Residents of North Minneapolis - please leave your comments and suggestions.
Be part for the solution.
Be involved.
Talk to your neighbor.
Together we can make a difference.
Join your neighbors for the next meeting of the Northside Homeowners' Association and find out what actions we've taken so far and what we are going to do next.
Northside Homeowners' Association meeting
Monday, November 12th 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Folwell Park Recreation Center
Multi-purpose Room
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5 comments:
this is part of a the thread form the mpls issues forum. please read on.
and be encouraged..
Topics in Minneapolis Issues Forum
Summary
There are 14 posts in this topic.
Latest post made by Connie Beckers at 2007-10-15 02:54 (UTC)
From: Bill Dooley Date: 2007-10-11 09:27 (UTC) Short link
Today's Pioneer Press has a story on the October 20-21 mass home
foreclosure auction at the Minneapolis Convention Center. There will be
325 homes on the auction block. Has anyone who has checked the auction
web site know approximately how many of the homes listed are in North
Minneapolis? Here is the link to the story:
http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_7131734?source=rv
Bill Dooley
Kenny
From: Connie Beckers Date: 2007-10-12 16:14 (UTC) Short link
There are 19 properties in the 55412 zip code and 40 in 55411. 55405 and 55430
also make up a tiny bite but I didn't look for those. Northsiders are
organizing a front to discourage investment buyers and encourage folks looking
to set up home in what will soon again be a safe community. Write to
northsidehomeowners ( at ) gmail.com for more.
Come to our next meeting on Monday, October 22nd, 6:30 pm, Folwell Park
Community Center.
From: Jennifer Rubenzer Date: 2007-10-13 01:32 (UTC) Short link
Since many homes are likely in disrepair, and many low income homebuyers will
not have the means to make those repairs even with MHFA programs, you might
consider the area lucky if it attracted seasoned "quick turn" investors.
Geez, we've had how many years discussion on chipping paint on trim.
I think you are trying to discourage landlords, which auguments could be made
against that as well, but the reality is investors will be a HUGE % of the
buyers and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The worst might be if the homes
are not sold at all.
Jennifer Rubenzer
Maple Grove
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
From: John Harris Date: 2007-10-13 01:41 (UTC) Short link
> Northsiders are organizing a front to discourage investment buyers and
encourage folks looking to set up home in what will soon again be a safe
community.
Soon again be a safe community? Any proof that this will happen? I
know people looking to set up home but I can't recommend looking at
the deals in north minny. i have a friend that owns a home in north
minny but is living in an apartment elsewhere because she couldn't
take it anymore.
It is going to take more than some group saying it will be safe again,
eventually.
John Harris
webber-camden
From: Kevin Wynn Date: 2007-10-13 03:16 (UTC) Short link
> It is going to take more than some group saying it will
>be safe again,
> eventually.
>
Yeah, like a virtual police lockdown. Hard times are
ahead for North. It HAS to be safe or at least perceived
to be safe to walk down a street or even be safe in your
home.
We don't have the leadership in this city to make that
happen right now.
Kevin Wynn, Dad
Minneapolis, MN
2005 Ural Tourist "Tpehora"
Northern Bikers for Global Warming
From: Jim Graham Date: 2007-10-13 03:23 (UTC) Short link
Sort of reminds me of my organizing to prevent Ferris Alexander from buying up
the block of homes around the Franklin Theater years ago.
How soon can a community be safe? Oh in about three to five years if you
have folks organized and believing they can win. But it does take organizing
and it takes hard work from a few people willing to take the fight to the
criminals and to the City Hall that has allowed this to occur.
A team of such aggressive residents with an aggressive County Prosecutor such
as Gail Baez, and a small team of very aggressive "hunter" police officers is
what it takes to fight the front of the battle, but that has to be followed up
with a community wide accepted "Master Plan" for stabilizing the community for
the future.
That sounds like a lot, but half the battle is convincing that the area is
worth saving and believing it can be done. That half is the hardest to
accomplish, but fortunately it has a blueprint to follow. The Franklin-Chicago
area of Minneapolis was famous across the country a few years ago for such
crime and violence it used specific techniques and persons to address that
issue and become what the media has labeled the "Miracle on Franklin". Many
politicians, and non-profits take credit for that "miracle" but it was the plan
and the organizing of community residents that accomplished it with the help of
some NRP dollars.
