Bryn Mawr NRP Phase II Planning
Housing Focus Group
Thursday, February 3, 7-8:45 PM
In addition to Vida Ditter, facilitator, and Greg Lecker, note-taker, attendees include: Hans Nessety, Mary Lou Hill, Anne Eichhorn, Curt MacKenzie, Timm Caven, Julia Classen, Judy Remington, Mark Holmberg, Dick Heglund, Darryl Carter, Anne McLaurin.
Neighborhood
strengths:
- Bryn Mawr is noted for its ability to mobilize when necessary
- Strong and definite boundaries
- A character of its own
- Natural beauty – particularly its parks
- Convenient
- It does have a central core, the business district, and in that way we are unique
- Geographic boundaries, not artificially imposed boundaries
- A large population of people who fell that they can do things, specific activism
- It’s a hidden treasure in the city and we like that
- People are laid back, not uptight
- That there is a downtown area
- Identity, and yet people outside the area don’t always know about it
- I like living here
- Vida Ditter, volunteers
- Living in the neighborhood for 30 years, I consider it the “crown jewel of the neighborhoods”
- Nexus of freeways, just 2 miles from downtown and yet possessing a separate identity
- Small town identity, people on the street are friendly and greet one another
- Special neighborhood – could be both a strength and a weakness
- Living here as a renter, I like that it is a neighborhood of houses and some duplexes but not a lot of apartment buildings – not like downtown Minneapolis or the lakes or the U of M neighborhoods. The buildings here are houses. Renters are waiting to rent here. Nice to rent in a neighborhood where there are not a lot of other rentals.
- Diversity, openness, friendly; though as a renter, I feel somewhat a stranger
- A special place
Neighborhood
weaknesses:
- Lack of rental space. As a young person, though well educated (PhD.) and not of a lower income level, there is no chance for me to buy in Bryn Mawr. The rental options are few and far between. It was a stroke of luck for me to find my rental.
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Proximity/like-mindedness ,
with the store, it’s a quasi-utopia, but often we forget that we are just
2 miles from the downtown of a major metropolitan city. Therefore, the highway (I394) and
arterials (
- Is the neighborhood becoming just a bedroom community, empty nesters, with homes ripe for tear-downs?
- Our utopia/eco-socialism sometimes breeds a kind of animosity, exclusiveness
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I-394,
- Lack of senior housing
- Seniors are being forced to leave (ex. Alan and Betty Bruce) due to lack of senior housing
- I would like to see a café
- As a renter, you fit, but at the same time, you don’t fit
- A low stock of rental housing is a weakness as well as a strength.
- Not a wide diversity of housing – It’s becoming more and more high-end. Further development proposals add to this trend.
- Frequently our strengths can be considered our weaknesses as well
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Diversity of housing, and of race, is greater in
- Bryn Mawr has not come up with a comprehensive plan for development. I disagree that any/all development is inevitable. We have the right and ability to say what development will happen.
- Gentrification – not seeing housing for seniors. I moved in as a renter in 1995 and I’m being priced out – it’s a real drag!
- The character has changed in the last five years. As a single mom, it’s tough. I call some Bryn Mawr folks “scandinavian mutants” because of their Northern European reserve. You feel that if you haven’t gone to High School with neighbors that you don’t exactly belong.
- Property tax increases are being passed on as rental rate increases
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Where is the affordable housing for the working class, the rank and file
working in downtown Bryn Mawr and for the City of
- Old people are dying and they’re not being replaced. Their homes are torn down. We are losing a real asset when we lose the older people. This is happening all over the city.
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There’s not that much life in Bryn Mawr; there is life in
- Renters have it tough. Rents are $1,200 and $1,400. There has to be a lot of turnover with these rates! But, for me, the thought of moving (and moving out of Bryn Mawr) is right up there with death and divorce.
- And now, inspectors will be visiting rental property, necessitating needed improvements which will raise the rents again. I recommend that you read what the City is requiring in these inspections.
- There is not “rent control” here. Landlords can charge whatever they want. Renters need to maintain a good relationship with their landlords. I feel blessed, renting a house. So I try to help out with maintenance and landscaping, and gardening. I want to stay here.
- You won’t be able to live in Bryn Mawr unless you make enough money. The neighborhood is becoming very upscale. The houses are being converted into something significant.
- Senior housing won’t be built here because it can be built elsewhere much less expensively. If senior housing were built here, it would have to be $500,000 to $800,000 per unit because of land costs.
