City promotes home purchase and ‘adoption’
Time to buy?
The city of Minneapolis is offering online tools to help prospective buyers find a home. The website ownership.asp, links individuals to development partners — from its own Community Planning and Economic Development department to community developers such as Project for Pride in Living — who have recently completed projects with the city and have homes at all income levels for sale in Minneapolis, states a release from the city.
Other links on the website lead to the city’s mortgage financing department, its “Buy Smart, Buy Near Transit” page, and www.ownahomemn.org, a pilot program of the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers that helps prospective homebuyers with incomes up to $89,500 find affordable single-family homes, condominiums and town homes.
Information is also available by calling 612-673-5282.
Adopt a vacant house
The city is asking residents and business owners to “adopt” vacant homes in Minneapolis, in an attempt to promote safety. “Adoption” involves keeping an eye on vacant properties; the city suggests the following strategies:
Call 911 if you see someone inside or around a vacant property. Do not confront them.
Check on a vacant property occasionally to ensure doors and windows are closed and that the building is not open to trespass.
Call 311 to report a property that is open to trespass, or if you observe anything that could be a health or safety issue. Call the Housing Inspections Boarded Building Unit at 612-673-5828 to check on the status of a building or start the process of boarding a property open to trespass.
Shovel snow, rake leaves and pick up litter in public spaces such as sidewalks and alleys. However, do not dig, climb on or enter a building or make improvements to vacant property without written consent from the owner.
If a property poses an ongoing problem, call your Crime Prevention Specialist at your police precinct. To find yours, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ police/outreach police/outreach or call 612-673-3447.
last revised: March 6, 2008