Community Concern: What’s your State of the City?

Developing more low-income housing is a need for the community, and creating more public spaces and fixing up sidewalks are some of the improvements that residents would like to see in Duluth. Residents, community members, and even our college students have their hopes for the months and weeks to come. Investing in our school systems throughout the city is a topic on one resident’s mind. "We can continue to make our schools strong as possible. That is by supporting the teachers and the parents as best as we can," Barb Parks of Duluth.

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According to the website NORTHFORCE, there are hundreds of jobs available in the Twin Ports area, Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Even with opportunities available, there are still areas that need continuous availability for current and future residents to stay and plant roots. Ali Bilden Camps is the Strategy and Development Consultant for Northforce and shared some thoughts on what can improve the gaps in the community. “To fill these jobs, we need people. Factors such as the low availability of affordable housing and childcare continue to be a barrier for individuals and families wanting to move into the area and fill the open positions that are currently available. Just as importantly, we need to continue to work to develop inclusive, diverse communities that are warm and welcoming to all.”

For some of our local college students, affordable housing is a need. "Better rent control, to keep the cost manageable for all the people that live here. I know that rent cost has been skyrocketing in the past few years, said The University of Minnesota at Duluth Senior Andrew Armitage. I think the city needs to have some input in controlling that so that it is affordable for people who may not be in the best situation or who may be going to school and only work three to four months out of the year full-time."

Along with those concerns, potholes in the roads seem to be another big issue. "The maintenance on the vehicles, you can notice with the roads. Parts of the problem is as an old town, a lot of the roads were skinner, so it would be nice if they were a little wider. The resident street is what is noticeable. Especially after the winter season, I think some potholes become more pronounced."

The community can hope that these areas of concern will be looked at and plan to make changes and improvements happen in the years and months to come.