New markets tax credits
• Numerous state and local financing programs

Non-Profits

Many of Angela's clients are owners and developers of the largest non-profit housing developments in Minnesota. Through the use of tax credits, 501(c)(3) bonds and other affordable housing tools, she has assisted non-profits in a variety of innovative housing developments, including East Village in Minneapolis, Many Rivers in Minneapolis, Collaborative Village in Minneapolis, Van Cleve Apartments in Minneapolis, Skyline Tower in Saint Paul, Franklin Portland Gateway in Minneapolis, Central Square Apartments in St. Peter, The Glenwood and Evergreen in Minneapolis, Olathe Towers and College Way Village in Olathe, Kansas, Midtown Exchange Apartments in Minneapolis, Grand Apartments in Olivia, and Park Plaza in Minneapolis.

Angela has been involved in efforts with the Internal Revenue Service to clarify the participation of non-profit housing corporations as general partners of tax credit limited partnerships.

Indian Land

Angela has represented more developers of tax credit projects on Indian land than any other attorney in the country. She has worked with HUD to resolve inconsistencies between the NAHASDA program and the tax credit requirements.

Honors

• Finance and Commerce, Top Women in Finance, 2009
• Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Real Estate, 2008–11
• Super Lawyers, Real Estate, 2003–11
• The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2005–12
• Industry Leader, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2008 
• Super Lawyers, Top 100 Women (Minnesota), 2008

Professional Associations

• ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, past chair
• Minnesota Certified Real Property Specialist
• Board of Governors of American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
• Real Property Council of the Minnesota State Bar Association, past chair
• Minnesota Uniform Conveyancing Blank Task Force, member
• Minnesota Real Estate Institute, co-chair
• Housing Initiative Advisory Group, Urban Land Institute - Minnesota, co-chair

Presentations

• Lecturer at local and national seminars on affordable housing and other real estate topics