Advocates push for affordable housing on Army plant land

In a legislative funding pitch in December, Arden Hills officials said the roughly 4 square miles of developable land at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) would generate some $800 million in private development -- office space, jobs, housing -- over 10 years.

But if the city proceeds without paying attention to affordable housing goals set by the Metropolitan Council, it would be "a blown opportunity," affordable housing advocates say.

The issue of affordable housing in Arden Hills is of immediate concern because some of the city's only stock stands to be lost in road reconstruction that is necessary to handle the increased traffic around the TCAAP site.

The Arden Manor mobile home park sits in a triangle between Interstate 35W and Hwys. 10 and 96. At a Jan. 28 meeting, the City Council scrapped a plan that would have displaced up to 50 homes from the park. But in looking ahead, council members warned at the meeting, it's unlikely every home is going to be preserved when the highway project is done.

Among the more than 100 people at the meeting were affordable housing advocates.

One was Russ Adams, executive director of the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing, among other issues.

"This is a massive opportunity for [Arden Hills] to improve the balance of their housing stock," Adams said. "You can't even say this comes once in a lifetime, because it's even less frequent than that."

Arden Hills City Council Member Dave McClung agreed.

Affordable housing, he said, is among a number of housing needs the city should keep in mind as it looks to develop TCAAP, including expanding the housing options for younger and older people, so-called "life cycle" housing.

"We do have to address the issue of affordable housing. At this point, I'm not willing to make any type of commitments on what level of affordable housing mix I think should be there."

In November, the Metropolitan Council issued affordable housing goals for cities looking forward to 2020. Cities have to incorporate those goals into their comprehensive plans, with grant money at stake.

According to an analysis by the Housing Preservation Project, a nonprofit affordable housing advocacy group, Arden Hills has underperformed when it comes to earlier Metropolitan Council goals, with only 13 units of a 474-unit goal achieved between 1996 and 2010.

By 2020, the city should have 288 new units, according to the council.

If the city wants a model, Adams said, it should look to Chaska or Brooklyn Park, because both cities are examples of cities with good affordable housing policies.

But Arden Hills lacks leadership on the issue, he said.

McClung agreed, saying it's because the city hasn't had significant growth opportunities in years.

"We've never been forced to deal with affordable housing, so we have no plan for it," he said.

Eric M. Hanson • 612-673-7517