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Last revised July 24, 2014
<br />Livability
<br />Livability focuses on the quality of the lives and experiences
<br />of our region's residents and how places and infrastructure Key takeaway:
<br />create and enhance the quality of life that makes our region
<br />a great place to live. With abundant and beautiful open Our region's ongoing prosperity
<br />space, an active arts community, a range of housing options, depends on ensuring the continued
<br />and a reasonable cost of living, the Twin Cities region is livability of our region for our
<br />widely recognized for its high quality of life. The Council's changing demographics.
<br />focus on livability is on creating and renewing vibrant places
<br />and underlying infrastructure, expanding housing choices,
<br />and collaborating with partners to achieve the full range of possibilities that help our region thrive.
<br />Livability adds value to our region by helping to retain and attract a talented workforce, increasing living
<br />choices, building community identity, highlighting the unique qualities of local places, and supporting
<br />individual decisions that reinforce those qualities. The Council is committed to increasing livability for
<br />people of all ages, races, ethnicities, incomes, national origins, and abilities in the region through its
<br />authorities, its investments in infrastructure, and its collaboration with others to sustain and increase a
<br />high quality of life.
<br />Provide housing choices for a range of demographic characteristics
<br />Communities throughout the region recognize the significance of housing quality, choice, and
<br />affordability. The region is expecting 391,000 new households by 2040. In addition to population
<br />growth, other factors influence housing need. These include the changing composition of families,
<br />disparities in household income and wealth generation, and an aging population that on average will be
<br />living longer, spending more on health care, and that may not be able to afford their current housing
<br />due to limited incomes. Recently there has been increased demand for multifamily housing not only for
<br />seniors but overall. This is particularly true in the central cities, fueled by demographic changes and
<br />market interest in areas well -served by transit and amenities.
<br />Over time, our region has grown into a variety of communities and neighborhoods with a wide range of
<br />housing. Single-family homes comprise 58% of our region's current housing stock. Demand for this
<br />housing stock is projected to continue, but the segments of our population that are growing will consist
<br />of households that may increasingly prefer neighborhoods that differ from historical patterns. Recent
<br />trends support this shift. Since 2000, only 43% of our region's building permits have been for single-
<br />family detached homes; in both 2012 and 2013, the region issued more building permits for multifamily
<br />units than for all housing units in 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011. Much of this recent multifamily construction
<br />has been within the city of Minneapolis, reinforcing the disproportionate concentration of multifamily
<br />housing in our region's largest two cities; together, Minneapolis and Saint Paul have more than four in
<br />10 of the region's multifamily units. The livability challenge around these shifts is to create communities
<br />that offer satisfying experiences and meet the daily needs for living, shopping, working, and recreation
<br />for each group, not simply housing developments that offer a place to own or rent.
<br />Growing cohorts of residents, including international immigrants and young professionals living alone,
<br />may need housing and transportation choices beyond what our region now offers. New Americans
<br />move to our region from across the globe, bringing with them unique cultural histories that enhance the
<br />richness and vibrancy of our region. Some of these new Americans also bring preferences for more
<br />multi -generational living than our current housing stock supports. As these residents come to the
<br />region, will they find places that facilitate their settlement, provide affordability, community and
<br />employment, and offer opportunities to prosper? Going forward, each jurisdiction should examine
<br />2040 HOUSING POLICY PLAN I METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
<br />DRAFT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Part II: Outcomes (Sustainability) I Page 34
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