- It’s a very emotional issue – this notion of “community”. In a lot of ways, Bryn Mawr has traits of a suburb. It just so happens that it is politically liberal and has been that way for 30 years.
- It requires both members of a couple to work to be able to buy here now.
- There hasn’t been a significant addition of housing, an opportunity for a wide range of new residents to move in, since the 1970’s and the 1950’s before that.
- There are changing levels of expectation. The same houses that raised more than two children in just two bedrooms and one bathroom are not seen as large enough any more. A young couple moves in, maybe with one child, and by the time the second child arrives, they don’t see the house as being large enough anymore.
- And yet, I as a renter raised three kids, by myself, in a two-bedroom house, and by myself too. My house is “good enough”.
What issues are
important or will be important in the future? (We’ve just touched on many
of them):
- Senior housing
- Traffic – the frontage road acts like a freeway now. It’s that way all over the city. Traffic is a city-wide issue.
- Housing tear-downs! I hate to see a perfectly good house (now 3 or 4 in Area 2 alone) being torn down and replaced with a 3 story monster covering the entire lot. I hate to see such large houses on the small lots. It just ruins the entire block.
- The ability to sell/buy a home should be tied into the allowable height and setbacks. And yet, the new house on Cedar Lake Road required no variances – it was built within 6” of the setbacks and height limits.
- We live next to the Palm Brothers buildings and are aware of development pressures. We could see a three story senior building being constructed there – something like Rosewood, even though we would lose our view of downtown Minneapolis. At least we could still see the park. Even with these changes, we plan to stay in our house because we’ve invested a lot of time and money there.
- It will make a difference to lose these small houses. Now we know all of our neighbors including the renters.
- There is a correlation, an inverse relationship: as the size of the home increases, the friendliness decreases. These new residents are not made to feel welcome. They have come in from the suburbs, themselves, because of ever-increasing commuting times. I am concerned about these changes.
- Presently, most of our houses do not have attached garages. There is an opportunity to interact with one another at least on the way between the house and the car.
- New developments mean no sidewalks, declining green space
- Even the Park Board is responsible for deterioration, allowing large swaths of trails to be cut through Theodore Wirth Park. Park changes allowed and advocated by the MPRB will affect the neighborhood, even without a single change in our existing housing stock.
- Cutting larger trails, removing mature trees, letting in bikes, enormous new paths especially positioned directly adjacent to Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden! Where the hell is the Park Board, allowing this to happen?! They need to hear and listen to us. They need money as well as five new members. This 5-4 majority! What we need is consensus.
- Managing and planning development!
- I feel fortunate to view Bryn Mawr through the eyes of a Harrison resident (though I was a former renter in Bryn Mawr). Bryn Mawr stands somewhere between Kenwood and Harrison, and not just geographically! You don’t want to back-slide (in Harrison, we’ve had stickups in front of our house, and occasionally tires slashed). Bryn Mawr really is an “enclave” How will you preserve your identity – zoning, limits?
- Yes, the entry of newcomers with higher incomes will change the face of the neighborhood. But Bryn Mawr is already seen as being an exclusive housing source.
- I strongly dislike that housing changes are changing the character of Bryn Mawr
- I disagree with the idea that there is a correlation between house size and friendliness. How welcome are these new residents being made to feel? The Ewing Avenue Wetlands (Cedar Lake Place) is an example. Some long-time residents spoke of the notion that “they may think that they’re in Bryn Mawr; but they’re really not”. This was an unfortunate opinion. Being friendly and welcoming new folks – it’s a two way street.
- There is some mistrust of people who have accumulated wealth.
- The challenge is balancing the tear-downs with the desire to live in Bryn Mawr. How to grow with these changes and retain the neighborhood’s character.
- I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and wanted to simplify my life – that’s why I moved into Bryn Mawr. But the neighborhood is changing. Can’t quite put my finger on it; but the “community” is diminishing
- It would be better if there were more houses for renters to move into. Sure it’s hard to get good tenants; but I, a renter, represent character and diversity. We’re good for you homeowners. We’re up and come and go at all hours of the night when you’re sleeping. We’re looking out for you.
- I’m appalled at these “Mana Loouses”, these big houses
- I’m looking toward a time when I will require senior housing and I don’t anticipate there being housing available for me. I’ll probably have to leave the neighborhood.
