Category: News
YIMBY, White Privilege, and the Soul of Our Cities
“In this story line, in the name of fighting evictions and displacement, we progressives, we communities of color, we poor people and immigrants, we working-class queers stupidly don’t realize that luxury development now will eventually become the affordable housing of the future! It’s simple supply-and-demand they say, Econ 101, and we obviously didn’t go to college if we don’t understand that simple truth.
They say we foolish activists abuse environmental regulations and planning processes that allow for democratic participation to stop or slow development. So the answer to the problem is to do away with those pesky regulations, limit public input, and give up on any attempt to get real estate developers to mitigate their impacts on our neighborhoods.”
Coalition seeking 2040 environmental study launches website
“Stop the Environmental Attack on Minneapolis!” That’s the headline on Smart Growth Minneapolis’ new website. You will want to check it out!
Strib op ed: How to fix the plan!
“We believe the plan’s strategies lack the focus and specificity necessary to achieve those critical goals. We propose the City Council enhance the plan with the following amendments: http://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-minneapolis-2040-plan-is-a-good-start-but-it-needs-focus/501048341/
Strib: Minneapolis neighbors gather for latest chance to weigh in on 2040 Comprehensive Plan
“…many who opposed the plan said the overall discussion of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which lists the city’s priorities over the next two decades, had turned neighbors against each other: old vs. young, cyclists vs. drivers, renters vs. homeowners.” http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-neighbors-gather-for-one-more-public-hearing-on-2040-comprehensive-plan/500557201/
‘Salon’ debunks Mpls 2040 premise
Salon debunks Mpls 2040 premise that building more market-rate housing will produce more affordable housing: “In August of this year, an oversaturation of market-rate and luxury rentals in big cities meant that housing costs dropped — for the wealthy. ‘U.S. cities struggling with soaring housing costs have found some success in lowering rents this year, but … Continue reading ‘Salon’ debunks Mpls 2040 premise
Southside Pride: 2040 and communities of color
Ed Felien writes in Southside Pride: “The blanket upzoning of poor and working class neighborhoods means that neighborhood organizations will no longer have a say in what goes up in their neighborhood. ” Click to read more: What about the 2040 Plan?
“No one can predict with certainty how the market will react to the plan.”
Minneapolis 2040 is an experiment — no city in the nation has ever been completely up zoned. Thus, as this Star Tribune story points out, “No one can predict with certainty how the market will react to the plan.”
If denser housing alone won’t stabilize rents, what will?(Government incentives)
St. Paul Pioneer Press Story, quoting Alan Arthur, CEO of Aeon, an affordable housing developer: “The private market place has never produced affordable housing just because the community needs it, and will never,” Arthur said. “The only time the private market has produced affordable housing is when government has offered significant incentives — sometimes totally … Continue reading If denser housing alone won’t stabilize rents, what will?(Government incentives)
MinnPost: Tensions over Mpls 2040
MinnPost describes community tensions that have developed in reaction to Minneapolis 2040. Representing Minneapolis For Everyone, Lisa McDonald said about the plan, “It’s basically an opportunity to make sure that anything that happens in Minneapolis is top-down.”
Minneapolis For Everyone holds press conference
On September 18, Minneapolis For Everyone (M4E) held a press conference in the Loring Park neighborhood demanding that City Hall restart the planning process, this time partnering in good faith with citizens and neighborhood organizations. Lisa McDonald represented M4E; Jana Metge of Citizens for a Loring Park Community joined her. Join us on Facebook to … Continue reading Minneapolis For Everyone holds press conference