Winona has a housing crisis, but what can be done about it? Last month, a consultant recommended that the city change its zoning code, including reducing parking requirements and lot size minimums, as well as rezoning more properties to high-density residential, to help meet Winona’s housing needs. The consultant will meet again with the City Council in October with more specific recommendations for the City Council to consider.
Multiple housing studies have identified a severe lack of housing and a need for housing of all types in Winona. The city’s comprehensive plan reports that there is a rental vacancy rate of 0-2%, which is far below the 5% experts consider balanced.
Earlier this year, the city began working with Thrive Consulting Founder and CEO Breanne Kennedy through the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund to help observe what elements might be barriers within the zoning code to future implementation of housing and to conduct a land use audit. Kennedy said Winona also struggles with an aging population and lack of housing types for seniors. At the same time, household sizes are also shrinking and the need for single-person households is rapidly increasing. Kennedy said these are both issues that communities across the state and country are facing. She added that Winona needs to create 30-40 for-sale homes per year over the next 10 years and 30-40 rental homes per year over the next 10 years.
Through our Rural and Tribal Capacity Building Program, we support communities across greater Minnesota, such as Winona, with their housing needs.
Read the full story from the Winona Post.
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