Let's face it, everyone agrees that more affordable housing is needed in the City, but when push comes to shove, it will be fought tooth and nail by those adjacent to it when there is an actual location proposed. Neighborhoods are generally conservative, not Republican Party Conservative, but embracing of the status quo conservative. It's up to housing advocates and City "leaders" to make sure the sound of the few don't dictate to the needs of the many.
I can't wait until we start seeing plans for South Lyndale that include housing, and perhaps even...gasp... affordable housing. That will be a fight to behold. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 (or 8) (or 13) Paul Lambie writes: > > What a surprise to see a city leader standing in the > way of more housing! I'm shocked! Okay, now I'll > dispense with the sarcasm. But seriously, how many > people in this city who constantly complain that the > city needs desperately to do something about the > "affordable" housing crisis are going to be in favor > of telling the Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association > and Councilmember Paul Zerby that this project is > going to happen regardless of their opinions on the > matter? > > Does anyone see a relationship between the growing > power of neighborhood organizations and the inability > to move forward with redevelopment in the city of > Minneapolis? We like to chastise suburban > municipalities (and rightfully so) for using their > zoning and development approval powers to weed out > more moderately priced housing developments by > requiring minimum square footage, minimum garage > requirements, maximum units per acre, single-family > only zoning, etc. However, who are we, citizens of > Minneapolis, to preach to others when we don't > practice what we preach? > > Again, the price of housing, like other commodities, > is a function of supply and demand. In order to make > this commodity more affordable throughout the > metropolitan area (and in the city of Minneapolis in > particular) we need to increase the supply more > quickly than we increase demand. Politicians and > bureaucrats, as well as quasi-governmental agencies, > i.e. neighborhood organizations, are exacerbating the > "affordable" housing crisis rather than addressing, or > simply getting of the way and letting the market > address the problem. > > Admittedly, I do not have all the specific information > about the details of this project, but it does not > seem like a unique situation. I welcome any comments > from anyone who would like to tell me why the > "neighborhood" should have any say into whether this > housing development occurs or not. I use the term > neighborhood loosely, because the people who speak on > behalf of the neighborhood are certainly a small > minority of the neighborhood population who are > politically active and have the time to attend > neighborhood meetings. > > I do not know Councilmember Zerby. He may be a swell > guy, but it would appear that he would rather pander > to some of his constituents rather than welcome some > new ones into some badly needed housing conveniently > located near existing transportation and jobs. > > Paul Lambie > Lowry Hill > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax > http://taxes.yahoo.com/ > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
