HUD Secretary Carson Supports Minneapolis-Style Upzoning

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, in Minneapolis last week, expressed support for the planning reforms included in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

1 minute read

June 25, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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"U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said during his first visit to Minnesota on Tuesday that he would like to see more local governments follow Minneapolis’ example of addressing homelessness by eliminating single-family zoning," reports Marissa Evans.

Carson's public comments while in Minneapolis criticize the effects of single-family zoning and other planning regulations that empower NIMBY opposition to new development (arguments made by the secretary before).

“The correlation seems very strong: The more zoning restrictions and regulations, the higher the prices and the more homeless people,” Carson said. “So, armed with that knowledge, we have to work with these various places. And I don’t think there’s anybody that wants to see homelessness and squalor. We just have to start utilizing the facts and utilizing the evidence to create the policies.”

The article also includes comprehensive coverage of Secretary Carson's visit to the city.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in Star Tribune

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