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HOUSING PROBLEMS
CROOKSTON HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DISCUSSING HOUSING PROBLEMS

KROX AM

July 18, 2008 - The Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) met Friday morning at the Valley Technology Park and had a lengthy discussion on housing needs in the city. CHEDA Director Dan Johanneck said housing problems are a concern for new residents who are taking jobs in town like at RiverView or University of Minnesota Crookston, “In general in looking at the housing study it identified that we have an aging housing stock and that is not necessarily what some of these folks are looking for, there are a lot of starter homes in the community and a far number of them need work and hopefully the rehab programs and work force housing programs will address some of that but newer housing stock that young professionals want is in very short supply in Crookston.” Johanneck said their has been new jobs added at UMC creating some of the problems, “For people coming to town starting a new job or like at the University that is expansion of new jobs, they are going to start work in a couple of months and you cannot build a house that quick, builders built spec homes and model homes in other areas and this does not happen in Crookston.”

Builders will not take the risk on a model home in Crookston as it is hanging $150,000 out there and hope to find a buyer. Johanneck hopes we can find programs and developers that will take the risk and come to Crookston where we have growth and expansion at UMC.