SEPTEMBER 2021

Rice and Larpenteur Grant
The Saint Paul Area Association of Realtors® (SPAAR) is helping to enhance the Rice and Larpenteur Neighborhood with the creation of a community parklet. 

SPAAR has received a $4,500 grant from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and will contribute an additional $1,000 donated by the Community Engagement and Government Affairs Committees to fund a community parklet at the intersection of Rice St and Larpenteur Ave in Saint Paul.

SPAAR has partnered with the Rice and Larpenteur Alliance, a group comprised of dedicated local government leaders, passionate business owners, and engaged residents to revitalize the community.

Realtors® live, work, and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in the work to make the area a better place. This grant gives local communities a tangible, immediate opportunity to identify and address areas that are in need of enhancement and revitalization and can be used for the greater good. Placemaking can help foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities, and creates places where people feel a strong stake in their neighborhoods and are committed to improving their communities. 

For more information on the Rice and Larpenteur Alliance or NAR's Placemaking opportunities, contact SPAAR's Government Affairs Directors: Simon Opatz and Becky Wegscheid.

Housing Affordability Task Force
The Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® (SPAAR) Housing Affordability Task Force is a group of SPAAR members concerned about the rising cost of housing. The goal of the Task Force is to brainstorm and discuss ideas to address this issue, and work with local governments and other stakeholders to implement solutions.

Housing Affordability Task Force was also created to research, brainstorm and discuss ideas for how to address the complex and pressing problem of Housing Affordability in Minnesota. The Task Force has crafted a set of proposals to be considered when addressing this issue. SPAAR hopes this document renews the conversation among stakeholders about how to approach this problem. SPAAR will work with said stakeholders to implement these proposals where it makes sense to do so.
 
The Task Force believes that Housing Affordability is an issue that needs to be addressed with a multi-pronged approach, with both short- and long-term solutions. Visit our webpage at Housing Affordability Task Force for more information.
East Metro News
  • Saint Paul's City Council approved a 30-acre tax increment financing district in the city's Midway neighborhood, including the area around Allianz Field.
  • A new study touts the economic benefits of expanding the Midtown Greenway further into Saint Paul.
  • Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has announced his proposed 2022 budget with housing, infrastructure, and tax priorities.
  • Saint Paul officials have hired a New York-based urban design firm to craft the City's future river balcony.
South Metro News
  • A planned 207-unit apartment development in Woodbury has received financial backing from a Saint Louis-based firm.
  • The owner of the Burnsville mall is moving forward with a plan to subdivide and sell off portions of the mall site for future development, including new housing.
  • Cottage Grove and Grey Cloud Island residents are concerned about several major developments in the area including an unknown major business, new housing, and a four-lane road.
  • Woodbury set a 15-year record for most new homes built — in a year in which construction was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Metro News
West Metro News
  • Voters in Edina and Maple Grove will face a decision on whether to approve a city sales tax, part of a broader push by suburban governments to boost revenue.
  • As Minneapolis faces a rent control vote, experts caution that it's not a cure-all. Local caps can help short-term housing issues but they don't fix underlying market forces.
  • Minneapolis homeowners are being offered a chance to learn about the uncomfortable history surrounding racially restrictive covenants in their neighborhoods.
  • Hennepin County has launched the Hennepin Homeownership Preservation Program with the Minnesota Homeownership Center.
State & National News
  • Election Day is on November 2, 2021. Create your voting plan here.
  • The Biden and Harris Administration announces immediate steps to increase affordable housing supply including increasing the supply of rental units, manufactured housing, and single-family homes.
  • Throughout the United States, soaring home prices and rents are fueling real estate companies' appetite for houses, adding competition for many would-be homebuyers.
  • The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency is hosting a Lender & Realtor Homeownership Virtual Roundtable on Thursday, September 23
  • According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) stated that the drop in lumber prices could save $40K per new housing build but other material prices are surging.
  • Nationwide home sales beat estimates with no housing crash in site. Demographic changes and low mortgage rates add protection to the housing market.
The GADs Recommend
Fall seems to be just around the corner. With that, SPAAR's Government Affairs Directors, Simon Opatz and Becky Wegscheid, are recommending fun variations of classic autumnal drinks. Give these recipes and try and let us know which one is your favorite!

  1. Hot Cinnamon Cranberry Punch
  2. Campfire Sling Cocktail
  3. Ginger Apple Spritzer
  4. Apple Pie Punch
  5. Pumpkin Spice White Russian
  6. Apple Cider Mimosa
Member Updates
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If you have an issue in your community that needs the attention of REALTORS® or if you have interesting advocacy stories to share, please reach out to Vice President of Advocacy & Community Engagement Joe McKinley or Government Affairs Directors, Simon Opatz or Becky Wegscheid.

The work of the REALTOR® Party relies on your investment in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC).

Click here to learn about RPAC's non-partisan advocacy for homeowners and the real estate industry.
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