Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 11, 2014) – Property rights and the housing market received a big boost this morning, as the Minneapolis City Council voted to lift the housing construction moratorium that was imposed in the southwest corner of the city on March 7, 2014.
The moratorium impacted the issuance of wrecking and building permits for single and two-family dwellings in the Armatage, Fulton, Kenny, Linden Hills, and Lynnhurst neighborhoods. As drafted, it would have been in place until March 2015.
From the day the moratorium was enacted, the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors has been hard at work with city officials, residents, and housing industry leaders to find an alternative path toward answering questions and concerns surrounding construction sites and building codes. MAAR’s advocacy efforts are rooted in the protection of property rights, and the Association harbored grave concerns about the impact a yearlong moratorium would have on housing in these neighborhoods.
With understanding of the significant concerns that can arise when a city sees notable increases in infill residential redevelopment, MAAR sought to work with Minneapolis leaders to find solutions to the core problems brought forward by some community members. In collaboration with the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, MAAR assisted in the development of a new Construction Site Management Agreement, which must now be signed and upheld by anyone engaging in a redevelopment project (teardown or significant remodel/expansion) in the city. This agreement addresses a range of issues, from work hours to soil erosion mitigation plans. MAAR believes this site management plan will alleviate the vast majority of community concerns around construction sites.
MAAR will continue to work with the city throughout the upcoming months on redevelopment policies, including a thorough examination of local housing market trends, existing and potential zoning codes, and building standards.
The partnerships that have been forged throughout this process between city residents, housing industry leaders, and city officials should prove to greatly benefit all stakeholders engaged in housing and growth issues in Minneapolis.
