Hunter
05/04/23
City of Iowa City Associate Planner Kirk Lehman says that the continued downward trend of residential lot creation may find the city in a situation where they might not be able to house its projected future population.
The Daily Iowan reports that an information packet provided last month stated that Iowa City’s population is expected to grow by a little over 10,000 by 2030. If the current residential lot creation trend continues, Iowa City would only be able to house less than 6,300 new residents.
The information packet cited several issues the downward trend could cause, including a slowed population growth, increased emissions from vehicles, and rising home prices.
Lehmann told the DI some potential contributing factors are population growth being absorbed by surrounding cities, neighborhood opposition to development, a shortage of developers, increased construction costs, rising interest rates, and overall economic uncertainty.
City Manager Geoff Fruin wrote in an email to the student newspaper that the city has employed several strategies, such as roadway and utility extensions, to entice new construction.
