Campustown Update

**SCNCY** · 09-29-2010, 10:27 AM

For anyone who is interested, here is an update on Campustown revitalization.

Ames Tribune > Ames Tribune > News

**CyDude16** · 09-29-2010, 10:32 AM

I'll believe it when I see it... but unfortanetly they wont get this done in the three years I have left..

Supposively the rumor is around campustown that the houses around the campustown are going to get bought out for more bigger apartment complexes. Not sure on the validity of that though.

**gharris** · 09-29-2010, 10:34 AM

I have no confidence in anything being done for quite a while though. They've talked about this stuff forever it seems like

**Farnsworth** · 09-29-2010, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by gharris

I have no confidence in anything being done for quite a while though. They've talked about this stuff forever it seems like

no way bro, look how fast they built that mall out on 35. oh wait......

**PGreen ISU '92** · 09-29-2010, 10:54 AM

There is perhaps nothing more important to the long term health of the University than this project. My hope is that leadership within the University and the City of Ames make it their priority item and continue to move the project forward. Go Cyclones!!!

**gharris** · 09-29-2010, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Farnsworth

no way bro, look how fast they built that mall out on 35. oh wait......

oops, forgot how quickly and efficiently that plan went down

**SCNCY** · 09-29-2010, 11:13 AM

I think this project will live or die based on how much money is needed to buy out some of these buildings and such. The last set of plans we saw, 2-3 years ago cost 60 million or so each. I think this group will go further than the last one just because the city council is more pro growth than the last one.

**WalkingCY** · 09-29-2010, 11:13 AM

Is that random shoe repair store still in campus town? Has anyone really seen an actual human in that place? Make it a bar already.... plus...Copyworks should just become the new People's Bar.

**Ms3r4ISU** · 09-29-2010, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by WalkingCY

Is that random shoe repair store still in campus town? Has anyone really seen an actual human in that place? Make it a bar already.... plus...Copyworks should just become the new People's Bar.

No, unfortunately he closed up shop a few years ago.

**SCNCY** · 09-29-2010, 03:54 PM

I think the best way to make this project a reality is not to have a Phase 1 and Phase 2; but rather have a lot of small steps.

For example, part of the proposal is to have a small grocery store, the city should look in to buying or finding a buyer for the varsity theater and turn that in to a small grocery store. This is a small step in the process. Maybe then another building is then offered for sale in which the city can turn that in to a boutique. Small steps, which will then mean less money offered up front

Now, in the Phase 1, and Phase 2 ideology is that the city coughs up a lot of money, buys a block and develops it then. This is not the way to go because of the money involved. If some of you remember, 2-3 years ago, there were 3 plans to develop the Northwest block of campus town (US Bank, Dominos,). That costed 60 million plus if I remember. This project needs small steps to improve campustown slowly.

**Frak** · 09-29-2010, 04:02 PM

To me, it depends on who is funding. If the development company is buying land and leasing new space, it has a great chance of happening. If it's the city and ISU, then it probably won't get done...unless they do a couple buildings at a time. I STILL think that they should close off that first block or at the very least make it a one lane access road. They need to get rid of all the parking and offer sidewalk services for the bars and restaurants.

The intermodal facility on Hayward can't hurt things.

**agardini** · 09-29-2010, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by SCNCY

I think the best way to make this project a reality is not to have a Phase 1 and Phase 2; but rather have a lot of small steps.

For example, part of the proposal is to have a small grocery store, the city should look in to buying or finding a buyer for the varsity theater and turn that in to a small grocery store. This is a small step in the process. Maybe then another building is then offered for sale in which the city can turn that in to a boutique. Small steps, which will then mean less money offered up front

Now, in the Phase 1, and Phase 2 ideology is that the city coughs up a lot of money, buys a block and develops it then. This is not the way to go because of the money involved. If some of you remember, 2-3 years ago, there were 3 plans to develop the Northwest block of campus town (US Bank, Dominos,). That costed 60 million plus if I remember. This project needs small steps to improve campustown slowly.

Well there was a buyer or should I say a person to rent out the Varsity theatre to reopen it as a new theatre that has second run movies at a vastly discounted rate. Those plans were supposed to be done by the time school started this year, but the new redevelopment plan put that on hold.

**RayShimley** · 09-29-2010, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by agardini

Well there was a buyer or should I say a person to rent out the Varsity theatre to reopen it as a new theatre that has second run movies at a vastly discounted rate. Those plans were supposed to be done by the time school started this year, but the new redevelopment plan put that on hold.

Last I heard the GSB was looking at buying and running the Varsity Theatre for this purpose, but they met with some serious student backlash (i.e., they wanted to spend funds that are allocated for student orgs).

**Clone9** · 09-29-2010, 04:52 PM

Honestly, this is the one area where Ames and Iowa State are slightly lacking, and I hope the project goes through quickly. The campus itself is amazing...we can all agree on that, but the campus town area is not quite as nice/lively as some other college towns. If Ames can improve on this, and succeed in getting more people to live and visit down there, it will be a huge boon to ISU. IMO, this should be a priority.