So will the Northside become a safe place to own a home again? Yes if they
follow that same model and do not listen to politicians promises and
nay-sayers, predictions of doom and gloom. I remember when I could not sell a
duplex for thirty thousand dollars that is now worth about two hundred forty
thousand dollars. Why because of that organizing and willingness to fight in a
very fierce, if very thoughtful, way. That effort took about five or six
years.
So if investors are looking for a great deal then buy up eight or nine of the
houses and wait for the residents to finally get the idea that they CAN fight
and win. Then sell off your investments in the new "Miracle" and retire. Of
course aggressively joining in the fight will expedite your profit taking.
Helping to elect some City leaders who will aggressively fight for NRP and
Neighborhoods will also help you realize an earlier profit taking and better
margin on your investment. (of course it will also contribute to the quality
of life for those living in those communities)
Jim Graham,
Ventura Village
"You may never know what results come from your action.
But if you do nothing, there will be no result."
From: Brian Stricherz Date: 2007-10-13 14:19 (UTC) Short link
Kevin Wynn wrote: "...at least perceived to be safe..."
There it is in a nutshell. Perceived safety is in the eye behind rose colored
glasses.
Brian Stricherz
Kingfield (feeling safe behind my shades)
From: Laura Waterman Wittstock Date: 2007-10-13 16:56 (UTC) Short link
On Oct 12, 2007, at 9:22 AM, james graham wrote:
> The Franklin-Chicago area of Minneapolis was famous across the
> country a few years ago for such crime and violence it used
> specific techniques and persons to address that issue and become
> what the media has labeled the "Miracle on Franklin". Many
> politicians, and non-profits take credit for that "miracle" but it
> was the plan and the organizing of community residents that
> accomplished it with the help of some NRP dollars.
Two names: Brenda St. Germaine and Teresa Carr held a vision of
restoring the vitality of the Franklin Avenue area in the Phillips
neighborhood. Brenda started in 1975 and brought banking associates
into the conversation. City council members and later NRP played
roles, but the early days of change came from visionary individuals.
Those in the American Indian Movement (AIM) police patrols of 1968
will tell you a lot of the violence came from the police who
regularly wielded sticks against individuals whose only "crime" was
intoxication. The AIM archives have the photographs to document this
era. AIM brought church organizations, politicians and corporate
executives to the table. AIM founded several nonprofit organizations
that brought stability and legitimate dollars into the neighborhoods.
Before 1968, bars and pawn shops proliferated along a once-thriving
commercial area that had been cut off by Highway 55. Insufficient
capital squeezed the area. The crime and violence of a sub rosa
economy is always the likely outcome of such circumstances.
But Brenda St. Germaine, Roger Cook, and others from General Mills
and Honeywell took a chance on Brenda and her vision. They created
the American Indian Business Development Corporation.
And, by the way, all of this was the work of American Indians, real,
tribally enrolled, card-carrying Indians.
Quite an accomplishment.
Laura
Southeast/Como
Laura Waterman Wittstock
President and CEO
Wittstock & Associates
From: Wizard Marks Date: 2007-10-13 17:58 (UTC) Short link
Laura Waterman Whitstock: "Two names: Brenda St. Germaine and Teresa Carr held
a vision of restoring the vitality of the Franklin Avenue area in the Phillips
neighborhood. Brenda started in 1975 and brought banking associates into the
conversation. ... And, by the way, all of this was the work of American
Indians, real, tribally enrolled, card-carrying Indians."
Tell it like it is, Sistah!
From: Anissa Hollingshead Date: 2007-10-14 11:58 (UTC) Short link
It seems to be a recurring theme on this forum to decry the horrible state
of the Northside in regular threads - when one dies down another starts up
again within a few days. The local media is similarly focused on presenting
a uniformly horrific picture of this part of the city's landscape. It is
little wonder that this area is bearing the brunt of foreclosures (although
it is in no way alone in facing their impact), and that it is difficult to
attract new residents to live here by choice in the face of this onslaught
of negativity. That is not to say that the area does not face definite
challenges, but its hardly akin to living in Baghdad (or for that matter
parts of say Kansas City or Memphis for two examples I happen to be familiar
with).
After reading this thread this afternoon, I went for a walk and it is at the
conclusion of this walk that I am writing this post. Despite living in a
supposed wasteland of a neighborhood ravaged by random gunfire and violence,
I took my 6 week old infant out in her stroller around the neighborhood.
