HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 12-02 Maplewood ready to allow smaller homes THE REVIEW ped
Maplewood read to allow smaller homes
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By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS only member to endorse the Maplewood Planning Depart- he noted. proportional in size to the neighboring houses,he said.
Staff Writer ment's recommendation that the minimum size for a one-story People are always raising the question of property values, "We want to keep the neighborhoods looking relatively the
{ house be reduced from 1,040 to 864 square feet.On Nov.19,the but that isnot a major problem,he continued."Property values same,avoiding the appearance of a devaluation,"he noted.
On Dec.17,the Maplewood City Council could approve an four other council members approved a reduction to 950 square don't go down these day,they go up." "We would like similar housing in similar neighborhoods,"he
amendment to the zoning ordinance allowing people,in the feet,but expressed apprehensions that homes any smaller than The City's Planning Department itself is encouraging the said. _
words of Councilman Earl Nelson,to live in"crackerboxes." that would harm the quality and property values of the neigh- council to reduce the floor area requirements but is not in- Both the City Planning Commission and Housing and
In response to soaring energy and construction costs that borhoods around them. flexibly attached to its recommendation of 864 square feet.It is Redevelopment Authority endorse the move to smaller floor
have made single family homes unaffordable to many,the The problem with such small homes, according to Coun- prohibitive to build 1,040 square foot,two-bedroom houses at areas,according to Lorraine Fischer,a member of both local
council has tentatively approved a reduction in the minimum cilwoman Fran Juker,is that many of them are built on the today's costs,according to Randy Johnson,associate planner, government bodies.Besides those who cannot afford to build
floor area required of new homes in the city.On Dec.17,the same basic design.If allowed,developers would come in and . Even if the council sticks to its 950 figure,that still would allow the larger houses, there are many people—for example
subject will come up for final approval construct all identical looking houses,she said.In addition,itis a diversity of two-bedroom designs,he said. retirees and young couples with no children or planning to have
"1 think there ought to be a little(financial)relief for those harder to raise a family in a smaller home,she continued. In a survey of 11 surrounding cities,Johnson found that 10 only one child—who do not need the extra space,she said.
people who want to start smaller,"Nelson said on the subject at Many Maplewood residents have invested in large houses and have less restrictive floor area requirements than Maplewood.
an earlier city council meeting."A lot of people can do what I lots assuming their neighborhoods would retain their spacious In another survey of area construction firms,the Planning "We're facing the housing problems of the '80s with
did,start with a crackerbox and over the years work my way character,according to Councilman Norm Anderson. While Department found several firms that offered two and three- legislation that's been on the book for some time,"she noted.
up to an orange crate,"he quipped. sympathizing with the need for smaller minimum bedroom house plans that fall to meet Maplewood's current Representatives of the housing industry are pleased at
Council members all agree that financial pressures demand requirements,he has suggested that smaller homes be allowed requirement. Maplewood's plans to reduce its minimum floor sizes.
some reduction in the minimum floor requirements for new only in certain parts of the city that do not have established "The result is that some persons are being forced to over "It would be tremendous to lower the floor level.At today's
homes. patterns of large lots and hpmes. build relative to their needs,in order to build in Maplewood," prices,the first-time builder is practically becoming extinct,"
"It's just a matter of money,"Nelson said. "I don't want to go any smaller than 950 feet,"Greavu noted. Johnson said in his staff report. said Gerald McCullough,a lot specialist with the Sussel Co.of
"Lots aren't cheap.Nothing is cheap anymore,"commented He is reluctant to make any revisions in the current 1,040 Besides recommending reductions for one-story dwellings, St.Paul,which has built several hundred homes in Maplewood
Mayor John Greavu. reguirement,but f igures 950 is not too bad,he said. Johnson proposed reductions for bi-level,two-story and tri- during the last decade."Cars are getting smaller so why not
Figures from the St.Paul Board of Realtors demonstrate the "If we go any smaller in the floor area,the tendency will be to level houses.After taking tours and measurements of all sorts homes?"
increased housing costs in Maplewood.Thus far in 1981,the reduce lot sizes,and I don't want to tackle that,"he said.If the of homes this summer,he recommended a minimum of 1,008 Many homes in the 960-foot range are just as attractive as
average selling price for a home(a term encompassing single city allowed smaller lots,it would definitely affect property square feet for bi-levels(or 672 square feet on the first floor), those with 1,040 square feet of floor space,but people cannot
family homes as well as a few duplexes, townhouses and values in some neighborhoods,he added. 1,056 square feet for two-story houses(with 528 square feet on afford to Maid that extra 80 feet,McCullough said.Sussel offers
condominiums)and a lot in the section of Maplewood north of Despite these arguments from other council members, the first floor),and 975 square feet for tri-levels.While the stock housing designs that go as low as 816 square feet for two-
Larpenteur Avenue is$70,000.That compares to$66,000 in 1980, Nelson sticks by his endorsement of the 864 figure.The city council will act Dec. 17 on the proposal for the one-story bedrooms.The price range for such homes is$60,000,which can
$47,000 in 1977 and$36,000 in 1975. already requires large lots and has to impose"horrendous dwellings,it has tabled until January its consideration of these be reduced by 10 to 15 percent if the owners do some of their
In the southern leg of the city,the figures are even higher. assessments"and to impose large building sizes on top of that other housing categories. own building work under Sussel's"sweat equity"plan,Mc-
The average selling price in 1981 is$78,000,compared to$69,000 makes it virtually impossible for young couples to get started, IN SUGGESTING THESE figures,Johnson said he primarily Cullough noted.'
last year,$47,000 in 1977 and$38,000 in 1975. he said, considered the"external mass"of the buildings,not their However the council finally adjusts the city's minimum
"internal habiltability,"which is basically determined by the housing standards,there can be no doubt that the economic
WHILE TRYING TO keep housing affordable, council "IF PEOPLE WANT to live in Maplewood,they should be state building code.When viewed from the street,houses built woes hitting the housing industry nationwide are having
members disagree on just how small is too small.Nelson is the able to and not driven out because of an extra 280 to 300 feet," according to the smaller requirements,would generally appear repercussions in Maplewood.
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