Impacts to Jackson Heights

krystalklein — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:03:51 -0500

Impacts to Jackson Heights Manufactured Home park would be much more severe than the EIS states. The entire park will be closed if an central route is chosen due to the loss of critical infrastructure and financial impacts to the business. That is 62 lots and 40 families, not 18.

Also, the demographic information in the EIS is outdated and incorrect. In August 2007, All Parks Alliance for Change, the state-wide tenants union for manufactured homeowners, conducted a door-to-door survey in Jackson Heights. 95% of residents described themselves as Latino. This is striking, considering that only 6% of the population in MnDOT's study area identified as Latino.

The average combined annual household income at Jackson Heights is almost half what the EIS states. It is between $20,000 and $29,999, not $40,625.

Also notable is that fact that 72% of Jackson Heights employees work in the Shakopee or Chaska.

The lot rent at Jackson Heights is $375 a month and 71% of residents own their homes outright. Is there anywhere else in Shakopee or Chaska where a family can own a home for $375 a month? Is it even possible to rent a one-bedroom apartment at that rate?

Jackson Heights represent one of the few truly affordable unsubsidized housing opportunities in the area. Current relocation laws will not replace this level of affordability. The lives of these 40 families (with an approximate total of 68 children) will be changed forever if a central route is chosen.

Thank you for reading.
Krystal Klein, All Parks Alliance for Change
krystal.apac@gmail.com

Bridge over troubled waters: Downtown river crossing option raises concerns

Mollee Francisco — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:07:21 -0500

A new Highway 41 Minnesota River crossing may still be decades away, but what if the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) chose the central option? What would happen to downtown Chaska? How would it look? How would it feel? How would it sound?

Chaska Herald - Bridge over troubled waters: Downtown river crossing option raises concerns - Comments

Impacts to Jackson Heights

Bridge over troubled waters: Downtown river crossing option raises concerns