A Paucity of Downtown Living Options for the Middling Class: Iowa City Daily News Links, March 18

I get the impression even the road crews were taken a little by surprise that there was this much snow today.

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On to the Links!

Lee Hermiston of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that unless you're rich, or a student, or even better, a rich student, don't bother looking downtown for housing at the moment.

Luke Voelz of the Press-Citizen writes about a new trend of students volunteering or working on special projects over Spring Break.

Voelz also writes that a move downtown for Critical Hits Gaming is paying off for the store.

Alesha Crews and David Scrivner of the Press-Citizen had some nice coverage of the Special Olympics Mid-Winter events hosted over the weekend in Iowa City.

A wind turbine park near Iowa City is on hold due to a turbulent year in the wind power industry.

Let his name be known! The Associated Press finally won its two year legal battle to name a surgeon was allowed to resign quietly after a disciplinary dispute with the school. His name is...in the article.

A fun feature in the Des Moines Register on a 95-year-old man who wants to have the last video store open in Des Moines.

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day:

Realtors, developers and city staff all say there is a demand for workforce housing in and near the downtown district, but because building student housing offers a more lucrative option for developers, the city is stepping in and offering incentives to developers to provide more workforce housing.

“We would prefer not to be involved,” said Jeff Davidson, director of planning and community development for the city. “We would prefer to have the private market provide it. But, unfortunately, the private market is not providing it.”

Davidson said the city did an assessment of “realistic workforce housing products” currently being offered in downtown and Riverfront Crossings, the neighborhood south of Burlington Street the city aims to revitalize in the coming years.

Daily Links Featured Directory Link of the Day: Museum of Natural History