So that you know, Mr. Ford, I built in Field-Regina-Northrop. Check the
files at MCDA (I assume they are available to you from your address)to see
the listing for the property. There is no question of MCDA involvement and,
yes, the structure speaks for itself. It has been subjected to "professional
opinions" and inspections, and it does not meet existing code.
This venue only places the matter before list participants to discuss, and
become aware.
Robert Anderson
www.andersonforhouse.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ford, Keith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 4:28 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: RE: Letting off steam
Mr. Anderson's (From: Anderson, Robert (CServ)
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]) comments deserve a response.
Mr. Anderson signed his email Robert Anderson, IP Candidate 61B so I don't
know what neighborhood Mr. Anderson is from. I will try to respond as best I
can.
He wrote:
>As one who has built in the 8th ward, I can tell you first hand that MCDA,
Herron,
>nor any other member of city council cares about meeting the requirement
>to ensure that construction complies with existing standards.
The MCDA's construction standards not only comply with existing standards
(i.e. the Building Code) but exceeds them. Always aware that we are spending
taxpayers' money, we nevertheless strive to ensure that our partners build
superior homes. In addition, for every home we build the design is approved
by the neighborhood group with which we contract and pay to advised us on
MCDA neighborhood activities. (I know Karen Forbes, in her complaint about
Council Member Herron, believes that process didn't work well in her case.
We are looking into that and you'll get a response soon. Please bear with
me.)
Also, since in his later paragraph, he acknowledges not knowing whether the
MCDA was involved with his home, how is he able to draw conclusions about
whether we or Council Member Herron care about standards?
Mr. Anderson further wrote:
>Without being aware of MCDA's involvement in my project, I
> find that their influence, or the lack of it, has created a problem for me
as
> well as the community.
I don't know how to respond to this. Mr. Anderson seems to say -- I don't
know what the MCDA did, or even whether it did anything, but I don't like it
and it messed things up for me.
Going on, Mr. Anderson says:
>it is evident that the contractors allowed to build my house are not
professional by any stretch of the
> imagination, nor even skilled in the trades. A cursory glance of my
structure will attest to
> the validity of my statement.
Notice there is nothing about the MCDA here. Yet, Mr. Anderson feels free to
draw this conclusion...
>That said, it is not hard to envision Herron or MCDA allowing a modular
structure's erection. At question
> is their sense of community standards, or the real motives underlying
their development trends.
Modular structures are being built in Minneapolis and not just by the MCDA's
partners. In fact, there was a lengthy discussion with the Phillips
neighborhood about 2 story modular housing and, in fact, the MCDA (i.e.
taxpayers) paid for neighborhood representatives to visit some sites and a
factory in Baltimore (at least, I think it was Baltimore). The neighborhood
reps and the MCDA staff concluded that the construction materials were not
high enough quality. That company was sent the MCDA standards and it came
back with a price that exceed traditional construction price. That idea was
dropped. Since then, we have tried out another company and so far we have
had positive results.
Finally, Mr. Anderson says:
>Clearly it is time to re-think the activities of MCDA and its mission, as
well as the politics
> supportive of its acts.
That's probably always a good idea. In this context, the MCDA has several
missions. One is to provide affordable housing, with particular emphasis on
"non-impacted" areas -- i.e. areas that now have a low incidence of
affordable housing. We are also charged with trying to improve neighborhoods
by removing blight and improving the housing stock. We try to do this by
teaming with superior partners, always cognizant that we are spending the
public's money.
Thank you.
Keith Ford
Deputy Executive Director
Minneapolis Community Development Agency
(612) 673-5013 Fax (612) 673-5293
http://www.mcda.org/
>
