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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