From the President

A high-performance home by Julkowski, Inc. under construction in River Falls, Wisconsin.

Strengthening Our Collective Voice

In my first column as president of our association, I want to express what an honor it is to represent such a great industry in Minnesota, to work with this talented group of board members and staff, and to have the chance to make a difference for so many current and prospective homeowners in our state. It’s surprising even to me how many different aspects of construction I’ve become involved in through my company, Julkowski, Inc. We do remodeling, mostly in the Twin Cities, and that side of the business continues to grow. We are also involved in renovating commercial spaces such as hotels throughout Greater Minnesota. And we do land development and construction for senior housing projects that we own around the state, both south and north of the Twin Cities.

For those of you who build or remodel outside of our state’s major cities, I’m sure you’ll agree that the environment for construction of any type is very different in the rural parts of the state. City officials, building officials, and regulators seem to be much more welcoming. Regrettably, in our larger cities, where the need to construct market-rate affordable homes is so pressing, the regulatory environment is depressing. No matter where you live in Minnesota, you should have the opportunity for homeownership, and research shows that some 90% of our state’s residents want to own a home. The American dream of homeownership is alive in Minnesota. The problem is that the marketplace is currently not allowed to function openly. Housing First Minnesota is working hard to change that. It’s not easy. We’re battling systems that have been in place for many decades. We’re fighting issues of control, and far too many cities want to hold onto control to the detriment of a healthy housing market. The broad answer is to let the marketplace work. Housing First Minnesota is relentless in pursuit of a better marketplace. Because it will work. We’re spearheading an effort with concerned legislators of both parties to bring real reform and reimagination to our state’s housing regulatory framework. We honestly believe that the future of our state depends on a healthy housing market. After all, what’s more vital and critical to a household than their home?

We can best do this work when we join together and speak with a powerful voice. We have the greatest success when membership is strong. Whether you are a builder, remodeler, or trade partner, the decision to be a member and be involved isn’t really just about more business. Join and get engaged to support a healthy housing market in our state. That will lift us all to greater heights in the year ahead. I couldn’t be more excited to serve this association. We do really good work. In a future column, I’ll share with you some innovations such as our First-Time Homebuyer $10K Giveaway, our upcoming House Party music festival honoring homeownership, and our reimagined Northern Design Build Experience. Thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity to provide leadership.

JAMES JULKOWSKI

2022 HOUSING FIRST MINNESOTA PRESIDENT