2025 Minneapolis Housing Questionnaire — Ward 10

Neighbors for More Neighbors has partnered with Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia, Wedge LIVE!, The Housing Justice League, Housing in Action and BikeMN to sponsor a housing questionnaire for the 2025 Minneapolis Elections. You can see all responses (mayoral and city council candidates) here.

We sent this questionnaire to all candidates who filed campaign finance reports as of April 16, 2025. We received responses from Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent) and Lydia Millard.

The candidates are ordered alphabetically by last name, except for the incumbent, who is placed first. You may view the candidate responses to each question by clicking on the “+” icon to the left of the question.

Question 1: One way to create complete, walkable neighborhoods is to legalize local commercial use within those neighborhoods. The existing zoning code prohibits commercial use on approximately 89% of Minneapolis lots.

Will you vote for zoning changes to allow local, low-impact small businesses (e.g. coffee shops, restaurants, corner stores, etc.) to be built in residential neighborhoods throughout our entire city?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    No
    From an economic standpoint, residential development typically offers a higher return on investment than retail. In many cases, attracting retail tenants requires significant rent concessions, especially when public safety concerns are not adequately addressed. In Ward 10, we’ve already seen some mixed-use and ground-floor retail activity take hold, but this model may not be universally viable across the entire city without broader structural and market support.

Question 2: Some cities like South Bend, Indiana, have developed a set of pre-approved, residential project plans to help (1) lower the cost of construction by reducing design fees and (2) speed up approval times. These initiatives involve working with architects and engineers to develop a set of plans for one to six-unit homes that are permitted throughout the city.

Will you vote to create an accessible catalog of free or low-cost, pre-approved home plans for the City of Minneapolis?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    Yes
    This model already exists—the Humboldt Greenway in North Minneapolis is a strong example. It offered six distinct housing types, allowing individuals to select from a range of options aligned with the city’s planning goals. I would like to expand on this approach by introducing greater diversity in home designs, incorporating sustainable, green building practices, and integrating arts and cultural elements to enhance community identity.

    Rochester, MN offers a useful precedent as well, with an expedited approval process that eliminates the need for a “By-Right Development” designation. Their approach includes just two public meetings—one community engagement session and one Planning Commission review—reducing upfront costs and significantly shortening project timelines. Minneapolis could benefit from adopting a similar streamlined framework to support thoughtful, community-informed development.

Question 3: Given Minneapolis’s history of redlining, exclusionary zoning, freeway construction through historically Black & minority neighborhoods, slum clearance, and urban renewal, what are your goals to address historic & ongoing harms–in an equitable and restorative way–to build a better and more livable Minneapolis for all residents?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Minneapolis, like most other major cities across the country, has a disgraceful history of redlining, exclusionary zoning, and highway construction that have done incredible harm to predominantly Black neighborhoods, and neighborhoods with high populations of people of color. There are modern-day parallels to these historic harms such as gentrification and racist home loan distribution by large financial institutions. I firmly believe it is my responsibility as a Council Member to undo policies that perpetuate these kinds of harm, and craft policy meant to invest in and restore our communities. That’s why I support inclusionary zoning and a broad range of solutions and preventative measures, including:

    • Investing in the expansion of public housing, and using every method possible to prevent the privatization of current public housing stock, and incentivizing private developers to keep units affordable and increase the number of deeply affordable units.

    • Policies such as rent stabilization, public and social housing, and robust tenants’ rights legislation.

    • Disrupting real estate speculation that drives gentrification by funding the expansion of the city’s community land trusts and assisting tenants in purchasing their buildings to convert into cooperative housing.

    • Creating dignified and affordable housing in Minneapolis that is everywhere in abundance by ensuring we have a diverse housing stock that includes more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), more apartment buildings, and more 3- and 4-plexes will increase density while creating the kinds of units that are more likely to be affordable.

