Grand Forks housing commission releases report, seeks comment
December 26, 2012 at 3:04 pm in Grand Forks Herald
A Grand Forks city commission has selected 12 preliminary priorities its members feel would allow the city to overcome a housing crunch. The Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing listed the priorities at EngagetheForks.com, and encouraged residents to select or “second” their top three priorities. Continue Reading
“A draft of the commission’s full priorities report is available for review on EngagetheForks.com.”
Marvelous. Since I’ve been banned from EngagetheDorks.com for trying to counterbalance the rampant socialism there, how do I get access to a copy of this disaster?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Advocate for State-Local-Private Housing Partnership
Improve enforcement of Renter Rights & Rental Repairs and Safety
Accelerate the Installation of Amenities & Parks
More Senior Housing Options
More Flexible Zoning
Aggressive Annexation
Target YPs for Downtown and ByDo (By Downtown) Housing
Support Neighborhood Branding and Associations
Increase Community Engagement on Housing Issues
Hold regular stakeholder meetings and create “Housing Dashboard”
Explore engineering costs savings w/out sacrificing quality
Explore effective financing methods for new infrastructure
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Since the Herald couldn’t report on the full story above is the list taken from the engage the forks website. continuing below is what the topics mean to me.
1) Advocate for State-Local-Private Housing Partnership
Make the tax payers of the entire state finance this scheme using the bank of North Dakota
2) Improve enforcement of Renter Rights & Rental Repairs and Safety
Why are we not doing this right now? Your basically saying that rental companies aren’t following the rules and the city isn’t enforcing the rules.
3) Accelerate the Installation of Amenities & Parks
Make the city spend money faster… I didn’t think spending money was an issue for the city council. The build it and they will come approach. Just what the city needs a park in the middle of no where to maintain because it isn’t profitable enough to build housing around that park.
4) More Senior Housing Options
Have any of these people tried to tell Grandma to move out of her house she has lived in for 50 years?Lets lock up all the old people in assisted living and nursing homes. Damn old people living in big homes all by themselves (note the sarcasim).
5) More Flexible Zoning
Oh yea the city is really flexiable there until somebody wants to open a business the city doesn’t like (think about the adult book store debate a few months back)
6) Aggressive Annexation
Somebody with more knowledge about annexation can comment on this
7) Target YPs for Downtown and ByDo (By Downtown) Housing
When you drill down into this topic on the site it basically says destory old and ugly houses and develop vacant lots in that area. WTF? Kick the poor people out of their homes and build new homes they will never be able to afford.
8) Support Neighborhood Branding and Associations
North side vs south side of Grand Forks. This is just a gateway into gated communities in Grand Forks
9) Increase Community Engagement on Housing Issues
Lets talk about this issue for 10 more years and do nothing.
10) Hold regular stakeholder meetings and create “Housing Dashboard”
Increase collusion in the maket place so the developers and realators can drive the prices even higher
11) Explore engineering costs savings w/out sacrificing quality
More trailer parks in Grand Forks
12) Explore effective financing methods for new infrastructure
We want a deal that is better then anybody else can get so instead of passing on the savings to the consumer we can pocket the profits.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I read about this last night … I thought it was a little embarrassing for the city to admit they weren’t already doing #2 … #11 and #12.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Is it my imagination or does this really not seem like its going to help much? Parks we don’t need get elderly out of houses so we have more old houses that have expensive up keep, Talk about it, neighborhood pep rallys, The only one that might help a little is flexable zoning. I just don’t see how this is going to help me get a 3 bed 2 bath home for under 150k that was built in the last 20-30 years.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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This is what happens when the city government works hand in glove with a special interest group whose purpose is not to improve Grand Forks but their bank accounts.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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why aren’t there more houses being built like the Promenade houses? They were affordable, new, and great starter homes for young families?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I get the distinct impression that the real estate industry in GF has no interest in low-margin starter homes. Look at was has gone up in the south end in the few years.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I will say it before & I will say it again: a major reason is the way the city plans & pays for infrastructure. Special assessments & placing the burden on developers. It is completely counterproductive.
As the story said: want to build a housing area? Pony up for half the infrastructure up front. I can think of very few things in this world that is more short sighted.
