Development in Minnesota (St. Paul, Duluth, Bloomington: sales, condos, sales tax)

[Li'lBeaver]

One way to curtail the urban sprawl is to enact legislation like they did in Oregon. They invite people to come and visit, but if they want to stay or open a business they have to use or rehab existing structures or lots. NO MORE SPRAWL! Of course this will serve to drive up the price of existing homes and commercial properties. Just think someone could by my lakehome today and make a killing in just a few years???

[aluminumpork]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

I'm curious what will happen to Duluth!

I'm guessing Duluth will reach 90-100,000 by 2030 or so, and by that time Hermantown will have 25,000 and Esko will be an incorporated city with a similar population. True suburban development (subdivisions, office parks) will pick up in Midway Township, the area between Proctor and Esko (currently semi-rural with 5-50 acre lots dominating).

I agree. I would love for the population to even hit the 100,000 mark. Years ago it was assumed Duluth would go well over 150,000 before all the industry failed. But things are definitely changing, all of the new developments are getting me excited. The overall population of the area is going to skyrocket though, and he's hoping Duluth gets it's priorities straight as far as business goes. If that happens, who knows what could happen.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Duluth actually HAD 150,000. It was expected to reach 300,000. Bummer. Duluth will benefit greatly from the rail line Oberstar is trying to get funding for (anyone have any info. on this?). It is a great place with great amenities. Duluth is too important to maintain its deflated population.

[Li'lBeaver]

MinneSOTa will become another California with their "off the wall" ideas and programs except that instead of sunshine and ocean beaches MinneSOTa will have snow and cesspools for lakes and rivers. I think we need to adopt a program more in line with Oregon where all are welcome to visit but if you want to move in and stay you have to buy or rehab an existing building or property.

[my54ford]

(

How do you justify building sewer lines to cheap houses on acre lots in Elko or, God forbid, Dundas

Go there, they are doing it. Take a look at New Prague, Lonsdale, Green Isle and Montgomery.....building like there's no tomarrow! At least 2 new schools in N.P. and 1 is only a mile or so from Lakeville district line, I think Montgomery/Lonsdale put 1 up. and Green Isle has at least a new Elem building. Then go North to Princeton, Cambridg and North Branch. Those 3rd ring towns are booming. Somebodies moving there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kg1701d]

St Cloud and the Twin Cities will become further and further intertwined as the Northstar Rail becomes a reality. The towns inbetween will largely be bedroom communities but I think that many of them will have the room and will take steps to preserve some of the natural beauty as communities in Wright County have really embraced. Duluth is going to stay about the same unless there are serious changes and it will be awhile before there is a rail going up there from the cities, even though everyone would love it. I think Rochester will largely maintain its separation from the Cities but I wonder how long its growth can be maintained. I think Mankato is going to start growing more rapidly as it does seemingly get closer to Minneapolis like St Cloud started to do the last 20 years.
Eventually, some of the outer suburbans will take on a more business center as opposed to bedroom community in order to compensate for sprawl and increasing transportation costs. There will be several business districts instead of the two in Mpls and Stp.

[GraniteStater]

We are already hitting peak oil now. The days of cheap gas prices and huge levels of suburban sprawl has to start slowing down. The low density suburban sprawl is a problem. A better solution is to have higher density housing with more preserved open space that can be used by all citizens. The large lot just consumes a lot of land and is just not sustainable in a large metro area like Minneapolis.

[newcastle]

Every county along the rail corridor from Minneapolis to Duluth has paid a $40,000 fee to study the passenger load feasability study. The consulting firm that studied the rail possibility in 2000, and found that it would not be profitable, has changed its mind and now belives that it could be running by 2010, and make a profit in less than a year and a half. The firm estimates that 900,000 passangers a year would use the train as it would run at speeds in excess of 110 MPH. Senator Oberstar estimates the cost at $150,000 million, well below the cost of the Northstar Line, because the tracks are still in place from the 1980's. With Oberstar at the helm of the National Transportation committee, I think this region stands a REALLY good chance of getting the money for the train.

[MinnesotaBorn]

All I know is I get SO lost when driving any where around the cities!! seems like a lack of signs and too many roads!! for me!!!

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan;1297329 [B

The state won't have the money for roads, gas will get to be too much to drive SO far, city services will become too expensive as the far exurbs don't have the required density[/b]. .

You told me in another post regarding Indian Casinos and their lack of tax contributions that "the state receives sufficient taxes with the current system".

We could build mutiple rail systems for you and hesaysso if we had casinos that were taxed.