This was at 4:30 pm, well after the time the gangbangers are generally out
of bed and the area disintegrates and becomes unlivable according to another
poster just a few blocks away from me. We're just a few blocks from Farview
Park, and I like to walk to the park and then walk the perimeter of the park
before returning home. In no way do I feel like I am endangering my child
or myself while doing this, and it is a walk I have made many times since
moving to the neighborhood (by choice) in June. Walking down my block, I
saw a woman out raking leaves, someone out barbecuing, and several yards
full of children playing. At the end of the block, some teens were playing
football in the street. At the park there were 30-40 children and young
people out on the playground, and playing football and basketball. There
were no gunshots fired (I have yet to hear one while at home either), no
fights, no drug deals to witness, nothing 'scary' happening, just regular
people out doing regular things on a nice sunny day. All those regular
people happened to be African American, but I'm sure that in itself isn't
what scares nice Minnesotans.
During the 25 minutes I was out walking, 3 squad cars drove past me.
Whatever else you want to say about the Northside, we have an ample police
presence. Whether they are properly deployed or always respond in a timely
manner could possibly be up for debate (I honestly don't know) but they're
out there.
I have never felt unsafe in my home or my neighborhood. I don't live on an
exceptional block - smack in the middle of Hawthorne, with four empty
foreclosures and a handful of rental properties that are not as well
maintained around me. All my family and friends instantly warned me my new
house was in the 'hood' when I told them the address, but my experience has
been that for the most part normal people live here living normal lives -
not a bunch of thugs or anything else presenting imminent danger. My ten
year old walks to and from the bus stop at the end of the block every day.
My husband and I sit out on our front porch frequently. We do have some
neighbors in the duplex next door who obviously lack any kind of home
training, and throw trash out in the yard to blow down the block, blast loud
music, leave their cars stopped in the middle of the road, and generally act
like bad neighbors, but you can have bad neighbors anywhere.
It appears that certain segments of the city, politically and otherwise,
have decided that the Northside should be the designated repository for the
less desirable elements in the city. To reinforce this, the press given to
the area plays up the bad and is light to non-existent on the positive.
Exactly the opposite happens on the Southside. As was noted on this forum,
shootings in Prospect Park garnered hardly a mention in the Strib or tv
newscasts for instance. Could it be that there is a desire to protect the
investments that have been made in that area and not allow it to 'get a bad
name' whereas here on the Northside it is in more (powerful) people's
(financial) interest to perpetuate the negative images of the area?
By all means, the Northside needs help facing some serious issues. I do not
intend to belittle that fact, but the point of this post is that the
Northside is not an uninhabitable wasteland and in fact offers some
attractive amenities to residents. As just some examples, I can get to work
downtown in a snap - by car, bus or bike; the amount of retail is
increasing; we have an excellent library; traffic is quite manageable; and
there are lots of activities available through a variety of community
organizations for young people at very reasonable costs. Continually
painting the picture of the Northside with the most negative possible brush
does little to solve any of the problems. I bought a foreclosure here, and
am very happy.
Anissa Hollingshead
Hawthorne
▶
On 10/12/07, John Harris
>
> > Northsiders are organizing a front to discourage investment buyers and
> encourage folks looking to set up home in what will soon again be a safe
> community.
>
> Soon again be a safe community? Any proof that this will happen? I
> know people looking to set up home but I can't recommend looking at
> the deals in north minny. i have a friend that owns a home in north
> minny but is living in an apartment elsewhere because she couldn't
> take it anymore.
>
> It is going to take more than some group saying it will be safe again,
> eventually.
>
>
> John Harris
> webber-camden
>
From: Connie Beckers Date: 2007-10-14 19:24 (UTC) Short link
To Jim Graham. You're darn tootin' we're fed up! Our group is committed to
taking action to make some change. We've lived on the Northside a looooong time
and like Anissa in Hawthorne, we see the good things that make our battle so
worthwhile. We hold other parts of our city who've transitioned through these
kinds of issues in high regard as models for what we are embarking on. History
tells us it isn't going to be easy and it isn't going to happen in a week ...
but we're in it for the long haul and we're committed to action.
To John Harris ... you want proof that we can do what we say we're going to
do?!? Huh?!? Yeah, it takes more than a group SAYING it will happen ... we are
actually taking action, John. Come on out and find out. And for every friend
like yours who's too afraid to live here, I can give you a long list of names
of people who aren't. In the week since our movement began, we've grow to a
list of nearly 100 people who are interested in saving our community. We're not
just saying it ... we're doing it. What are you doing to change things?
