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24 Hours Of Prayer For Affordable Housing

By Edgar Linares, NewsRadio 830 WCCO

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Religious leaders in St. Paul are concerned construction on the Central Corridor Light Rail will make living near the line unaffordable for low income families.

Religious leaders along with others will gather at noon outside of St. Paul City Hall to begin a 24-hour interfaith prayer vigil.

"The current rezoning of the Central Corridor doesn't include anything about affordable housing," said Pastor Jonathan Zielske of the Hope Lutheran Church. He's one of the organizers of the event.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Edgar Linares Reports

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The vigil will begin one day before the St. Paul City Council meets to consider revised zoning codes. Zielske wants city leaders to include incentives for developers who create affordable housing.

"While city officials say there will be affordable housing built along with new housing, if there isn't an incentive for developers than there really is no guarantee," said Zielske.

Zielske said he's not against the light rail project. He says the vigil is about preserving affordable housing. 

On Wednesday evening, the St. Paul City Council will hold a public hearing and begin taking testimony from residents about rezoning.

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