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Minneapolis committee stalls Tenant Opportunity to Purchase ordinance after hours of testimony
Summary
After hours of public testimony both for and against, authors asked the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee to take no action this term on a proposed Tenant Opportunity to Purchase ordinance; the committee left the measure in committee following a failed motion to return it to authorship. Advocates said it could curb displacement; real‑estate groups warned it would delay sales and constrain financing.
Vice Chair Oreen Chowdhury opened a lengthy Dec. 2 public hearing on a proposed Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) ordinance, but the co‑authors requested no vote this term and asked the council to leave the measure in committee.
"Tenant opportunity to purchase offers [renters] a meaningful chance to stay in their homes, build collective power, and in some cases, take steps towards ownership," Chowdhury said, summarizing the authors’ view and explaining why the ordinance would be held in committee rather than advanced to a full council vote this term.
The hearing drew more than a dozen speakers representing tenants, housing advocates and the real‑estate industry. Speakers for the ordinance said TOPA could preserve homes and curb displacement. "TOPA policies have a proven track record…
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