Since the KARE report was brought up, I'll throw in my two cents worth.
KARE's report is, to say the least, "editorial". Considering they are trying to pass
it off as "news", I'd say editorial is a fairly complementary description. While the
MUSA line probably plays SOME role in driving up prices, KARE should be ashamed of
itself for trying to say it's completely the fault of the Met Council and the MUSA
line. I saw the first night of the report and my impression was that people plain and
simple could not find a house inside of the MUSA line for under $150,000. I wonder
what my neighbors trying to sell their houses for less than that would have to say
about that. Keep in mind, I also live in Northeast Minneapolis and have not had any
crime problems in the years I've lived here. KARE clearly felt (at least in the first
night) that it was not worth considering that people are not willing to cast their
nets wide enough to find a house they might like because of whatever reasons (maybe
this could be a tie-in to Suburban Fright, or maybe the idea!
!
of not having a dishwasher in the house is just too unimaginable) and then gripe when
they sleep in the bed they've made for themselves. Keep in mind the houses I've seen
in my neighborhood have often been easily large enough for a family of four. Also,
considering many house in NE were built in the days of lath and plaster vs. sheetrock,
the houses are much sturdier. I must wonder how many of the houses built today in
these far-flung exurbs will be standing ninety to a hundred years from now like my
house built in 1907.
Okay, I've ranted enough. I hope people will realize that KARE's "news" was little
more than sensationalistic editorial. There are varied reasons for the cost of
housing skyrocketing.
---
Sincerely,
Gary Bowman, Jr.
Ward 1-Audubon Park
On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 16:29:38
Robb wrote:
>Rich
>
>Ted Mondale, the head of the Met council was on MPR today commenting on the
>Kare 11 report.
>
>I did not watch it, regretably, but just looking at the ad, I could tell it
>was going to be of the editorial variety...as you put it.
>
>I think your analysis of the report is good. The council, while it doesnt
>do enough (do to its lack of legislative authority) in my mind, does do
>very good considering the political obstacles present in the region...
>
>The line you speak of is the MUSA line...metro urban services area. It is a
>designation created by the council where urban services will not extend
>past. This is the historical method the council has used to control sprawl
>and growth in the twin cities region. All of this is much to the dismay of
>suburban legislators and snickering media people, like We dont KARE-11.
>
>Robb Clarksen
>SE Mpls
>Writing my senior thesis on regional government in the TC metro area..and
>looking for input from those interested.
>
>On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 11:23:16 -0600,
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote...
>>This may be slightly off Minneapolis specific - but it definitely affects
>>us.
>>
>>KARE TV is running an "Extra" series on why TC housing, including
>>Minneapolis, is so expensive. They are blaming the Metro Council for
>>restricting the amount of land available for new houses, and this is
>>driving up prices.
>>
>>To me it sounded a lot more like editorial than news reporting. I haven't
>>heard them say anything about the problems associated with the new
>>development that they seem want. Their main complaint is that the land
>>costs for a lot have gone from $80,000 inside some line set by the Met
>>Council to $20,000 outside of the line.
>>
>>They also didn't bother to discuss the huge number of vacant lots in
>>Minneapolis that could be converted to housing, and the number of vacant
>>houses that could be rennovated.
>>
>>One would hope that they would put the other reporting that they have done
>>on what is happening out their since the ramp meter shutoff together with
>>the ex-urban development that they seem to want. Then hopefully they would
>>see the traffic congestion as a hint of why Metro Council exists and tries
>>to restrict growth.
>>
>>They showed pictures of developments on one side of the line where the
>>inside development was a lot more dense than a few feet away on the
>>outside of the line. They presented this as if it were an undesirable
>>result - which for them it probably is.
>>
>>I think that there is also an article on this in the Strib today.
>>
>>
>>Rich McMartin
>>Bryant Neighborhood.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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