Claremont ‘empty lot’ program seeing success

For several years now, the city of Claremont has been offering an “empty lot program.” The city acquired nine lots from a development that did not materialize and has been trying to encourage people to take the lots and build affordable homes on them.
All people should have a safe, secure place to call home, Claremont officials said. More than 550,000 Minnesotans spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and that number continues to rise. Claremont is hoping to help nine local families move into affordable housing.
Now, through a partnership between the city of Claremont and Arden Home Services and Three Rivers Community Action, the nine lots are available to provide affordable solutions for working families. Three homes have been, or are now being constructed, on three of those lots with families that have either completed the process of securing financing to purchase the homes without buying the lots or are in the process of applying.
Matt Durand of Owatonna, owner of Arden Home Services, is constructing the homes. Durand said he grew up in Medford and has been involved in construction all of his life. He has taught construction management in Mankato, taught for three years at Dunwoody and is now at RCTC.