Minnesota Town Halts All Multi-Family Construction for One Year

Renters account for 48 percent of households in Anoka, which has a total population of 17,000.

That high ratio of renters to homeowners "rivals even Minneapolis and St. Paul" according to an article by Hannah Covington, "and has spurred city leaders in the historic river town to take action."

Anoka has halted all new constructing of multi-family housing for a year.

"The Anoka City Council this week passed a moratorium on building or expanding rental housing.," reports Covington. "The move coincides with the city’s efforts to update its comprehensive plan and reflect on its future housing makeup. The temporary ban also comes at a time when the apartment vacancy rate across the metro remains tight, hovering under 3 percent."

According to Covington, most communities in the suburbs near Anoka are choosing the opposite path and allowing for new apartment developments.