Infrastructure benefits everyone; therefore everyone should pay for it.
New houses = new tax revenue & more spending (Hugo’s, Home Depot, karate for he kids, etc).
GF wants the benefits of development, but only if they can choose who lives there (no people of color, no foreign nationals, & definitely no poor people) & if someone else pays for it.
Thank God for UND. Without the college to anchor our economy GF skewered sensibilities & priorities would guarantee we remain back watered for the foreseeable future.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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But then again, spearman will turn around, with justification, and say that UND’s push for higher enrollments, without sufficient housing on campus, has resulted in a boon for landlords buying up houses and renting to students. Which, in turn, depletes the supply for would-be families.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Let me just add, that I have lived in the same house for over 21 years. In that time, along a two-block stretch of the street, occupancy has gone from 100% single-family to 80% student rental.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I agree, but that has nothing to do with building new housing.
We do not build because: the three major landholders are holding out for more money (increased profit from their investment). One way to increase their profit margin is to quit placing the burden for new infrastructure on the developers.
Absolutely nothing (short of drastic zoning changes which ARE NOT going to happen) will prevent the downtown neighborhoods from becoming student ghettos. It is simply an inevitable consequence of being co-located next to a university.
As you said Gene, this change has taken place over the last 20 years. Look at UND enrollment numbers during that time and plot them side by side with the decline in single family dwellings. I would guess their is a linear relationship.
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How much is enough?
The rich land developer from Grand Forks was horrified to find the fisherman lying lazily beside his boat on the southern shores of Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods smoking a pipe.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” said the rich land developer.
“Because I have caught enough fish for the day,” said the fisherman.
“Why don’t you catch some more?”
“What would I do with them?”
“You could earn more money,” was the rich land developer’s reply. “With that you could buy a bigger boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy another boat. This would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money for three boats…maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me.”
“What would I do then?” asked the fisherman.
“Then you could really enjoy life.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?”
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Gene you have lived there too long and according to the commission you are part of the problem. You either need to buy a new house on the south end or move to a nursing home.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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You are, no doubt, correct. Good thing there’s a BNSF switching yard in GF. They can load up all us old fogies and ship us out.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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In 15 years when SS and Medicare have bankrupt the country because our elected representatives proved inadequate for the job, we will all simply be Soylent Green. Doggy biscuits for the health, education, and nutrition of the younger set who will refuse to continue funding the world’s largest Ponzi scheme.
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A neighborhood composed entirely of apartment buildings or other multi-family homes would give the most bang for the infrastructure buck and eliminate the nimby problems with zoning approval. Not everyone needs a McMansion. I am sure that G.F. could come up with some good incentives to develop this type of neighborhood.
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They proposed an apartment at the old Lewis site on N 20th near Hugos, and the nimby people came out in force.
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A prediction: This ad hoc commission, appointed by the mayor with no outside deliberation, will eventually become an official standing committee, in charge of all housing decisions, rubber stamped by a majority of the city council. And, as in the case of another committee which is bound and determined to close down University Avenue through UND, despite the chaos this will cause, this one will rule in its own self interest, assuring that the sole benefits will go to them.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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The American Dream of owning a home is still not dead, but in order for that to happen, single-family homes need to be available AND affordable. Multi-family [rental] units seem to be “sabotaging” the American Dream. Many of them are only available to rent and at a cost higher than that of buying a single-family home. My house payment would triple if I were to buy a new home and if I were to rent, I’d end up with fewer bedrooms for double the cost as my house payment. I wouldn’t want to go back to renting for anything.
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Perhaps, given the reality of the present, the term “home ownership” should be replaced with something which better reflects the true situation. Maybe “home occupancy” would be more precise. You see, even for those who have paid off their mortgage, property taxes imply that the city actually is the true owner. And given the city’s voracious appetite for revenue in order to provide “services”, the definition of which has been expanded to include every whim in the book, everyone runs the risk of losing their abode. That you have a scam whereby the city sets the value and the mil rate, and given that the rules of the game can change at any time, no one should assume the house they live in is theirs.
