Many times it isn't the house that's an issue, but rather stuff like parking. We had a couple houses with students in our neighborhood. Most were great, but one decided to use their garage as a den/storage so they had five cars parked out front. Also threw parties where their guests would leave beer cans in peoples yards as they walked by. Needless to say that the housing department had more than one inspection there.
Ames Population
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Many times it isn't the house that's an issue, but rather stuff like parking. We had a couple houses with students in our neighborhood. Most were great, but one decided to use their garage as a den/storage so they had five cars parked out front. Also threw parties where their guests would leave beer cans in peoples yards as they walked by. Needless to say that the housing department had more than one inspection there.
These pretty much sum things up, who isn't going to be ****** with students destroying property, being loud at all times of the night, etc. Now this isn't the whole student population, but some definitely do these things. Ames is a nice community and has many more amenities than other towns of comparable population, I honestly would like to live in place like Ames.
Yeah, a lot of that just comes down to 'dont be an *** to your neighbors'. I just think a less restrictive ordinance mightve gone a long way, and it being as restrictive as it was gave a lot of fuel to the 'the city hates its students' fire. I dont think 4 people in a house is unreasonable, when there are probably many families with that many. They couldve set the limit at 4-5 and still accomplished the overall goal.
Yep, this is correct, the city is actually 59,000 now, Ames has really been growing (regardless if some of the students were included, I'm sure the fraction of students that actually filled out the census and claimed Ames was relatively small)
Yep, i figure Ames has about 75k when the students are in session, about 50-55k during the summer\breaks
But the city doesn't enforce it unless there is a complaint. Basically it is a way for the city to remove or fine houses that are being bad neighbors. If you're being good neighbors no one is going to report it.
I believe the Ames City Code states no more than three unrelated persons shall obtain residence in a single family dwelling. This is common in college towns and large cities and is because it goes against the City's definition of a "family." It also quells the risk for large parties, noise and garbage distribution.
In some cities, it's even known as the "Brothel Law."
I'm plenty chill, but thanks for your concern. I was responding to the posts saying the city takes advantage of the students when it is in their (the city's) own best interests. Obviously the city doesn't come up with the census number. To say Ames wouldn't exist without ISU is true to an extent, but it is the same with any other similar city centered around a university. And if ISU wasn't in Ames, it would be in another city, and the discussion would be the same.
FYI, the city council has a student ex-oficio member that serves as a liason between the student body and the city. And the city has gone out of its' way in recent years to include student input on major happenings.
That doesn't sound to me like a city that hates students.
Ames has some great dining options. I agree the shopping isn't great, but there is some GREAT unique food in Ames and it's all affordable.
Totally agree there are some great local restaurants in Ames, sure there aren't a ton of chain-restaurants but for me there are enough. With continued growth Ames will probably be in line for more chain restaurants and big-box retailers in the future (just look at the past year BWW, Noodles, and soon Texas Roadhouse have come to Ames).
I can't imagine this happens in Morgantown, WV (pop. 29660) with WVU (enrollment 29306) which would only leave 354 people in the town that don't go to school there.
FYI the three unrelated people provision is pretty standard zoning and a lot of places have it. 4 college kids in a house generally looks a lot different than parents with a couple of kids. Its definitely not an Ames, or even a college town thing.
Wow, you must've never left the state of Iowa if you would consider any drive in Ames to be long or traffic to be bad.
LOL - agree. Was about to post the same thing. The first time I drove back to Iowa after living in Houston for about 5 years I was wondering why everyone was being so nice on the roads...... then it hit me that I had just got used to H-Town traffic and I can now say that Ames has none of that. Hell even the time it takes to clear out Jack Trice after a game isn't even that bad compared to a wreck on the beltway down here.
From the city of Ames website:
"Based on the 2010 census, the population for Ames, Iowa, is 58,965. This number includes students attending Iowa State University who reside in Ames during the school year or longer."
City of Ames : Quick Facts About Ames
