This is in response to the Feb. 15 letter, "Restore existing housing rather than building new," which commented on the recent Duluth Housing Summit. I strongly agreed there is tremendous opportunity to invest in existing housing and in the fabric of Duluth's neighborhoods. As a member of the Housing Summit Planning Committee, I would stress this was a key priority at the summit.
For example, the Duluth HRA unveiled Build Up Duluth, two new programs designed to provide financial support for the purchase and rehabilitation of small rental units and to encourage infill construction to reuse vacant land in the hillside neighborhoods. One of four working sessions targeted housing rehab and infill development in Duluth's neighborhoods, and nearly every speaker shared information on tools to preserve and upgrade existing housing.
While we at the Duluth Local Initiatives Support Corp. are strongly committed to revitalizing Duluth's existing housing and core neighborhoods, we recognize that, with a less than 2 percent vacancy rate, new construction must be part of the solution. To meet Duluth's housing shortfall we need a broad range of housing options to attract and retain residents and businesses. The good news is that if we work together, we can do both.
Resources are available for those interested in purchasing or rehabilitating a home and/or a multi-family unit. Information is available through the Housing Resource Connection (housingresourceconnection.
org), coordinated by One Roof Community Housing. For details about the Duluth HRA's new Build Up Duluth programs, contact David Peterson at dpeterson@duluthhousing.com .
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Finally, as part of Duluth LISC's mission of ensuring that people and places prosper, we will work with community partners, employers, lenders, developers and builders to secure resources and policy changes needed to address Duluth's housing needs and create a stronger community.
Please join us; we need everyone engaged to meet the full range of Duluth's housing needs.
Pam Kramer
Duluth
The writer is executive director of Duluth LISC, or the Duluth Local Initiatives Support Corp.
