Minneapolis housing policy has drawn national attention, even as it sits in limbo. A recent study by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that zoning changes over the last 15 years helped the city keep up with demand for housing and keep rent down, at least compared to other cities. Those zoning changes include what’s known as the 2040 plan, which made the city the first in the nation to end single family zoning – that is, until a judge put the plan on hold last fall. The next step in the court battle over the 2040 plan will happen February 21. The Minnesota Court of Appeals is hearing oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by a set of environmental groups. Multiple courts have found that the city should have first conducted an environmental study to explore the potential harm of increased density to natural resources and wildlife.

Journalist Jerusalem Demsas writes about this in a recent article in The Atlantic. Alex Horowitz is a project director with Pew’s housing policy initiative who worked on the study on zoning changes. Both joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.