To Jennifer .... we don't generally attract "good or seasoned" investors here;
seems we tend to get the kind who slap on a coat of paint, plop down a whopping
$57 for a provisional rental license and they're in business collecting upwards
of $1,200 a month from Section 8 for a piece of crap property. These landlords
don't screen tenants and we often end up with loud parties, domestics, drug
dealing, trash in the streets and all sorts of crap these investors wouldn't
put up with in their neighborhood! In my humble opinion, these investors are
preying not just on people with vouchers but on the system as a whole. They're
profiting from a government subsidy .. Most folks generally can't afford that
kind of rent .. especially for the crap holes around here. So we don't want any
more investors; we want bonafide resident homeowners who take pride in their
investment and get involved in the community. Now, that's not to say that some
of my renter neighbors are proud and get involved in the community but it's
more the exception than the rule.
I'm glad we have people like you Anissa who continue to take part in life on
the Northside! We need more people to come out of their homes and reclaim our
streets.
Change is coming to the Northside ... either get on board and help or sit back
and reap the rewards! Either way, we're doing something about the problem
without or without you. Just watch us!
Peace,
Connie Beckers
From: Dyna Sluyter Date: 2007-10-14 20:41 (UTC) Short link
On Oct 13, 2007, at 5:58 PM, Anissa Hollingshead wrote:
> It seems to be a recurring theme on this forum to decry the
> horrible state
> of the Northside in regular threads - when one dies down another
> starts up
> again within a few days.
The persistence of the crime threads is evidence that crime is a
real problem in Minneapolis.
> The local media is similarly focused on presenting
> a uniformly horrific picture of this part of the city's landscape.
As well they should- the vicious crimes committed on our streets are
indeed horrific and deserve media exposure.
> It is
> little wonder that this area is bearing the brunt of foreclosures
> (although
> it is in no way alone in facing their impact), and that it is
> difficult to
> attract new residents to live here by choice in the face of this
> onslaught
> of negativity.
It's not negativity- it's the reality of life on the Northside.
> That is not to say that the area does not face definite
> challenges, but its hardly akin to living in Baghdad (or for that
> matter
> parts of say Kansas City or Memphis for two examples I happen to be
> familiar
> with).
We're staring to see a lot of the behaviors I've seen in Memphis
here- whole neighborhoods where most of the residents are junkies and
gangbangers, jumpering power lines so they can watch their stolen
TVs. I thought Minneapolis would never get as bombed out looking as
the area around the Wonder Bread bakery on Troost in KC I visited in
the 90s, but it has.
▶
> After reading this thread this afternoon, I went for a walk and it
> is at the
> conclusion of this walk that I am writing this post. Despite
> living in a
> supposed wasteland of a neighborhood ravaged by random gunfire and
> violence,
> I took my 6 week old infant out in her stroller around the
> neighborhood.
> This was at 4:30 pm, well after the time the gangbangers are
> generally out
> of bed and the area disintegrates and becomes unlivable according
> to another
> poster just a few blocks away from me. We're just a few blocks
> from Farview
> Park, and I like to walk to the park and then walk the perimeter of
> the park
> before returning home. In no way do I feel like I am endangering
> my child
> or myself while doing this, and it is a walk I have made many times
> since
> moving to the neighborhood (by choice) in June. Walking down my
> block, I
> saw a woman out raking leaves, someone out barbecuing, and several
> yards
> full of children playing. At the end of the block, some teens were
> playing
> football in the street. At the park there were 30-40 children and
> young
> people out on the playground, and playing football and basketball.
> There
> were no gunshots fired (I have yet to hear one while at home
> either), no
> fights, no drug deals to witness, nothing 'scary' happening, just
> regular
> people out doing regular things on a nice sunny day. All those
> regular
> people happened to be African American, but I'm sure that in itself
> isn't
> what scares nice Minnesotans.
According to last weeks reports their was an aggravated assualt and
two shots fired reports within a block of that park, along with a
slew of "lesser" crimes. While out painting today I saw no shortage
of drug dealing and a fight at the corner of 25th and 4th Street,
just a block from the park.
> During the 25 minutes I was out walking, 3 squad cars drove past me.
> Whatever else you want to say about the Northside, we have an ample
> police
> presence. Whether they are properly deployed or always respond in
> a timely
> manner could possibly be up for debate (I honestly don't know) but
> they're
> out there.
