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CHASKA from BI F�' 4 `ing rules y ,I e set aside 'v �.-t,,to increase ,: . , „,1 , 0 , , �5 asr r�
<br /> affordability
<br /> And Russ Adams,director of 5' ' a
<br /> the Alliance for Metropolitan ,' - �1
<br /> Stability,said that"Chaska's . tr * � � ,
<br /> really gone the full measure m '� 1 s
<br /> terms of being creative.and £.` , 7. ,
<br /> ' being cooperative with devel " ,
<br /> opers and seeing the broader ,it picture. l
<br /> You could argue they're y
<br /> operating out of enlightened - f
<br /> self-interest. ...They want to .- - ,, ,
<br /> create housing opportunity for ,,,t, ,,,,.0,;,, \14.„..,,
<br /> y .
<br /> the wide spectrum of people I
<br /> who live in their community ., nX �, I
<br /> Adams helped stimulate ,`
<br /> that interest several years ago, „ ,
<br /> when Kevin Ringwald—who
<br /> later became Chaska's director Photo providedby Kevin Ringwald
<br /> of planning and development Workers lifted prefabricated housing modules Into place In Chaska's Clover Field development.Use of
<br /> —heard him speak about in- the modules is one way developers are holding down costs in an effort to make units more affordable.
<br /> eluding affordable housing in
<br /> larger developments.Ringwald park already lay across from lots,especially in Clover Field. houses may start at$150,000,
<br /> ultimately invited Adams to the school site.) The develop- With. costs for a typical lot run- although prices in general will
<br /> speak to Chaska's City Council ment also will be centered on a ring $100,000 in Chaska, the be higher than for Clover Field.
<br /> and Planning Commission. 15,000-square-foot retail area rand investment alone pushes A third area, Clover Preserve,
<br /> Chaska is a Minnesota River and a 10,000-square-foot coin- a developer to build a$400,000 will add 77 single-family
<br /> town settled 150 years ago,and munity center,both with rental home,developer Johnson said. houses in the $250,000-to-
<br /> that early start left it with more housing atop. So slicing the width of the lot $450,000 range.
<br /> than the usual number of old- The planners also con- cuts costs. Johnson said he expects
<br /> er, affordable homes near its sciously chose New Urbanist Within Clover Field,lots for Clover Field's most-affordable
<br /> downtown. There also were elements such as sidewalks, most detached homes are 30 or apartment units to be attain-
<br /> �lstwar ramblers and two mo- porches, short front-yard set- 42 feet wide,the latter more able for people making 60 per-
<br /> e-home parks, plus the backs and alleys,especially i
<br /> in typical of Minneapolis.John- cent of the region's median in-
<br /> mixed-income Jonathan devel- Clover Field.' son is confident that some come,but he thinks more of
<br /> opment—a 1970s effort at a But New Urbanism can add buyers are too busy to take care the demand will be from peo-
<br /> planned community.But most costs. Porches run$8,000 to of a big lot and will welcome ple earning 80 percent of the
<br /> homes built since the 1980s $10,000 extra. Sidewalks also the denser design. median.
<br /> have topped$250.000. add costs.Shallow front yards Another tactic will be to sell The 60 percent level would
<br /> "I was shooting for a place require more attention to de- houses with some unfinished be around $31,000 annually.,.
<br /> of quality for teachers, police sign details on that face of the space that the homeowner can That's about$1,000 above the
<br /> officers -- someplace they house. A detached garage improve as family size and fi- salary of a starting Chaska
<br /> could call home for a long time means more square footage of nances change. teacher,who could be expect-
<br /> and be proud of," Ringwald siding.Alleys require storm Yet another feature will be ed to pay about $750 per
<br /> said. sewers unless the blocks are the inclusion of 34 accessory month in rent. A beginning
<br /> kept short enough to handle units, sometimes called car- Chaska police officer, paid
<br /> Tossing out the rules rainfall in a gutter.But shorter riage houses, of about 600 about$42,000, would just be ,
<br /> The process of sketching blocks require more side square feet.Most will be built able to afford the develop-
<br /> out the development of Clover streets. over garages,often to frame the ment's lowest-price town-
<br /> Ridge began by setting aside „ of alleys,but some will be houses.
<br /> the normal zoning strictures. eeping(town costs. - attached to the main house as The development has been
<br /> Instead, planners listed the Initially to Chaska leaders; independent units.If they are assisted by a$1.million Metro-
<br /> features that would contribute affordable ownership meant rented,they will help the main politan Council grant made to
<br /> to a successful community. houses of less than$200,000. owner afford the mortgage,but communities that promote
<br /> "We frankly did a lot of this But further scrutiny produced they also could be sold. more-efficient growth pat-
<br /> by seat of our pants,”Ring- ways to cut costs at Clover "Chaska has tried to bend terns.A separate development
<br /> weld said."We said we want to Field, especially for detached over backwards so we have the of almost 4,000 units to be lo-
<br /> come up with a great neighbor- single-family houses, which flexibility to do a reasonably cated in Chaska has been des-
<br /> hood plan and then well fill in are much harder than row- priced house,"Johnson said. ignated a regional "smart
<br /> the details." houses or apartments to price growth"site by the council.
<br /> City and development offi- cheaply. Johnson turned to What people will pay Ringwald and Johnson now
<br /> cials also toured new develop- factory-built modular housing, The payoff may not be low- are sharing what they've
<br /> ments in Portland.Ore and and higher density also helped. income housing in the sense learned with builders and oth-
<br /> Calgary,Alberta. "We've struggled pretty that it is thought of in Minne- er affordable-housing groups.
<br /> The resulting concept in- mightily to get that detached spoils or St.Paul.Single-family "None of this is new think-
<br /> eludes building the develop- [single-family house! down housing will start at about ing,but we were able to bring it
<br /> ,, meat around three elements into the $150,000-to-$190,000 $120,000 for rowhouse town-' together in a way that hasn't
<br /> expected to draw people.Land range with good design detail," houses and about$160,000 for been done before," Ringwald
<br /> that normally would have been Ringwald said. detached houses in Clover said.
<br /> donated for park use was in- Density was achieved by Field.In a separate area of Clo- —Steve Brandt is at
<br /> '.stead given for an elementary mixing apartments,rowhouses ver Ridge being developed by sbrandt@startribune.com
<br /> school that opened this year.(A and narrower single-family Rottlund Homes, some town- or 612-673-4438.
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