The former Lester Park Golf Course land was transferred to the city’s economic development agency, clearing the way for a land use study.
The Duluth City Council voted in favor of a proposal to transfer a now-closed golf course site to the Duluth Economic Development Authority, which will clear the way to redeveloping the site into neighborhood-scale housing.
According to an article for MPR News by Dan Kraker, “The ordinance also permanently protects as city parkland about 1,500 acres of former county tax-forfeit land scattered throughout the city, a process that had been in the works for years.”
Duluth needs to build roughly 8,000 housing units to meet demand, according to a study. “Our community is going to grow. We have to make sure our community does leave the gate open and welcomes more people in,” said City Council Vice President Lynn Nephew.
Critics of the plan include Council member Wendy Durrwachter, whose district includes the site and who was the sole dissenter in the vote. She says the city should have conducted a land use analysis prior to transferring the land.
FULL STORY: Duluth City Council votes to transfer former golf course land for future housing
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