A controversial one-year moratorium on single- and two-family home demolition and construction in the southwest corner of Minneapolis goes before the public this week.

A public hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Responding to complaints about construction noise and the size of the new homes, City Council Member Linea Palmisano imposed the moratorium on teardowns and rebuilds, and major remodels, in Linden Hills and four other southwest Minneapolis neighborhoods: Fulton, Armatage, Kenny and Lynnhurst.

The moratorium has riled some architects, builders, real estate agents and others, who said they were blindsided by it. They called it an overreaction that will cost hundreds of jobs and bring dozens of projects to a halt.

Nearby Edina has dealt with community tensions over teardowns. The addition of a redevelopment point person and some new policies seem to have blunted anger over noise and construction mess. Edina last year also tightened requirements for height and setbacks for new homes depending on lot size.

STAFF REPORT