EXCERPT: “Amazon said Monday that 238 cities and regions within the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico, have submitted proposals to become the online retailer’s second headquarters. Many experts believe Minnesota’s chances of securing the campus are slim, which may be positive news to some locals, particularly those concerned about the Twin Cities housing market . . . One early analysis, conducted by apartment listing aggregator Apartment List, suggests the price increase for Minneapolis renters could be an additional 1 percent annually, amounting to $8,700 in extra rent costs over a 10-year span. Of the 15 cities analyzed by Apartment List, Minneapolis landed in the middle.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2gFmrgs

EXCERPT: “The number of apartments deemed affordable for very low-income families across the United States fell by more than 60 percent between 2010 and 2016, according to a new report by Freddie Mac. The report by the government-backed mortgage financier is the first to compare rent increases in specific units over time. It examined loans that the corporation had financed twice between 2010 and 2016, allowing a comparison of the exact same rental units and how their affordability changed. At first financing, 11 percent of nearly 100,000 rental units nationwide were deemed affordable for very low-income households. By the second financing, when the units were refinanced or sold, rents had increased so much that just 4 percent of the same units were categorized as affordable.” FULLSTORY: http://wapo.st/2yDvNQP

EXCERPT: “Minnesota Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal, Congresswoman Betty McCollum and other community leaders gathered today at an emergency shelter for Native American families to announce funding to create and preserve over 1,800 affordable housing opportunities throughout the state. The investments in 60 developments support more than 3,400 jobs and will leverage additional private and local resources that will result in nearly $350 million in total development costs. DAYTON: “This funding will stimulate jobs and economic development across our state, while providing housing for Minnesotans in need,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “I thank Minnesota Housing for their work in securing these new investments, and putting these funds to good use in our communities. I look forward to working with the Legislature to make additional investments next session.”..The announcement today also signaled hope for one young person, Norma Jean, who joined housing leaders to talk about the new Ain Dah Yung Center and the promise it brings for her. Ain Dah Yung is a joint project with Project for Pride in Living designed to meet the specific cultural needs of Native youth ages 18-24 who have left the foster care system. The new development to be constructed on University Avenue will provide 42 young people like Norma Jean a safe and stable place to call home.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2yDHZi8

EXCERPT: “After median home prices hit a record high this summer in the Twin Cities, sales activity started to slow last month, according to data released Monday by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors (MAAR). Entry-level homes, which often spend little time on the market and sell at a high price, instead experienced a loss in closed sales in September. The change was a sharp departure from interest the category had received all year from prospective homebuyers.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2ySyjmR

EXCERPT: “Neighbors woke to something new at the site of the former Lowry Grove mobile home and RV park this week: A sign that reads ‘Reopening soon.’ Dave Colling, who lives nearby, took a picture and posted it to Facebook. The comments poured in: ‘Seriously?’ ‘WHAT?’ ‘I don’t know why this surprises me so much.’ It is a surprising turn for the site. The suburban Minneapolis park was purchased by a developer — The Village, LLC — and closed in June. People from nearly a hundred households had to relocate, and the closure sparked protests and a lawsuit. The new sign appeared after The Village was dealt a blow at a St. Anthony city council meeting earlier this week. At the meeting, The Village presented plans to build more than 700 new housing units on the 15-acre site. The city council, however, approved a resolution on density that would allow for only half that number.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2xJCHzy

EXCERPT: “Columbia Heights has approved a 222-unit affordable housing complex, the first such project for the city in decades. The Star Tribune has a report on the vote, which followed some contentious debate: The City Council split 3-2 following a public meeting that grew heated, with opponents in the crowd shouting ‘You’re fired!’ at members who voted yes.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2yb7RUA

EXCERPT: “Anticipating a less affordable future, Philadelphia is considering requiring developers of residential projects of 10 units or more to set aside 10 percent of units at rents or purchase prices below market rate. New Orleans has a similar voluntary program right now — and it could become permanent. In Boston, developers can pay into an affordable housing fund to get zoning clearance to build bigger. Such programs and policies, referred to as inclusionary housing or inclusionary zoning, are being used across the U.S., but their reach is uneven, according to a new working paper from the think tank Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Grounded Solutions, a national network of inclusive housing organizations. Also uneven: the way cities track what these policies accomplish.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2yc6fcY

EXCERPT: “Fresh off a $15 minimum wage win at Minneapolis City Hall, progressives now have their sights set on affordable housing. If some of the farthest left-leaning candidates win seats on the City Council, the Twin Cities could get its first taste of San Francisco-style rent control. The idea — just the mention of it — frightens developers, some of whom are passionate advocates for affordable housing. A few of them are scrambling to build or preserve as much affordable housing as they can, but they fear government-controlled caps on what a landlord can charge on rent will set the city backwards, not forward.” FULLSTORY: bit.ly/2xYa4CS

EXCERPT: “Data on housing affordability in Minneapolis and St. Paul indicates that the portion of income people spend on housing is actually going down. So does that mean talk of a crisis in housing affordability is overblown? Not quite. Because what that overall number fails to show is that even as housing becomes more affordable for some, it’s becoming less so for others.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2xhzfeZ

EXCERPT: “If you’re a millennial in search of a good place to live, you might find what you’re looking for in Middle America. Despite stabilizing rent prices in popular coastal markets like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco, these places remain unaffordable for the average millennial. Cities in the Midwest and South, however, offer affordable housing, stable and well-paying jobs, and a good quality of life.” FULLSTORY: http://read.bi/2yE8xOS