Plan for Affordable House in Golden Valley Draws Scrutiny
A vacant plot of land in Golden Valley could soon be developed into a single-family home through the city’s “HOPE” program.
“Home Ownership Program for Equity. It’s a city-run program where we purchase vacant lots,” explained Jacquelyn Kramer, a Golden Valley senior planner at a recent planning commission meeting. “So far, it’s just been vacant land that [the Minnesota Department of Transportation] had for highway projects that they never used or needed. And then we partner with qualified developers to build homes on the lot. Either, single-family homes or twin homes.”
The piece of land in question is located at 504 Lilac Drive. It’s just east of Highway 100 and south of Highway 55.
City leaders want to designate the triangular-shaped lot as Low Density Residential and rezone the property to Single Family Residential.
The HOPE program provides owner-occupied housing for those earning 60 to 80 percent of the area median income, which is between $75,000 to $100,000 per year.
If it’s constructed, the home couldn’t be turned into a rental property.
The proposed site of the new single-family home is on a vacant piece of land at 504 Lilac Drive in Golden Valley.
Neighborhood Concerns
However, at a Golden Valley Planning Commission meeting on May 25, some neighbors raised concerns.
“This is a terrible lot. I’m not sure why we would want to develop housing for someone that’s facing a major highway on a busy frontage road,” said Paul Robare, a resident who lives nearby.
Another neighboring resident, Patrick Wilson, also voiced concerns.
“There’s folks that have lived in Golden Valley, people of color, Black. We’ve bought our homes like everybody else,” said Wilson. “I’m just not sure why there needs to be this kind of special program that just has a little bit of — unintended — but a little bit of condescension to it.”
Despite the residents’ concerns, commissioners said it meets the city’s goal of providing affordable housing options.
“The city council has made this a point of emphasis, and this is a perfect lot for an opportunity to find additional housing in a city like Golden Valley,” said Mike Ruby, a planning commission member.
The planning commission ultimately voted to rezone the land. Commissioner David Hill recused himself from the vote because he’s an employee of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, which may develop the land.
The city council will review the plan on June 17.
