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MAR-13-1998 12:38 LEAGUE OF MN CITIES P.17i22 INFORIIif►TICN SERVICES �Iass�f / J—E League of Minnesota Classification on ,# 183 University Avenue East St. Paul, MN 55101-2526 Date Subject Municipality MNA CLIPPING segvwce Langrud said he wished the ci. - ty had a ttvth-in-housing or- Then' house is also non. dinance that would have re- worming, and • they had t Wred revelation of the pOten- started work without a permit. wF5TONKA SAILOR tial problems. He expects that situation to take Hennepin Co. "This is our first time buying longer because the couple wants a house," he said. "I will know r to expand what has been better next time,but there area another rental house in the city. MAR 3 lot of people like us out there and Having two young couples in 19 1 they need help." i one month with these variance Sutherland said, "It would requests should get things mov. was non-confo ming.I can't just have been nice if a Realtor or so- �Bu said Sutherland. issue a permit in that type of meone else had been there to tell But the surrounding ds see the con. Issue, them where to find out about the troversy surrounding the house Because the house is non- house, .but the Realtor as unproductive. "T'he conforming, the city require; a _ shouldn't be debating," said represents the owner. It's a Langrud. "They should be glad survey, the standard building situation of'buyer beware.' " we bought this house and are fix.- Permits for all the work,and Ci. Mound Mayor Skip Johnson ing it up." / ty Council approval of those said he favors a truth in housing permits. ordinance to "let buyers know L'n�d figures the three. what they are getting into." wee °elay, along with the fine He said the city has an in. for an after-the-fact 'building- terest in maintaining a good Permit, will Cost him more than housing stock and making it $1,000 more than the anticipated easier for young couples to lost of the project. move into Mound. "Young peo- "The small things add up,"he ple buying houses is vital to the aid. The Langruds had taken community,"he said. ut a loan to fix up the house, According to its Mound Com- nd they have been using that prehensive Plan,Mound's hous- toney to pay the added costs. ing stock is slowly deteriorating. We are cutting it close," he lid. In 1979, 60 percent of the city's "We may have to wait on 3,800 houses were listed In"good e siding,but I think we'll get it condition," the best condition in 1 done." the survey; 40 Langrud said that had he seen houses were considered tiin e property jacket which lists "fair"condition,one step below. s history of city Involvement By 1987, those numbers had th the house, and understood switched. Thirty-seven percent iat he was getting into when were listed as good, and 61 per- bought,the hoUSe, he would cent fair. ,re"shied away"from buying Sutherland said he wants to 'r would have offered a lower get the ordinance dey!ftped as quickly as possible, but the =e• IAngrud variance took a lot of There was a point, when the his time. ncil was talking about Within a week of resolving the - Ybe not being able to Con. Langrud's problem, Sutherland .e work until the end of became involved in a similar 'Ch. that we thought of just situation with another young Ving the whole thing and couple buying their first house 19 the house back,"he said. and wanting to renovate it. It with materials bought and for they would have"wed ith a shed full of materials" be right back where they ed,he said.