With regard to the MCDA Operating
Committee�s decision yesterday to deny funding yesterday I have a couple
of thoughts. Those who have posted on this subject so far seem to
be of a mind stated by Mel Gregerson when he said �Mpls needs to stop
giving money away for development, the marketplace works best if left
alone.�
I think that statement is a bit absurd. The fact of the matter is
that the �marketplace� is not being left alone, never has, and in a big
way and for good reason. It doesn't work the way the majority of
people would like to see it work. Hence government steps in in a
multitude of ways to effect the changes that we - the voters - decide are
needed.
Affordable housing is one of those areas. Yes, government has
failed in some previous attempts to deal with this issue, but there has
never been any doubt in my mind that thoughtful and committed people are
struggling with this tough issue. We still have problems of
availability, affordability and concentration. And that�s where
government (all of us) needs to step in and find solutions.
OK, my two thoughts: First of all if Lyndale West Partners
(developers of the Boulevard) can still pull off this development in
spite of the fact that they have been denied TIF funding, then the
decision yesterday is to be applauded. Since they are a private,
for profit developer, I have no idea as to whether or not they can still
make this work. My hope is that they can
My second point is that if on the other hand the decision of the
Operating Committee yesterday (assuming that it is upheld by the full
board on September
27th)
is the last nail in the coffin for this project then I have great
concerns about whether or not affordable housing projects will ever be
possible in SW Minneapolis.
The Boulevard Project has been held up as a model for how the city of
Minneapolis wants to deal with issues of increased density, affordable
housing and de-concentration of low-income housing.
We have all heard the rhetoric: �We have a severe housing
crisis; Everyone has to do their part, Smart growth; Mixed income
housing throughout the city and the region; Build housing in
commercial corridors, Mixed used projects.� If this is all
just a bunch of blow from our elected officials then I wish they would
just stand up and say so. Tell us that the numbers will only work
in poorer neighborhoods and then we will all understand why low-income
housing is once again being concentrated in the city�s poorer
neighborhoods.
That the subsidy for this project in Lynnhurst might be higher than in
other neighborhoods should be obvious. Both land costs and taxes
are higher in Lynnhurst than elsewhere. But based upon land costs
and tax rates, there should be a sliding scale for these subsidies
. What the MCDA Operating Committee needs to do is figure out what
is reasonable in that regard. Otherwise the present scenario simply
becomes an excuse and one more covert tool for keeping �those� people out
of certain neighborhoods.
Paul Lohman
Lynnhurst
Paul Lohman
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
