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AFFORDABLE NODS 1NG
<br /> Where battle lines and solutions — are being r wn
<br /> da
<br /> A coalition of housinga In Chaska, developers
<br /> i ', ".'} `, {_ kA tart
<br /> advocates wants then r{5 `� and the city tossed the
<br /> Metropolitan Council to _ status quo aside to allow
<br /> r o,,,,o fi "� of
<br /> do even more—and
<br /> • 5 r a 5
<br /> a neighborhood that s
<br /> threatening to use legal �� 4p ;x y � stylish yet attainable
<br /> means if necessary. r � for many income levels.
<br /> B Steve Brandt t Y F L r^f fay ',S ,i Yti,q 4
<br /> By .y- , `'t o By Steve Brandt
<br /> Star Tribune Staff Writerr, a �� Star Tribune Staff Writer 4.,,7,fr...t.,A.:,:.::::„:.:N_::„:„,,,„.,.::.„:.„::,.„.::;.,::.„,,:siz;„,,.:.:,v..;,:„.„,:,:.,:.:.4„:,::::::7.,„„,,,,::,:,„_,,,.„:„.r..".:::::.".7 Housing advocates say that if the v t ��V Chaska city leaders took an unusual
<br /> Metropolitan Council doesn't use its n T{ ". 3
<br /> u step for a developing suburb when they
<br /> authority under a neglected part of a 4 decided a year or so ago that the city
<br /> 1976 law to increase suburban housing z'1 '' t x ,� ''}t : ''r had enough big-buck housing. Resi
<br /> for people with low or moderate in �� {� 4 dents and businesses wanted housing
<br /> comes,they'll sue. - - j j that people such as factory workers
<br /> A coalition of advocates argues that r y ti q could afford.
<br /> the Land Use Planning Act requires the 4 _ That decision set the city on a path
<br /> council to determine the region's need �; ` 11 r a toward a development now under con
<br /> for affordable housing an d make sure 3 i struction that will include both New Ur-
<br /> cities'have plans to create it.They credit <:s f banistt des�i nand housing units of 'rd
<br /> use of the law in the late 1970s and early I ., 4 � t 5 a eGI to people with moderate incomes.tat
<br /> 1980s„with boosting the share of sub- ,#�
<br /> t Those two goals aren't usually co.in-
<br /> sidized housing in suburbs and say.that `� elementary. New Urbanist design m-
<br /> strict enforcement now could lead to a : ,,.'"; § :-. ti corporates decorative features that cart
<br /> breakthrough in growing efforts to en E drive a house's cost 10 percent to.20
<br /> sure that affordable housing is built u �� percent higher than in typical subdvi
<br /> through the region. sions.
<br /> Since the council abandoned the ap That has stimu) some creative
<br /> roach in about 1983, large areas have ' tension: "You've go ertain people in•been filled with market rate house- "� our group whose job it in to cut costs
<br /> holds. A draft report by the Center for Y" ,, and other people whose jab it is to•
<br /> g } make sure it looks good," developer
<br /> Urban and Region
<br /> Affairs at the Uni
<br /> versity of Minnesota calls that"a missed Star Tribune photo by Duane Braley Brad Johnson said.
<br /> importunity of huge proportions." Kevin Ringwald,Chaska di of planning and development,visited the Clover He is on one'o .e development
<br /> Met Council Chairman Ted Mondale Ridge Village area,where th. -story house,will sell for about$170,000 "I was groups working at l. er Ridge,a 250
<br /> said that political realities impede use of shooting for a place of quality for teachers,police.officers,"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 /> a court to order that it be followed, he Clover Ridge .adds aff�►rdabilit o Chaska able portion, which will be known as
<br /> said, "The Legislature would say, `Oh,'is y Clover Field.
<br /> that the law?' and change it next ses- Clover Preserve-Larger single Clover field Single family homes, The ke to includin affordabil
<br /> sion." family homes. Most expensive area. townhouses and apartments.Most Clover Ridge e is density. Under normal
<br /> The advocates say that they have no \.N. affordable area of development. • low density zoning standards,the land
<br /> deadline for negotiations and that suing - Hundertmark Rd might have accommodated 330 units.
<br /> is a last resort, but they've researched The city;offered to allow developers
<br /> the grounds for doing so under both the : Site of new r s
<br /> g g Q three tunes that number;provided that
<br /> 1976 Land Use
<br /> Planning Act and the r elementary s�fkq half of the extra units are afptordTble.
<br /> g h elementary ,t , Chanhassen
<br /> federal Fair HousingAct. �* '° school The city's effort is;beginning to at-
<br /> Asuit citing the latter law would ,ofj - L ; tract praise from peo 04 argue either that what has been called x � ,_ 'Pro Uct°rla i a �° CARVER CO, le:ranging from Met-
<br /> g r; + New Urbanist p
<br /> an affordable housing crisis in the Twin Clover Ridge Village x� �4, ' �* elements include ropolitan Council
<br /> Cities region has a harsher impact on Single-family homes and #n�� �; narrower lots plus Chairman Ted Mon
<br /> minorities or that a housing shortage townhouses. Lower to - ;Y 41 porches and alleys. dale to affordable-
<br /> perpetuatessegregation. intermediate paces 1:; Ht ndettr ark d (101) The use of modular housingadvocates.
<br /> The legal theories were laid out last P +- f housing,unfinished Mondale said the
<br /> fall in a William Mitchell Law Review ar Chaska Sae shot _ ,a s ace and eerrla a development proves
<br /> u as fi`+ p g
<br /> ticle written by a lawyer for Southern Population(1990) 11,732 ;,.` -e. houses helps koep ' "that "location is not
<br /> Minnesota Regional Legal Services and Population(2000) 17,449(+54%) }Chaska k� r 1tiovQ costs down. • the"driving factor in
<br /> have been further researched by that Population under age 18: 33 percent Twp F t 1 these'kinds of devel- ,
<br /> group and Mid Minnesota Legal Assis Race: 93.7%white ; w � `'' opments. It proves that if you build it,
<br /> tance. Both are nonprofit groups pro Occupied housing units: 6,104 j i 69 they will come."
<br /> Carver
<br /> viding legal services to the poor. Owner occupied households: 75.2% ' 1 mile k. ti;+-
<br /> Renter-occupiedhnuseholds: 24.8% 1
<br /> Family households: 73.5% I _ II CO. ! CHASKA continues on B9:
<br /> HOUSING continues on B9: Average family size: 3.31 people —How the idea came about.
<br /> Star Tribune graphic
<br /> Potential legal strategies. Median age 32 2 years —Townhouse prices will start a
<br /> —What's"affordable." -•.. , Source: U.S.Census Bureau,developers r $120,000.
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