Three squads in that small an area may be an indication that they're
looking for a violent criminal that is still at large- that's usually
my signal to get back inside my fence if not my house.
> I have never felt unsafe in my home or my neighborhood. I don't
> live on an
> exceptional block - smack in the middle of Hawthorne, with four empty
> foreclosures and a handful of rental properties that are not as well
> maintained around me. All my family and friends instantly warned
> me my new
> house was in the 'hood' when I told them the address, but my
> experience has
> been that for the most part normal people live here living normal
> lives -
> not a bunch of thugs or anything else presenting imminent danger.
> My ten
> year old walks to and from the bus stop at the end of the block
> every day.
> My husband and I sit out on our front porch frequently. We do have
> some
> neighbors in the duplex next door who obviously lack any kind of home
> training, and throw trash out in the yard to blow down the block,
> blast loud
> music, leave their cars stopped in the middle of the road, and
> generally act
> like bad neighbors, but you can have bad neighbors anywhere.
Our neighborhood, Hawthorne, has a higher crime rate than Detroit.
Last year's tally for this little neighborhood that was once home to
nearly 6000 (2000 census) was 320 violent crimes, including 8
murders. That total was exceeded by only 3 cities in Minnesota-
Minneapolis, St.Paul, and Duluth.
> It appears that certain segments of the city, politically and
> otherwise,
> have decided that the Northside should be the designated repository
> for the
> less desirable elements in the city. To reinforce this, the press
> given to
> the area plays up the bad and is light to non-existent on the
> positive.
> Exactly the opposite happens on the Southside. As was noted on
> this forum,
> shootings in Prospect Park garnered hardly a mention in the Strib
> or tv
> newscasts for instance. Could it be that there is a desire to
> protect the
> investments that have been made in that area and not allow it to
> 'get a bad
> name' whereas here on the Northside it is in more (powerful) people's
> (financial) interest to perpetuate the negative images of the area?
Hawthorne, and increasingly the whole Northside, on a summer day has
the look and feel of a prison yard. Given that many of our residents
are felons "vacationing" between stays in prison that's no surprise.
> By all means, the Northside needs help facing some serious issues.
> I do not
> intend to belittle that fact, but the point of this post is that the
> Northside is not an uninhabitable wasteland and in fact offers some
> attractive amenities to residents. As just some examples, I can
> get to work
> downtown in a snap - by car, bus or bike; the amount of retail is
> increasing; we have an excellent library; traffic is quite
> manageable; and
> there are lots of activities available through a variety of community
> organizations for young people at very reasonable costs. Continually
> painting the picture of the Northside with the most negative
> possible brush
> does little to solve any of the problems.
Denial doesn't make the Northside's problems go away.
> I bought a foreclosure here, and
> am very happy.
As I predicted a few posts back,my other Grandma's former home, now
foreclosed on, did not pass the city's required pre sale inspection.
Most of the fail points were minor stuff like a cracked slab in the
garage and the ever popular peeling paint, but the house can still be
sold in that condition. However,the city requires that those defects
be corrected within 90 days after sale, and that's a deal killer.
After paying closing costs, a down payment, moving expenses, and
buying new appliances most potential buyers don't have the money left
to fix a long list of minor defects. I was considering putting
together a partnership of family members to repurchase that house,
but thanks to Minneapolis' draconian laws that deal has died. That
house will sit empty like thousands of others in Minneapolis, slowly
succumbing to the elements and vandalism.
Meanwhile, I received the Administrive Law Judge's decision in my
appeal of the first $600 in fines for my home's alleged peeling
paint. Suffice to say, this judges legal skills are of such a high
order that he couldn't succussfully prosecute a parking ticket if the
defendent was a no show in court- he made no findings of fact, yet
laid down $600 in fines withheld if I meet impossible to meet
deadlines for again repainting my trim. I'm considering offering to
replace the roof and all the windows and doors on my house over the
next two years with maintainence free replacements and permanently
solving the peeling paint problem if Inspections will hold of on the
fines. But I doubt if Inspections will go for it- they'd rather pile
enough fines on my home to push it into tax forfeiture so it can rot
like thousand of others in this city- the city of Minneapolis did
little to stop the predatory lending that sent thousand sof homes
into forclosure, and they're not about to do anything to get those
homes occupied again.
