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AFFORDABLE NOOSING
<br /> Where battle lines- and solutions—are being drawn
<br /> A on of housings In Chaska,developers ,.F
<br /> a�es wants thel and the city tossed the
<br /> Metropolitan Council to *dpi -� status quo aside to allow
<br /> do even more—and is r � � �� ..:- a neighborhood that's
<br /> threatening to use legal `, � � w stylish yet attainable
<br /> means if necessary �"- for many income levels.
<br /> By Steve Brandt ' fix r By Steve Brandt
<br /> Star Tribune Staff Writer - Star Tribune Staff Writer
<br /> � - y
<br /> Housing advocates say that if the ' , Chaska city leaders took an unusual
<br /> Metropolitan Council doesn't use its c a r step for a developing suburb when they
<br /> authority under a neglected part of a r r zs. ' 5. decided a year,or so ago that the city
<br /> 1976 law to increase suburban housing t i had enough bg-buck housing.Resi-
<br /> for people with low or moderate in- -, ' 4'•- dents and busutesses wanted housing
<br /> comes,theyllsue. t*.;':".- t # '- that people such as factory workery
<br /> A coalition of advocates argues that could
<br /> the Land Use Planning Act requires the That decision set the city on a path
<br /> council to determine the region's need § t' toward a development now under con•for affordable housing and make sure � - t s strut design that will include both New Ur-
<br /> citieshave plans to create it.They credit gp bauist design and housing moderate incomes.
<br /> 19808 with boosting the share of sub- t t -' i'hose two goals aren't usually corn-
<br /> sidized housing'n suburbs and say that a} s- ' %' percent ary.New Urbanist design in-
<br /> strii t enforcement now could lead to a -- - . " corporates decorative features that cart
<br /> breakthrough in growing efforts to en- f r drive a house's cost 10 percent to 20
<br /> sure that affordable housin is built r '1 percent higher than in typical subdivi-
<br /> Sugeethe council abandonedthe a - 4.'5 ?"'"?.„S.,°# 'Al "" sioThat has stimulated some creative
<br /> proach in about 1983,large areas have - i "j ;h °'' tension:"You've got certain people in
<br /> been filled with market-rate house- our group whose job it is to cut costs
<br /> holds.A draft report by the Center for z and other people whose.)ob it is to
<br /> Urban and Regional Affairs at the Uni- - _ a+ make sure it looks good, developer
<br /> versity of Minnesota calls that"a missed star rreunephoto by Duane Braley Brad Johnson said.
<br /> opportunity of huge proportions." Nevin Ringwald,Chaska's director of planning and development,visited the Clover He is on one'of three development
<br /> Met Council Chairman Ted Mondale Ridge Village area,where this two-story house will sell far about$170,000."1 was croups working at Clover Ridge,a 250-
<br /> said that political realities impede use of shooting for a place of quality for teachers policeofficers,-"he said- acre effort on the city's west edge.His
<br /> the law.If housing advocates were to get group is working on the most-afford-
<br /> acourt to order that t be followed,he Clover Ridge adds affordab lit to Chaska able portion,which wi,l be known as
<br /> said,"The Legislature would say,'Oh,is b y Clover Field.
<br /> that the law?'and change it next ses-
<br /> _over Preserve-Larger single Clover field-Single-family homes the keV to including affordabJityjp
<br /> Sion° fanny homes.Most expensive area 'townhouses:and apartments.Most Clover Ri ae is density.Under normal
<br /> T advocates say that they have no ',affordable area of development low-density zoning standards,the land
<br /> d for negotiations and that suing Hundertmark Rd. _ might have accommodated 330 units.
<br /> esort,but they've researched ,..i&:,,,.41.,° , The city offered to allow developers
<br /> th ds for doing so under both the E# 'p a N F 0 three tunes that numbers pprovtdedfiat
<br /> 1976 Land Use Planning Act and the ;f el halfoftheextraumts.areafhrdable.
<br /> en of Ile fir- anfiassen
<br /> federal Fair advocates?g Act. school The city's effort ts.beginning to e
<br /> A suit citing the latter law would web tract praise from peo-
<br /> eeither that what has been called V t'to Yctorra + le Tango' from Met
<br /> azgu } -•. � � � �„ New Urbanist P g
<br /> an affordable-housing crisis in the Twin Gover RidgeYdlage .dg %.,,,,,,,,,,5,10; elements include ropolitan Council
<br /> t�s1Ea
<br /> Cities region has a harsher impact ge townhouse. owes and r „- 'p # porches down,,, -s dalertoa affo dable-
<br /> minodties or that a housing shortage townhouses.Lower to y porches and alleys
<br /> perpetuates segregation. intermediate prices k ii de�arif f� The use of modular housing advocates.-The legal theories were laid out last yy ---- =2,s ��i . r+ housing,unfinished Mondale said the
<br /> fallinaWiliamMitchellLawReviewat- Chaska snapshot z space and carriage : development proves'
<br /> title written by a lawyer for Southern Population 0.99%cas.11 732 that"location is not
<br /> �,t 4" s .,,,,? houses helps keep
<br /> Minnesota Regional Legal Services and Population(2000)17,449(+54%) a' cF costs down; . Tthe driving factor.11.!,,,,:,..
<br /> have been further researched by that Population under age 18:33 percent ';',4',47,70.4'.441-1-W
<br /> 71'74... - these kinds of leve
<br /> group and Mid-Minnesota Legal Assis- Race 93 7t'white "k" > t '2., opments.It proves that ff you bull
<br /> d it,
<br /> Lance.Both are nonprofit groups pro- Occupied housing units:66o,7 C mer t 'o they will come."
<br /> viding legal services to the poor. R nteroccupeed households.ds 24 S% 1 m
<br /> Rent households:sehok 1. ,�Tl"CO.'
<br /> MASK continues on 64:
<br /> HOUSING continues on B9 Avera a fami sue:3.31 people •' f —How the idea came wills bout.g N Star au,d e graphic
<br /> —Potential legal strategies. n age:322 years Source'U.S.Census Bureau,developers —Townhouse prices wills
<br /> 53 .
<br /> —Whets affordable." _.__.. $120.000.... _,. .„,,,, .:,-;;1.1 ,. iiikS':A4-,,,,,,s,..,„7„„A.,_niiiit 0,11r 11 '�l p ,� + $ n- t ° wze Ef- i
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<br /> d i �' '.2 x% .�fm..c. - qty. n ;'r.
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