Neighborhood Housing Update: Tell the City the Loss of Affordable Housing in our Neighborhood is Unacceptable

1. LHENA statement & update on 2003 Aldrich Ave
2. Call to Action

LHENA statement & update on 2003 Aldrich Ave

Wedge Neighbors, we are reaching out to you today with regard to the 25 residences lost at 2003 Aldrich Avenue South.

Until October 12 of 2018, 2003 Aldrich contained 25 naturally-occurring affordable residences. But on that weekend in 2018, residents were evacuated as damage to their homes caused by construction at an adjacent job site compromised their safety.

Today, the demolition of 2003 Aldrich is underway, and the party responsible for the damage incurred elected not to allocate their liability benefit toward its repair, and instead purchased the property at its now significantly decreased value: 17% of its 2017 purchase price. Our historic fabric will soon be replaced with more market-rate residential units.

The Wedge (Lowry Hill East) neighborhood celebrates our rich history of being a community that brings together diverse voices, cultures, and means. We hear these values echoed in the words of our City leaders. But 2003 Aldrich is the quintessential example of those words falling short in action.  At every step in this long 3-year process, the City has failed to protect 2003 Aldrich and its residents - our neighbors. From the approval of inadequate shoring design at 2004 Lyndale Ave, to the lack of housing support for residents upon evacuation, to inaction against the negligent parties to make right the damage incurred and the history and affordable homes lost.

The LHENA Board has gone on record in our insistence of several action items for the City of Minneapolis with regards to 2003 Aldrich and affordable housing in the Wedge moving forward. We are sharing these action items with you with hope that you will send your own letter to City Council President Lisa Bender and Mayor Jacob Frey because individual voices MATTER. And we know the voices of our neighbors are STRONG. 

Use our letter below to tell our elected officials that this loss of affordable housing is unacceptable.  Or send a personal message to City Council President Bender (lisa.bender@minneapolismn.gov) and Mayor Frey (jacob.frey@minneapolismn.gov). Please also copy us at info@thewedge.org. 

Let’s pull together to give the City a clear message that we demand action from them to protect affordable housing in our community and throughout the City of Minneapolis.

Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

Call to Action

Use our letter below to share our community's demands with elected officials.
1. copy/paste this letter into the body of your email
2. include your name at the bottom
3. include the suggested subject
4. send to the 3 parties listed below

Subject: 2003 Aldrich Ave S
To: jacob.frey@minneapolismn.gov, lisa.bender@minneapolismn.gov
Cc: info@thewedge.org 

Mayor Frey and City Council President Bender,​​

The Wedge (the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood) proudly stands as a role-model for inclusive communities in Minneapolis and throughout the nation. For generations, we have held strong to our values of equity, fairness, and accessibility. We celebrate our rich history of being a community that brings together diverse voices, cultures, and means.

We hear these values echoed in the words of our City and State leaders. But the demise of 2003 Aldrich Avenue South is the quintessential example of those words falling short in action. At every step in this long 3-year process, the City has failed to protect 2003 and its residents. From the approval of inadequate shoring design at 2004 Lyndale, to the lack of housing support for residents upon evacuation, to inaction against the negligent parties to make right the damage incurred and the homes and history lost.

As such, I stand alongside my Wedge neighbors in demand of the following action items from the City of Minneapolis:
 

1.      We demand the city require RSRC Aldrich Inc to replace - at a minimum - the affordable housing that was lost: 25 units at 50% AMI rates.
2.      Furthermore, we call upon the City of Minneapolis to adopt policies and legislation that will protect these, and all other naturally-occurring affordable units in the City of Minneapolis in perpetuity. Toward this end, we demand the City Attorney review the conditions by which the malfeasance of Randolph Street Real Estate Capital at 2004 Lyndale enabled them to acquire 2003 Aldrich, and ensure proper changes are made to prevent this from ever happening again.
3.      We demand accountability from the City of Minneapolis for the lack of oversight during the construction of 2004 Lyndale. The taxpayers of this City rely on the effectiveness and integrity of our civic institutions (CPED, CCS, MDR, City Attorney, and City Council) in preserving our safety and our homes.
4.      We ask that City Council make public their commitment to the Wedge and the City Planning Commission withhold any building permits for 2003 Aldrich contingent upon the approval of the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood.
 

Sincerely,
(signature)