Mr. Himmelman said: Would someone please educate me about what the city of Minneapolis asks of developers that are eliminating affordable rental units and/or building very expensive condos and lofts that only a small percentage of people looking for housing can afford? Me: In a neighborhood like Whittier the addition of condos and lofts are bringing a very healthy balance to the neighborhood. Affordable units are not being eliminated. From what I can see the same thing is also occurring in Elliot Park, Ventura Village, Phillips West and other surrounding neighborhoods. The new residents are adding the wealth that the neighborhood needs to maintain the vibrant, healthy and stable commercial corridors that Whittier currently enjoys. It was hard fought and a long evolution. When I moved to Whittier the goal was to encourage people to come to Nicollet and to Lyndale and Lake. Goal accomplished! The Business Associations in the neighborhood have worked very hard to identify and market the commercial corridors to the world outside Whittier as safe, attractive destinations. The strategies associated with that objective continue. To maintain long term stability we need a strong local economy to support it. Whittier continues to build that economy. Bringing more wealth into the neighborhood has not displaced affordable housing or poor people. Whittier's population increased a great deal between 1990 and 2000. I suspect that will continue. This neighborhood increased density substantially during that time as well. I hope and pray this trend continu es. Affordable housing has not been displaced as a result of recent development successes. A large majority of living in units in Whittier are still very affordable. Some of the new developments provided a percentage of units that fit the "affordable range" by classic definition. Whittier and many surrounding neighborhoods have worked in partnership with developers to add hundreds of affordable rental units for years now. These neighborhoods are balancing the scales by adding housing options for a larger economy. It is why Roger Beck Florist and Franklin Street Bakery can survive on the same corridor in Ventura Village as Catholic Charities or PPL. There is a diverse economy and both these business types serve a distinct economy. The economic diversity of people that can live in Whittier is vast. Not many neighborhoods offer the economic range of housing options Whittier and the neighborhoods surrounding it offer. The city was an important partner in the re-investment that has occured in Whittier and other neighborhoods around here. I see that partnership continuing. Barb Lickness Whittier
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