    • Creating access to publicly owned and financed and permanently protected social housing in neighborhoods previously impacted by forces such as redlining, exclusionary zoning, and freeway construction.

    Lydia Millard
    Minneapolis’ Fair Housing laws and homeownership support programs—such as down payment assistance and first-time homebuyer initiatives—are critical tools in expanding equitable access to housing. Ward 10 presents a significant opportunity for restorative investment, particularly in addressing historic disparities in homeownership and wealth-building. However, ongoing public safety challenges have prompted some residents to relocate to suburban communities. Addressing these safety concerns in tandem with targeted homeownership support can help stabilize neighborhoods, retain residents, and foster long-term community resilience.

Question 4: Minneapolis currently allows property owners to build triplexes on any residential lot. In practice, on an average 5,000 square foot lot in Minneapolis, each triplex unit is constrained to ~800 square feet due to other size and height limitations in the code (these are built-form restrictions & floor-to-area ratios). Most of the triplexes that currently exist were built decades ago and would not be allowed today under current rules.

Will you vote to change city built-form restrictions so that new triplexes could be built if they stayed consistent with existing forms?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    Yes
    The limited availability of green space in many areas means new development will often be built up to the sidewalk, particularly in urban infill settings. As we work to add new housing units while also expanding opportunities for homeownership, it’s important to consider a full spectrum of housing types. In many cases, condominiums present a more viable path to homeownership than triplexes, especially in higher-density contexts. To support this, the City should advocate for state-level construction defect reform—an essential step to reactivating the condo development market. Ultimately, we need a diverse range of housing options to meet the needs of current and future residents.

Question 5: The Minneapolis 2040 Plan has been highly successful in allowing more studios and 1 to 2 bedroom homes to be built in the City, primarily in buildings with 20 or more units. However, 3 or more bedroom homes in these same buildings are rare; meaning families with children are competing for a limited supply of single-family homes.

Will you vote to change zoning restrictions to encourage the development of 3-bedroom units–in multi-unit buildings–for growing Minneapolis families?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    Yes

Question 6: Across the country, many cities and states are updating their zoning codes to allow more homes near high-quality transit. For example, Washington State legalized six-plexes within a half-mile of major transit stops.

Will you vote for zoning reforms in Minneapolis to support more homes on all land within a half-mile of major transit stops, including LRT, BRT, and ABRT lines?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    Yes

Question 7: What specific anti-displacement measures will you support to ensure these zoning changes benefit existing residents and prevent displacement of low-income communities for current and future projects?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    I will be a champion of anti-displacement policies including but not limited to:

    • A Community Opportunity to Purchase policy that is geared towards the preservation of our existing affordable housing stock

    • A Tenant Opportunity to Purchase policy that gives tenants the right of first refusal to increase their opportunity of owning and staying in their neighborhoods, as well as leveraging equitable buyouts that allow tenants to stay in the communities they love when displaced by the sale of their building

    • Increasing the investment in our Affordable Housing Trust Fund

    • Explore and identify opportunities to develop equity driven Community Land trusts

    • A strong Rent Stabilization policy that prevents tenants from being subject to arbitrary increased costs that price them out of their home.

    • Continuously revising our code to adopt inclusionary zoning policies

    In all areas I will prioritize low-income and historically under invested in communities and get our community stakeholders involved to make sure we create truly equitable policy.

    Lydia Millard
    To effectively prevent displacement, we must strengthen pathways to stable, long-term housing. This includes expanding down payment assistance programs to support first-generation and first-time homebuyers, increasing the availability of housing choice vouchers, and leveraging partnerships with organizations such as CPED, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and Build Wealth MN. By coordinating these resources, we can promote equitable access to homeownership, preserve affordability, and help residents build generational wealth within their communities.

Question 8: Minneapolis residents, City Council, and the current Mayor are all concerned with rising homelessness rates, which increase the prevalence of local encampments.

