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How to best navigate redevelopment in Mounds View - - By Kassle Petermann on July 13, 2012 - - - - - - -- Mounds View city leaders met with industry experts in June to discuss demographics and redevelopment. Mayor Joe Flaherty and City Council members Sherry Gunn and Carol Mueller were in attendance, along with Planning Commission members, Economic Development Commission members and city staff. Council members Al Hull and Roger Stigney were not present. Last fall, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Minnesota began a task force to gather ideas regarding education programs for public officials. Gordon Hughes, with ULI and former Edina city manager, said it was determined that budgets are tight these days, and often times the first thing to go is continuing education programs. As a result, "Navigating the New Normal' workshop was developed, which involves the entire decision-making team of the city and provides a venue for public-private dialogue in a setting other than a controversial public hearing or when a project is on the table, Hughes said, adding that the program is free. He talked about what the new normal means for redevelopment, and provided data and projections. In the next 20 years, the population will increase by as many people over the age of 65 as the state did in the last four decades combined. By 2020, there will be as many residents 65 and older as children in kindergarten through 12th grade. More Americans will live in multi- generational households, and over the past 40 years that number has almost doubled. The Generation Y group, born between 1979 and 1996, will make up about 30 percent of the population and account for about half of all spending in the United States. About a third of the Generation Y group live in single-family homes that they own, and the rest live in some sort of multi -family housing. They also tend to move more frequently than others. Baby boomers in Minnesota want activity and social interaction, Hughes said, and the Generation Y group is very interested in social networking and walkability. They are willing to pay a higher price to live in a walkable environment as opposed to a driveable environment. Mounds View data Cathy Bennett, with ULI Minnesota and the Regional Council of Mayors, said cities face a balancing act with retaining and providing choices for residents as they age, while providing ways to increase opportunities for younger households to move to the community, which helps schools and services remain viable and active. According to data from Excensus, a company in Minnesota, the overall household growth for Mounds View was about 1 percent from 2005 through 2010. Thirty-eight percent of the city's households are 55 and older, and that was the only group that saw any growth, which is likely because people are aging in place, Bennett said. The city has seen a loss of middle-aged households, ages 35-54, and younger households below age 35. Bennett said that could be an indication that housing is not available because residents are staying in the community or because there are limited choices to move into what people prefer. Page 25