500 New Housing Units Needed in Cloquet/Scanlon

CLOQUET - With the core of their infrastructure built nearly 100 years ago Cloquet and Scanlon hired a consultant to take a deeper look into their aging housing stock. From that study the towns learned they need to build 500 new housing units by 2025 to fill rental and homeownership needs."We need to be looking at new ways to open up new subdivision land for developments, multifamily areas for development as well," Cloquet Community Development Director Holly Butcher said. The need is great across the board.Low income, market rate, single and multifamily as well as housing for millennial and seniors are in demand."Larsen Commons, our downtown senior high rise does right now have a two year waiting list, said Butcher."We're seeing a desperate need for, right now are those homes in that first move up buyer market which is roughly around that price range between $150–200,000,” Regional Realty Realtor Uriah Wilkinson said. “Right now in the city of Cloquet and Scanlon that just doesn't really exist." Development and housing experts believe the demand is a result of housing in the Northland being built in small doses instead of large projects, a steady increase in Cloquets population and an uptick in the economy."We've actually watched our economy grow a few more jobs,” said Wilkinson. “Incomes are starting to come up a little bit, as a result we do have a desperate need for housing." To tackle the housing need a Cloquet/Scanlon task force was created. With recommendations from the housing study they will implement an action plan consisting of 18 different goals. Removing blighted homes and educating community members about housing programs are just a few of the goals."We are always open to any discussions with developers and partners,” said Butcher. “If it makes sense to the city and the community as well as to them it can certainly be a win win relationship." Both communities plan on talking to politicians about their housing shortage and possibly applying for state funding to help with it. The study is on Cloquet’s city website.