Minnesota Town Halts All Multi-Family Construction for One Year

Anoka, Minnesota decided it has enough rental housing.

1 minute read

October 24, 2017, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Minnesota

SaceyK Photography / Shutterstock

Renters account for 48 percent of households in Anoka, which has a total population of 17,000.

That high ratio of renters to homeowners "rivals even Minneapolis and St. Paul" according to an article by Hannah Covington, "and has spurred city leaders in the historic river town to take action."

Anoka has halted all new constructing of multi-family housing for a year.

"The Anoka City Council this week passed a moratorium on building or expanding rental housing.," reports Covington. "The move coincides with the city’s efforts to update its comprehensive plan and reflect on its future housing makeup. The temporary ban also comes at a time when the apartment vacancy rate across the metro remains tight, hovering under 3 percent."

According to Covington, most communities in the suburbs near Anoka are choosing the opposite path and allowing for new apartment developments.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 in Star Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Streetcar and bus stopped at station on Market Street in San Francisco with Ferry Building visible in background.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street

If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

April 16 - San Francisco Examiner

Parklet with wooden benches and flower boxes on street in Ireland.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces

Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

April 16 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Bronze statue of homeless man (Jesus) with head down and arm outstretched in front of St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington D.C.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.

April 16 - The New York Times