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We had some much needed work done on our home. I know that the city typically sets the values of home. In our case, however, we got to set the value of our home and submit it to the city and it was approved. We did the same thing realtors do which was to compare our home to three others in the same area of the city and that have similar characteristics and went from there. Sure, the value of our home didn’t increase significantly, but the improvements have made a difference both in appearance and temperature-wise. Also, should my spouse and I pass away, funds from a sale would increase any money in a family trust that would help our children in their futures. I think the goal for existing homeowners now isn’t to make improvements to sell a home, but rather to make it a better one. . .one that is warmer/cooler when it needs to be. . .one that has better curb appeal which adds to the neighborhood. . .etc. I’m glad we went through with it. It has been our only home and if I live into my elderly years, it will be my retirement home as well. A lot of memories here and the space isn’t too much for a retired couple either. It has sufficed for our family home and will suffice as our home after the kids are all old enough to have places of their own.
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There was a time when people could rent a place and save money for a home. Now you rent and it sucks you under. I feel for people who get trapped by this.
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I think the city of grand forks “growing in the right direction” is a bunch of BS! There is not affordable housing for renters/buyers. Everything I have found is over 950-1500$ for a 1 or 2 bedroom apt/house. People that have families should be able to find a house/townhouse/apt in there budget range so they can live comfortable and not live check by check. Another thing is why does the city allow all of these apartment buildings to keep being built all around town? Instead of that they should be building smaller 2 or 3 bedroom houses with a small yard that are affordable to lower income people/famillies that make under 40,000 a year. Not everyone can afford a 150,000-200,000$ house and even if they could there are none available in the City of Grand Forks. Another issue I have is that there are a handful of places that don’t allow pets! Yes I understand that pets can destroy things but so can humans! Thats why there is something called a “deposit”, have people pay an extra deposit for pets. Most rentals that allow pets say the must weigh under 25lbs, which is rediculous most people I know own larger breed dogs. If you are going to allow any animal; you should allow all animals! I also agree J.K. why haven’t they built more Promenade houses? They were affordable and nice, they only down fall was that the other bedrooms besides the master were tiny! They should build single level houses or 2 town houses connected not 5-10 connected . I rent and would love to get out of where we live but we can’t find anything to rent or buy that is actually affordable where we wouldn’t break the bank.
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So if I follow the path you have provided in your post correctly these are your demands:
1. There is no affordable housing in GFK and there should be;
2. Apartments and townhomes are not good enough and builders should be compelled to build 2-3 bedroom homes with yards and within your price range;
3. Regardless of the construction cost or your income, the homes must be made available at a price you determine to be affordable;
4. If you do have to rent, landlords should be compelled to allow you to have pets of your choosing;
5. If landlords allow any pets they must allow all pets (we all know that fish and elephants have the same impact on fellow renters); and
6. Builders should be forced to build more “Promenade houses”, but they should also be required to change the construction to make them single family dwellings and increase the size of the second bedroom.
Welcome to the age of endless entitlements.
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1. There are not alot of affordable housing/ enough housing in grand forks. Isn’t that why this whole blog came about?
2. Never did i say apt and townhouse are not good enough, but it would be NICE to have the option of having something else to choose from. i would love to find a townhouse that was affordable. All you see being built in GF is apartments, why not build townhouses or small houses? Just a suggestion. Hypothetically when you live in an apartment you don’t have a lot of privacy when u have someone living on every side of you.
3. I correct myself NOT all pets! Its obvious that they will never let pets besides cats, fish and dogs under 25lbs. I know i am not the only person that wishes they would allow bigger dogs. It would never be the renters choice either. Like i said earlier allow bigger dogs is more what i am getting at. Make people make an extra deposit so they are liable for any damages.
4. No one ever said FORCE builders to build promenade houses, but it would be nice. First when we talked to them they said if there was demand they would build more, which they haven’t. We looked at buying a townhouse 2 yrs ago and there was nothing available then and they still have nothing available. So we are stuck renting for now cause there isn’t any affordable housing in GF. All the other bedrooms besides the master are actually really small if you haven’t seen them before. They would make a good office or babies rooms.
This isn’t supposed to turn into a big argument. I just wish they had more available for people with larger dogs in this City. I am happy where I currently live but it would be nice if there was more to choose from whether you are renting or wanting to buy.
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