Envision Community Zoning Passes!!

We are thrilled to share that the zoning change which enables the Envision project to become a reality was approved!

On November 22, 2019, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the zoning code text amendment titled “Intentional Community Cluster Developments” as part of a strategic effort to create innovative housing types and address homelessness in Minneapolis. This zoning code text amendment allows, for the first time in Minneapolis, the conditions necessary for people experiencing homelessness to live in housing designed and constructed within an attainable budget

MICAH has been working on this as a part of the Envision Community Collaborative, along with 18 other organizations from across our community including Alchemy Architects, Elim Church, First Covenant Church, Freedom From the Streets, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Hope Avenue Ministry, Integrated Community Solutions, Minneapolis Health Department, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Minnesota Design Center of the University of Minnesota, North Central University, Project for Pride in Living, Sparrow Properties, Street Voices of Change, St. James Lutheran Church, St. Stephen’s Human Services, Tasks Unlimited, and Upstream Health Innovations.

The collaborative is working together to create a 2-year live demonstration of a community housing between 15-30 people in micro homes around a central common house living cooperatively as an intentional community. With this zoning change, the collaborative seeks to locate the demonstration somewhere in Minneapolis.

It could not have been done without the help and support of so many wonderful people.

Read the press release to learn more about this great success! Spread the good news far and wide.