Thanks to Minneapolis, facing homelessness in Hawthorne-
Dyna Sluyter
From: Connie Beckers Date: 2007-10-15 02:54 (UTC) Short link
All we're doing is try to make things better here. How can that be a bad thing?
How can anyone tell us not to at least try? Worse yet, why try to sabotage us?
We've got plenty of obstacles to deal with already.
Posting
You have reached the posting limit of 2 messages every 12 hours; you may post again at 2007-10-15 07:24.
----- Original Message -----
From: "dyna"
To: "Connie Beckers"
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 2:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Mass Home Foreclosure Auction
> Am I allowed to join, or am I considered "part of the problem"?
>
> Dyna
From Connie on Sunday:
Dyna
Denial doesn't make the Northside's problems go away.
No, Dyna, actions make the problems go away. There are many ways to get
things done but one of them isn't always shooting people down for doing
something. How is your attack on our efforts any different than a gang
banger knockin' me in the head? Why not just let us try and not be one of
the obstacles to overcome?
And just because you're not aware of all the good things that go on here in
spite of the bad, doesn't mean they aren't real.
I don't deny that there are bad things going on here ... duh. That's what
we're taking action.
Connie
From Roberta ENglunds blog on the Northside Foreclosure ptroblem, I want to point out now, the week of the auction, there are 722 homes in foreclosure on the north side. :
The intent for north Minneapolis: gone one block at a time
Submitted by Roberta Englund, buzz.mn contributor on Fri, 12/15/2006 - 4:04pm.
All Foreclosures in North Minneapolis
Neighborhoods in north Minneapolis are ground zero for vacant and boarded houses and for mortgage foreclosures that threaten the economic balance of these neighborhoods and perhaps other areas of the city. It is not an accident that the thirteen neighborhoods of the Near North and Camden communities are experiencing this evolution of social and economic disparity.
North Minneapolis is a geographic victim of a pattern rooted in the historic design of this city. Illustrated in the Hollman lawsuit in 1992, policies enacted by the City of Minneapolis, Metropolitan Council and HUD effectively limited access to housing and intentionally concentrated poor and black people in segregated neighborhoods. The Sumner-Olson project named in that lawsuit is gone, but the problems remain.
When government ignores sub-standard housing, economic disinvestment and criminal activity in specific neighborhoods long enough, those neighborhoods degenerate to a point of no return. In Minneapolis, this economy of neglect advantaged other neighborhoods, while it assigned the northside a reputation for, perception of, and reality that it shelters the poor, diverse and criminal populations.
There are an alarming number of at-risk houses in an already distressed area. On December 1, 2006 there were 144 vacant and boarded houses in north Minneapolis and 463 foreclosed properties. The vacant and boarded numbers are from the city’s own records and the 463 are culled from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Foreclosed Property Sale list and are current, based on redemption dates. On December 8, 2006 there were 506 foreclosed properties in the same areas from the same data source. Additionally, there are a significant number of vacant, rental properties that do not appear in either number, and then there are the fewer, but uncounted vacant properties where owners have just walked away, leaving the houses to catch up to the record keeping when they become problems, or fall into the foreclosure morass which we will be tracking and updating every fifteen days.
Whatever interventions are pieced together by the city, state or other agencies to fix the problem, the neighborhoods of north Minneapolis need a future that is not tied to a past imposed by municipal negligence. If one solution is to eliminate blight and build more family friendly homes, the grid of blocks should encourage affordability and replacement houses need to shelter diverse populations. These neighborhoods need to be populated with a predominance of owner-occupants, not investor rental properties drained to advantage the owner at the expense of the tenant.
Cities run on the juice of tax revenue, property tax included; however, the process to recreate these neighborhoods so that they will contribute, rather than take from city resources must not mean elimination of poor and culturally diverse residents. In a word, these neighborhoods need to be safe, in all of the ways that count, for everyone who chooses to live here.
Roberta Englund
Folwell Neighborhood
Posted in Roberta_Englund's blog | add new comment
Hi,
I will be at the meeting tonight and am looking forward to working with this group. I think a strong owner-based advocacy group may be able to make some real progress.
I'm going to lay out a concern right here at the outset--I question the negativity expressed toward landlords by people who talk about North Minneapolis, not because of the namecalling itself, but because the assumptions behind the namecalling may prevent you from getting a true picture of the way things operate(or don't operate) in North.
