Mixed-Use Prevails in 2030 Land Use Projections

The 2030 projection for mixed-use in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region is 55,000 acres, which represents a huge jump from less than 5,700 acres in 2010. Similarly, the 2030 land use estimate for "transitway corridor" is reported at 22.7%, also showing a marked increase from 8.4% in 2010.

There is a "statistically significant trend of more people in the seven-county metro region moving closer to the central core of cities and to more accessible transit options in higher-density areas. The land-use data also project a fast acceleration of the shift in the next 20 years," writes Bill Clements for Finance and Commerce.

"As we come out of this recession, it will be very interesting to see how the market responds. Is that a permanent shift toward more permanent attached and smaller single-family detached housing?," asks the Met Council analyst John Kari in the article.