- Two different views: that there aren’t services (grocery stores, etc) for renters and seniors vs. that’s an old view of looking at the need to separate out the various types of housing. They should be integrated within a neighborhood.
- Do you really feel that the neighborhood is becoming “cold” when you attend your NNO party or other neighborhood events? This followup question elicits differing replies. You have to initiate the contact, but then neighbors are friendly.
One service that BMNA could provide:
- Questions about this question
- BMNA is a strength. It’s good to have our political clout. Elected officials such as Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Lisa Goodman consider our input.
- BMNA is exclusive and “clique-y”. The board knows what it wants and it does it. Response: You may not want the same people doing all the work, making all the decisions. BUT, THEY WILL continue to do so unless new people decide to become involved!!
- BMNA is strong and involved
- We all need to do our part
- Advertise existing assistance programs such as the Neighborhood Involvement Program (NIP)-24th and Hennepin
- On the other hand, we shouldn’t require the assistance of an outside service. Take snow shoveling for example. Bryn Mawr, itself, ought to organize neighbors, maintain a call list/volunteer organization, to go and shovel out our seniors for example.
- It doesn’t have to be BMNA specifically, but make people more aware of services/networking available within the neighborhood.
- The e-mail list/website greatly expands our connectivity and the amount of information that is available for sharing.
- Organize candidate forums, like BMNA used to do
- The Bugle is extraordinary
- Coordinate services for home-based businesses like we’ve talked about previously – providing a conference area/center, photocopying, faxing, etc (the types of services that a library branch would provide!)
- Compared to what is provided to home based businesses, an inordinate amount of time and energy flows towards improving the downtown Bryn Mawr businesses. Yet, they are the ones willing to organize and do the work!
- The resident directory is good – you even include renters. Do more than the directory listing home based businesses
- BMNA needs to advocate for the neighborhood’s interests in discussions with developers.
- Welcome packets and welcoming new neighbors is important!
- A brochure/description of how/ways to become involved.
- As a renter you may not feel that you will be here for the long term and so you require more convincing to become involved.
In NRP Phase II, a
minimum of 70% will be spend on housing and housing related programs. What programs should BMNA offer in
Phase II?
- How about Bryn Mawr sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity program? Buy a lot and build a house.
- For a senior housing project, couldn’t we consider not just adding a senior housing structure, but rather a plan to guide developers, and programs to enable seniors to remain in their homes?
- Move toward a mix of housing in one complex: renters, seniors, townhomes, affordable housing
- A needs-test based housing assistance program is always a good idea
- Organize a “helper” program – subsidize a “helper” for seniors
- A renters assistance program – but how would this work?
- Some sort of a program to offer incentives for landlords to fix up their places in return for controlling rent increases and ensuring affordable rental rates
- Expanding the housing program beyond just low income folks. Concrete work for crumbling steps is very expensive.
- Subsidizing improvements to “seniorize” existing homes for folks (grab bars, ramps), to help people remain in their homes
- I like the Phase I housing program
- A decently-built multiple unit housing development
- If we allow the existing housing stock to deteriorate, we invite tear-downs
- Struggling with customizing homes for individuals
- Restoring the “elm cathedrals” by planting disease-resistant elms and by buying and planting larger trees for more immediate impact. You may not be able to move into or live in a big house, but at least you can have a big tree added. Not maples – people don’t think twice about removing a maple. They would think twice about removing an elm or an oak!
- Network the home based businesses – form a group for “women working at home”
- Is there any Section 8 housing in Bryn Mawr? If not, why not? Reward Bryn Mawr folks who are buying multiple homes for rentals as long as the units are made to be affordable and are kept up well.
- Do something for seniors – if they die and move away, they’re not being replaced. They’re our future. Do things like grocery shopping. Enough people are not doing enough for people besides themselves. We can do better than turning to NIP.
- Keep in mind the amount of money available for Phase II – don’t come up with too grandiose of an idea! You can make small loans on the basis of income.
- I participated in the Phase I housing improvement program and had my roof replaced and insulation added. Now I would like to apply for foundation repairs and window replacement.
- Buy a chunk of land, dedicate it to senior housing, and shop around for developers to build on it.
- Offer incentives to landlords to maintain/guarantee that incentives are passed on as lower rents to renters.
- Address what you want via zoning: 1) Senior housing, 2) Affordable Rentals, and 3) Preventing Tear-downs