21-01 - 03-16-21 Condemning the Use of Discriminatory Covenants Just Deeds CoalitionHRA RESOLUTION NO. 21 –01
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE USE OF DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS,
DISCHARGING DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS ON HRA-OWNED PROPERTY,
AND APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE JUST DEEDS COALITION
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants were tools used by real estate developers to prevent
BIPOC and non-Christian individuals from buying or occupying property in certain areas, and they were
common throughout the United States from the early 1900s to the 1960s; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of discriminatory covenants was to racially and religiously homogenize
communities by excluding BIPOC and non-Christian individuals from Golden Valley. These tools
segregated the metro area and built a hidden system of apartheid; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the University of Minnesota founded Mapping Prejudice to expose the
racist practices that shaped the landscape of the metro area. Mapping Prejudice researched restrictive
covenants in Hennepin County and created the first-ever comprehensive map of racial covenants in an
American city. The project mapped 24,131 covenants in Hennepin County, including 1,604 covenants
in Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, an example of a common covenant in Golden Valley declared that “No part of said
premises shall ever be used or occupied by or sold, conveyed, leased, rented or given to Negroes, or
Mongolians or Hebrews or any person or persons of the negro race, or Mongolian race or Hebrew race
or blood; and
WHEREAS, the discriminatory covenants in Golden Valley are concentrated along its borders
with Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, and in other desirable areas in the City, such as near downtown,
around parks and open spaces, and near the private golf course; and
WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Golden Valley (the
“HRA”) owns 17 parcels of land that contain a discriminatory covenant, including parcels located in
and around the Dahlberg Open Space near Highway 55 and Theodore Wirth Park ; and
WHEREAS, Golden Valley City leaders knew about the use of discriminatory covenants and
sanctioned their use. For example, meeting minutes show that in 1938 the Planning Commission and
City Council required the developer of the West Tyrol Hills subdivision to impose discriminatory
covenants on all lots in the development as a condition of granting the required land use approvals;
and
WHEREAS, restrictive covenants are no longer enforceable. Legal efforts to eliminate
Discriminatory Covenants include Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 (1948), in which the United States
Supreme Court prohibited courts from enforcing Discriminatory Covenants and the Minnesota
legislature in 1953 enacted statutes that prohibited new covenants, but existing covenants were still
legal in Minnesota until 1962; and
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WHEREAS, as a result of these judicial and legislative actions, today, Minnesota law and federal
law prohibit discrimination in the sale or lease of housing based on race, color, creed, religion, national
origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual o rientation, or
familial status and those state and federal prohibitions extend to the refusal to sell or to circulate, post
or cause to be printed, circulated, or posted, any limitation, specification, or discrimination as to race,
color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance,
disability, sexual orientation, or familial status; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law authorizing property owners to
individually discharge or renounce discriminatory covenants by recording a discharge form in the
county property records; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants promoted and established residential racial segregation,
which historically and currently has impacted property ownership, accumulation of wealth, property
transfers, mortgage eligibility, rental eligibility, property values, property tax base, internet access, and
more. Discriminatory covenants fortified systemic racism and compounded economic divestment in
specific communities within Hennepin County; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants benefitted White communities. For example, homes that
were racially covenanted are still predominantly owned by White people and are worth approximately
15% more today than non-covenanted properties; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants created demographic patterns that remain in place today.
Due in part to this historical practice, the population of the City of Golden Valley is less racially diverse
than the populations of all of its neigh boring communities and has a lower percentage of minority
owned businesses than many neighboring communities; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the City Council directed the Human Rights Commission to begin work on
the Just Deeds Project, which connects residents to pro bono attorneys who can help remove
discriminatory covenants from property titles in Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2020 the Golden Valley City Council adopted Resolution No. 20-54
directing the City to participate in the work of the Just De eds Coalition and, since that date the
coalition has:
expanded to include five other cities, including Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope,
Minnetonka, and Minneapolis;
launched a Just Deeds website (www.justdeeds.org) and social media platforms;
expanded its reach to include realtors, attorneys, title professionals, individuals,
community volunteers, educational institutions, and other; and
participated in numerous community and educational events about systemic racism in
housing; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Valley HRA recognizes the harm that Discriminatory Covenants—and
the racial, religious, and other discriminatory practices that they represent —cause to society in
general and to the individuals who are adversely affected by racial, religious, and other discrimination
through the presence of discriminatory covenants in the public land records.
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BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Golden Valley that:
1. The Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Golden Valley disavows and
condemns the past use of discriminatory covenants and prohibits discriminatory covenants
from being used in the future.
2. The HRA Attorney is directed to investigate and to identify any real property owned or leased
by the HRA that contains discriminatory covenants and to prepare and record an affidavit or
request an examiner’s directive discharging such discriminatory covenants pursuant to
Minnesota Statute § 507.18, subd. 5.
3. HRA staff is directed to participate in the work of the Just Deeds Coalition to educate the
community about this and other historically discriminatory practices; to identify contemporary
discriminatory systems, policies, and practices; and to take action to dismantling racist systems,
practices, and policies in the City of Golden Valley to create equity for all.
Adopted by the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota this 16th day of March, 2021.
_____________________________
Maurice Harris, Chair
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk
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