Affordability has long been a relative term, but housing affordability is a complex issue. One the one side, rising rental rates are good for business, and the real estate and development communities in the Twin Cities, particularly in Minneapolis, point to higher rents as reason enough to keep building downtown high rises and renovating older buildings into chic new apartments.
The other side of the coin, of course, is the fact that higher rents force some potential renter further from the downtown core, and many people just entering the job market find that they cannot afford to rent anywhere near their places of employment. It's a sad fact, notably in major urban centers like San Francisco, Boston and Austin, Texas. It's also becoming so in
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From high-tech and homey amenities for today's business traveler to "staycation" packages that encourage getting away in style, there's a new breeze blowing through the hospitality industry. New hotels in the Twin Cities are right in step with the times. Major chains as well as "one off" boutique establishments recognize the value of providing singular experiences for today's discerning travelers.
Following two years of trying, work on the University of Minnesota's new Health Sciences Education Center is scheduled to begin with the demolition of two existing buildings within a couple of months, but it will take another two years or so before the new facility will finally be completed. Groundbreaking was Tuesday, February 13, for the $108.6 million dollar project that had the governor's blessing but spent two years in front of the state legislature before funds were allocated. It will become the "front door" to the university's academic health center, and will help to attract top students, according to university officials.