Westwind proposal draws further criticism

Michelle H.
04/08/2008 8:24 PM

Marie, I think people run into a problem with loans and grants when they make between $30k and $40k. Too much for a grant, not enough for a mortgage. People in that range make too much for any kind of assistance (unless they have 6 kids- being slightly fasicious with that) but they struggle to feed themselves and their family. I'm not in favor of rehabilitating "run down homes." They likely have more problems than just a paint job and new carpet and will cost more in the long run than building a new (simple) house.

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Mike J.
04/08/2008 7:25 PM

I think steve and the mayor should be the first two people to buy homes in this development if it is such a good idea for the city of Willmar.

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Marie H.
04/08/2008 7:23 PM

Joyce alluded to the invited guests at last nights city council meeting. I was waiting for some of you to make note of it. Marie Diaz, an HRA employee who stood up for the illegal immigrants that were arrested by ICE, lives in the town of Kandiyohi. A gentleman said he came from Indiana three months ago and has no house or work. They and the other invited guests are proponents of Westwind. Don't figure.

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Marie H.
04/08/2008 7:16 PM

Steve G. There is many and big differences between Westwind Estates and my friend's home. The proposed congregate low-income housing project segregates a group of people. My friend chose the neighborhood and the dwelling. Westwind was proposed as a lease to loan and now a rental development. My friend acquired a loan through a bank; she's a home owner. The HRA grant was offered to a set number of qualified low to modest income people who owned homes in a given area of the city for a designated period of time to renovate existing homes. SWMHP has a program to rehabilitate existing homes, which is what I promote. In reiteration (hopefully, the last time), I support existing run down homes that are scattered throughtout the city of Willmar be renovated because it will offer additional options to people with low to modest incomes, encourage intergration of diverse people, aesthetically improve our neighborhoods and city, and be more cost efficient (no new road or street lighting). The homeowner, the neighbors, and the city all benefit. Heaven forbid Heitke and Gardner can look beyond the Westwind Estates.

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Steven T.
04/08/2008 7:08 PM

Sorry I was thinking of two things at once on that last post, it should have read THROW.

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Steven T.
04/08/2008 6:57 PM

Perhaps it would be good for the WCT to ask the Southwest Minnesota Housing Group to explain the operational structure. People through out figures but have little understanding of where the dollars go I believe. Marie I wonder isn't your friends loan basicly the same as what would be used in Westwinds? Sounds like you think it is a good loan for your friend.

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Marie H.
04/08/2008 5:46 PM

Shelley-With all the foreclosures, I would think it is a buyer's market. There's many avenues at your disposal, contact local realtors, bankers and/or search the internet for some assistance. Also a friend of mine owns a well-built home in the northwest part of Willmar. Her annual income was a little over $20,000. There was a HRA grant based on her low income and the area that she lived that helped her maintain her house - a three bedroom rambler with partially finished basement and a 2-car attachd garage. She qualified for $20,000. After an inspection to determine what needed to be repaired, they replaced her furnace, water heater, some windows & exterior doors and shingled her roof, including rain gutters. She pays $35.00 per month. The only stipulation is she has to live there for ten years. If she doesn't she has to pay the money back.

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Mary J.
04/08/2008 5:15 PM

Oh, and as far as the other expenses with home ownership, I've been there, done that. I know about the utilities bills, the furnace going out & having to take an emergency loan to replace it, appliances and carpet having to be replaced, etc. Home ownership is much more than just meeting a monthly house payment.

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Mary J.
04/08/2008 5:13 PM

Whether a "bad" or "undesireable" neighborhood, my point was that the houses I sold were in a GOOD neighborhood, in fact a DESIREABLE neighborhood, & did not need work, & yet sold in the $100,000 price range, both after being on the market for many months. There are such houses available on the market in nice neighborhoods in Willmar, so I fail to see the need for a construction development of twin homes to provide housing in that price range.

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Michelle H.
04/08/2008 4:23 PM

Mary, I never said "bad" neighborhood. Only undesireable. I live in a townhome next door to the RR tracks- that's undesireable (especially at 3:30 a.m. when the horns blow). For another person, being by a school could be undesireable (ever see that episode of King of Queens?). I am definitely not a fussy person, but the reality is that there is a lot more to home ownership than the mortgage payment. What about utilities and appliances? Or when the furnace goes out in the dead of winter and you have no money to fix it because you spent your emergency fund on the fuel to fill it? I'm more inclined to agree with Mike than you, Mary. Finally, for all sellers, I ask them to be honest with themselves and see if they would pay what they are asking for their home. When it gets to the truth, I would guess most wouldn't. I just sold a home of mine and I wouldn't pay what I got but boy am I thankful someone did! Got me rid of the bad renters I had!

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