Do you support the current mayoral administration’s policy of encampment clearing?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    No
    Encampments are not long-term solutions to the unsheltered homelessness crisis in our city. We have to start with a public health approach that is compassionate and seeks to address the root causes of homelessness. The Mayor’s current approach is inconsistent across the city and is a whack-a-mole approach of shuffling encampments from one area to the next. The goal of the current approach seems to be hiding the crisis and pushing our unhoused neighbors to the margins, not finding solutions. City resources should not be used to criminalize being unsheltered but to meet the need of housing insecurity in the city, and providing comprehensive public health response to encampments. We should be working in partnership with County and State leaders to identify and fund solutions. Instead, the Mayor is reporting categorically false numbers about our unsheltered population that contradict intergovernmental partners to score political points.

    Lydia Millard
    Abstain

Question 9: What will you do to protect people who see encampments as their only option, while increasing and expanding access to stable, permanent and deeply affordable housing for all people in Minneapolis?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    While people are living in encampments they deserve resources, options, and safety that allows them to get on the path to long-term housing. That’s why I’ve worked to increase public health at encampments by funding handwashing stations, portable restrooms, and trash collection at and near existing encampments. I’ve spent my time in office fighting for funding to keep shelters open, increase the amount we spend on partnerships with Hennepin County, and funding an additional warming shelter. These are just some of the ways that I’ve worked in the past to protect our neighbors living in encampments. If re-elected I want to continue this public health centered approach while also increasing access to things like case management through private and intergovernmental partnerships, and passing policies like Safe Outdoor Spaces to create another access point for shelter and resources to be able to access our affordable housing.

    Lydia Millard
    Housing is a human right. Pausing removal or legalizing encampments is not humane. It does not address the root cause of homelessness which is mental health, substance abuse and lack of job training and basic resources. Partnering with the County to help address these issues are critical to prioritize public safety.

Question 10: Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) gives current tenants the first right to purchase the property that they live in should their landlord want to sell. A policy such as TOPA advances opportunities for community ownership as well as a transfer of wealth back to renters. If you are elected, will you vote to advance TOPA?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    No
    Converting rental properties to community or resident ownership in Minneapolis is complex. The process can take over a year, and many renters don’t qualify for financing. Rising taxes and underfunded HOAs leave residents unprepared for major repairs. The Sky Without Limits co-op, supported by short-term city and LISC funding, still hasn’t secured ownership after seven years. PPL also dissolved resident-owned co-ops due to building deterioration. Before expanding efforts like TOPA, the city must address the financial and structural issues that have undermined past attempts.

Question 11: Will you support using city resources to establish locally-owned housing–sometimes referred to as social housing–that is permanently affordable, protected from private market forces, publicly owned, and under democratic governance by the tenants?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Yes

    Lydia Millard
    No
    I do not support implementing a land value tax based on the current downtown conditions. Parking ramps have significantly declined in value due to reduced economic activity, and many commercial spaces remain vacant, causing property tax revenues to collapse as owners struggle with mortgage payments. Valuing vacant lots is problematic without comparable services or active use, making assessments unreliable. Public safety and infrastructure improvements must come first to activate these spaces and increase property demand. If areas were fully utilized, vacancies wouldn’t exist, and rents—and thus property values—would naturally rise. The city’s role in providing transit, safety, and commercial hubs is essential for stimulating development.

Question 12: Today, city property taxes are set primarily on the “improvements” or value of the buildings on land. As a result, “low value” land with parking lots or vacant lots pay very little in taxes while making surrounding neighborhoods less livable. This incentivizes low-value land owners to engage in land speculation for years or even decades until they get a big payout. A Land Value Tax (LVT) doesn’t change their taxes to the city; it shifts how taxes are set to be primarily based on the value of the land to discourage land speculation.

If the state passes legislation to allow it–pending special session outcomes–will you vote to pilot a LVT to encourage development of under-used land in Minneapolis?

