SAINT PAUL, MN – Despite our state’s 100,000 unit housing shortage and the high cost of housing, Lakeville, a growing suburban city, took the unprecedented step to halt all home construction.
Rep. Spencer Igo (R - Wabana Township) and Rep. Michael Howard (DFL - Richfield), the bipartisan co-chairs of the Housing Committee and co-authors of the Starter Home Act, released the following statement about the dangers of such a move to our state’s worsening housing shortage. In addition, they called on cities to rejoin legislators at the negotiating table to discuss a compromise on state-level reform.
“We are deeply concerned by the recent action taken by the City of Lakeville to ban new home construction in their city. If this becomes a trend, it will have a chilling effect on the growth of our state’s economy and further erode the affordability of housing in Minnesota.
“At a time when our state is 100,000 homes short, Minnesotans are eager for leaders to work together and take meaningful action. Our sincere hope is that cities and their lobbying organizations will rejoin us at the negotiating table and work in good faith to reach a compromise. We believe we can find a solution to meet our shared goals – to make it easier to build more homes that Minnesotans want, while ensuring cities can continue to plan for growth and strengthen their communities in ways unique to their local needs.
“Let’s work together in the interests of all Minnesotans and get this done.”
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