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Livable communities Act is a
<br /> solid program
<br /> An Oct. 28 Star Tribune editorial Also under the agreement, the cit..
<br /> )uggests the Legislature might have to Counterpoint will increase home-ownership oppor=..
<br /> 'start over" in shaping public policy tunities using not only local and re-:;:
<br /> Jn affordable housing.Meanwhile,the gional resources,but also financing op,;;
<br /> nk on the new Metropolitan Livable ing throughout the region,without tin- dons through such organizations as the
<br /> Zommunities Act, passed this year, is posing costly government policies that Minnesota Housing Finance Agency!:
<br /> rarely dry. To start over would be un- are too intrusive in local affairs. (MHFA). MHFA, for example, recently
<br /> fortunate and irresponsible, and shat- Maple Grove was first to,sign on to announced an award of $750,000 in.=
<br /> :er any hope of progress on a region- Livable Communities and first to adopt first-time buyer funds to Maple Grove.. ;(
<br /> wide housing and community develop- housing goals developed in coopera- Livable Communities also addresses
<br /> :rent program. tion with the Metropolitan Council.As cleanup of polluted lands to make wa)r:
<br /> A year ago,the kind of dialogue and a city with rapid growth and escalating for business development and jobs.Fi--
<br /> confrontation we were experiencing land values, it is a good example of -nally, it encourages communities to.
<br /> Dut the affordable housing issue at a local commitment to affordable and address issues of sprawl by providing;.
<br /> standstill. Today, local officials life-cycle housing. City officials made funds for local models of compact, cre,
<br /> throughout the area are talking about this commitment because it makes ative and transit-oriented development
<br /> and planning for affordable housing good sense for their community, and and redevelo•ment. •
<br /> -_- - ' •- •- -.-communities,in- .they understand the importance o Livable Communities recognizes lo-
<br /> eluding those where job growth is these goals to the region. cal units of government are best suited
<br /> highest and the need for affordable Currently, 4 percent of Maple to make decisions about how they will:
<br /> housing most apparent. Grove's rental housing is considered grow and develop, but also acknowl
<br /> The Livable Communities Act is an affordable. Under the agreement, the edges it will take partnerships and:i
<br /> investment in the region's- economic city will strive over the next 15 years to shared responsibility to continue the:
<br /> future. Livable Communities does not make 35 percent,between 630 and 750, region's economic successes.The pro:-
<br /> set unattainable"quotas"at significant of its new rental units affordable to gram represents common ground,
<br /> :ost to taxpayers. The new law gives households earning up to $25,500 a among the many people involved and::
<br /> the region a framework for cooperation year. A portion of these units will be deserves a chance to succeed.
<br /> and negotiation. It will accomplish a affordable to very-low-income house- —Curt Johnson, St.Paul. Chair, Met-
<br /> greater distribution of affordable hous- holds making$15,300 or less. ropolitan Council.
<br /> tots S -L .1 /.1014,e A/aY ij (fgr—
<br /> suburbs interested#nje
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<br /> Q•�;i� �f�-�,�+�..��_ ��t�b����i�..'_�h:��..�� •
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<br /> in of f orda
<br /> •-;a�4r}-�'C.r' b 1 e housing
<br /> •
<br /> Aid offered under state act
<br /> •' C
<br /> ev ✓`� By Wednesday's deadline, fordable housing without using
<br /> • , t� r „ most or the Twin Cities' largest the get-tough tactics urged bi
<br /> �t � A suburbs had signed up for the housing advocates. The act alsc
<br /> '- • — d, 4` - Metropolitan Livable Communi- defines an affordable home a:
<br /> _dr �t i ' i, ties Act, the new state program one costing S115,000 in 1994 dol
<br /> - 7 offering$1 million in 1996 to help lars — a figure that critics corn-
<br />, •us;� • rzv e �- ' suburbs build more affordable plain is out of reach for most o.
<br /> r,1 •
<br /> r - - . : housing. the Twin Cities'truly needy.
<br /> 3? Of the 187 eligible communi- The program also provide:
<br /> ° z r , IZ� ties, 90 had signed up as of $6.5 million annually to clean tict• :rr�Wit¢ Wednesday. More important, of polluted sites in participating cit
<br /> �� ;, , ;" � - the 79 developing suburbs — ies and $4.6 million next year tc
<br /> those where all the buildingis revitalize neighborhoods. The
<br /> • � ' T � K taking place — all but 19 siged Metropolitan Council, which is
<br /> •
<br /> 4 up. The program is the Legisla- administering the program, saic
<br /> ti - , � 77 ture's attempt to push suburbs to suburbs still may sign up.
<br /> -�t ,a,,,•.l* . ,k.£���,. �:�.
<br /> V� 16 l QP,S` Star Triune Graphic by Jane Friedmann meetgoals for building more of —Mike Kas.'uba
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