  • Elliott Payne (Incumbent)
    Yes
    I authored the amendment for the City’s policy agenda to include LVT as part of the City’s formal lobbying efforts at the state legislature.

Question 13: Rent stabilization continues to be considered in Minneapolis. Supporters hope to discourage unfair rent gouging and displacement. Opponents worry it could stifle the development of new homes.

How would you evaluate rent stabilization policy? What components could you vote for and which would you not be able to vote for?

Examples of policy components include, but are not limited to: a specific percentage cap on rent increases, a new construction exemption, vacancy decontrol, just cause eviction, etc.

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    The most important thing to me in evaluating a Rent Stabilization Policy is to ask two questions: does this policy prevent price gouging of renters? Does it prevent displacement of tenants from the homes and neighborhoods they love? These questions would act as my guiding framework in evaluating a rent stabilization policy.

    There are specific components I want to see, such as strong caps that don’t allow rent increases to drastically out pace the rate of inflation and value of the property, just cause eviction either built into the policy or as a complimentary stand alone policy brought forward on a similar timeline, strong vacancy control, and incentives for new builds that allow other housing goals to be met to receive new build exemptions.

    Lydia Millard
    While rent stabilization (rent control) has repeatedly proven ineffective (e.g. St. Paul). Even President Biden withdrew his rent control proposal, recognizing its limitations. Expanding housing supply is the most reliable way to stabilize rents. Historically, during periods of strong housing development, rents stabilized naturally. Rent control policies often shift without providing a viable long-term solution and risking investor confidence. Regulatory uncertainty, environmental concerns, and insurance market challenges further complicate development. To remain competitive, Minneapolis must adopt sound policies, streamline processes, and foster strong partnerships. Successful renter support comes from income assistance and programs like LAHA—a 1% metro sales tax allocating 75% to transportation and 25% to housing, including rental assistance—balancing production with rental support rather than imposing rent control.

Question 14: Evictions in Minneapolis have skyrocketed since the eviction moratorium was lifted and far too many renters are one paycheck away from losing their home.

What ideas do you have to reduce evictions in our communities?

  • Aisha Chughtai (Incumbent)
    Preventing and reducing evictions takes using every policy tool we have available to us and meaningfully funding and deploying them all. That includes; preserving and expanding affordable housing, increasing mandatory tenant protections and their enforcement, and incentivizing landlords through diversion, mediation, and intervention. To preserve and expand affordable housing I support measures such as Community Opportunity to Purchase, a strong Rent Stabilization policy, increasing the amount of affordable and deeply affordable housing that includes units built for families, not just studios and single bedrooms. To expand and better enforce tenant protections we have already passed legislation such as the extension of pre-eviction notice from 14 days to 30 days, giving tenants more time to access the resources they need to prevent displacement. Now, we have to ensure that there is enforcement. This should include increasing penalties for illegal lockout measures that effectively evict tenants, ensuring there are licensing penalties for failing to give the full 30 day notice, and increasing funding to investigate complaints against landlords about trying to force or influence tenants to vacate without just cause. Lastly, if re-elected I would like to explore following the example of other municipalities such as Tulsa, who have passed incentives for Landlords who are doing their part to reduce evictions by expanding the number of affordable units, participating in mediation programs to divert evictions, and participating in early settlements.

    Lydia Millard
    Eviction is a symptom of deeper issues. Addressing root causes requires expanding social workers and support services focused on eviction prevention. Minneapolis’s 30-day eviction notice allows landlords time to work with tenants. The process typically spans three months from missed rent to potential sheriff intervention, often causing significant financial strain for landlords.

    During and after COVID-19, government rent assistance helped mitigate evictions, but ongoing challenges—such as substance abuse, mental health crises, job instability, and social isolation—limit renters’ ability to pay, increasing homelessness risk. Strengthening supportive services is critical, yet current capacity is insufficient to fully address these underlying issues.