I hear people who would never dream of using a racial epithet, calling landlords "slumlords" and even "scumlords." Even the kinder term, "absentee landlord" is often spoken with a facial expression and tone of voice that makes it clear that in the speaker's opinion, the group is not worthy of being respected or even seriously listened to.
(I'll be the first to say that I don't think North Minneapolis landlords have done much of a job of representing themselves to the public--but that's another rant entirely.)
As I said, it's not the namecalling itself that bugs me--it's that huge assumptions about who these people are and what motivates them impede understanding of the way the system functions (or dysfunctions, as the case might be).
I really question the assumption that landlords are raking it in at the expense of downtrodden tenants. A quick look at the number of under-rented and vacant properties, not to mention properties that have been vandalized, lets you know that SOMEBODY'S losing money, and it's probably the property owner. A sad-but-true fact is that property rental is one of the few legal business activities happening in some parts of North, and if that business is suffering, I don't know how you expect the area as a whole to get better. Like it or not, you're stuck with landlords, and you might as well figure out a way to include them in the picture in a way that benefits them, you, and the neighborhood. It's not like 6000 homeowners are going to move in next week, so right now you need MORE investors, not fewer!
Some great ideas have been offered up that would make things better. I love the idea of a renters' workshop, for example, and I think there are many more ways that you can make things better by working with landlords to attract and retain good tenants.
Thanks for reading. Again, I look forward to seeing you tonight!
Sincere regards,
Heather Fraser
Owner, 727 Oliver Av. N.
Thanks Heather for your perspective. I speak for myself when I say that when I use the term slumlord, I'm merely leaving out the name of the person I know to be responsible and negligent in the case I'm speaking of. I, personally, don't generalize at all when speaking of rental property owners. There are different types of people/landlords and I personally am only disgusted with those who've neglected their properties. I feel the same way about resident homeowners, too, but there are far fewer guilty of causing the blight we've been witness to around here. I think property owners like you should lead the training workshops on how to be a conscientious rental property owners. Thanks, too, for being there to help remind us of our allies in this arena. We definitely have a lot to gain from working together to find good tenants. Win-Win ... my kind of game :-)
Peace,
Connie Beckers
Folwell Neighborhood
Rob,
I put together some thoughts after your last communication. See below:
Is a how to be a good neighbor handbook in the works? Something to distribute to existing, then going forward--new, residents.
How to respect your neighbors would be a great topic.
Having a party? Clean up after your guests, give immediate neighbors a courtesy notice, ask disruptive guests to leave.
Mow your lawn.
Rake your leaves.
Pick up trash that blows or is thrown into your yard.
Properly utilize trash receptacles. If you have more trash than can be contained in your bin, request another (give # for WWS here).
Do not stand on your front steps screaming at your children. Do not scream obscenities. Children should be s upervised, esp. when playing near areas of possible danger such as the alley or street. Improperly supervised children will be reported to child protection services.
Keep in mind that your neighbors may not share your taste in television or music and keep the volume to a level that will not be heard by your neighbors.
Clean up pet waste. Train and properly restrain pets. (List rules regarding registration/vaccination here.)
Keep a porch light on, it deters crime and makes our neighborhood appear more welcoming.
Make necessary home repairs, if unable to afford repairs, contact NHA for resources to assist in getting them done. (Include contact info here)
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Is someone assigning teams to blocks to assess rental properties for possible code violations and reporting them on a weekly basis to the inspections department? This should be done. Rental property owners in our neighborhood will not make necessary repairs unless the city forces them to. Also, it may bring other issues with the property/occupants/landlords to the city's attention. Often housing violations are given quicker response than anything else.
Has the idea been floated to try fund-raising to hire a private security firm to canvass the neighborhood and assist police in directing their patrols to trouble areas or areas of concern? If the city won't put more cops on the street why not have residents put more eyes on the street? Also lobby the city to assess fines/fees to landlords that consistently rent to ten ants that generate complaints from residents to also pay for addtl. security forces to patrol. . . targeting those landlord's properties. . .look into arrangement in University/Dinkytown area, they instituted something like this in the late 90's early 2000's for trouble party houses there.
Contact Section 8 for information on how to report concerning behavior at homes we suspect (no way to confirm) to be occupied by residents utilizing section 8, for instance the folks in the house with blue trim across from our property that has the couple that sits out front with their buddies smoking dope much of the weekend. . . clear violation of section 8 rules. That house should also be reported to inspections for issues with the structure. . . the front door looks like it is about to fall out of the house.
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