CyTown Announcement - Monday 9/19 (Links in OP)

[Linusvanp3lt]

No your suggestion is just absolutely horrific and would be a huge money loser. As others said it would look bad too.

It shouldn’t be exactly as planned and it has changed significantly since then. Interest rates are a constantly evolving thing. I’m not sure how that affects what you build there. It may affect when stuff gets done but not what gets done.

Occupancy rates are an issue nationwide but again I don’t think that is an issue here. Retail is a different animal and the types of places that will be here are not going to have problems. Office space is a concern but as others said there is a lot of demand with the research park. I think the office leasing demand will be there because of the school.

Lol. I had two horrible ideas. One low cost, beer garden. If go high cost I'd build hotel first, then smaller CyTown with an atrium so it would actually be used in winter.

Did a quick Google, and closest combination of the two is probably Deer Den in Milwaukee.

 

[cycloneG]

It looks like the feasibility study for this project was paid for by the ISU AD and Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau. Good news that the two are working together on this!

ISU studies plan to transform game day parking into entertainment district

Iowa State University announced plans Tuesday to redevelop the Iowa State Center into a multi-use development district.

www.kcci.com

 

[LeaningCy]

If it ends up being Toppling Goliath, they're going to crush it in that location.

Agreed. Toppling Goliath is enough of a destination that it will drive a fair amount of traffic by itself in the off season.

 

[GMackey32]

Agreed. Toppling Goliath is enough of a destination that it will drive a fair amount of traffic by itself in the off season.

I drove from Ames to Decorah on a Sunday once just to go get some Toppling Goliath. I routinely make trips to Des Moines to go try out other tap rooms. Putting a Toppling Goliath tap room there will draw people from Des Moines and the surrounding areas year round.

 

[cycloner29]

City of Ames trying to get

Speaking of Main Street, has there been any progress on that big project on Lincoln Way they tore the Mandarin and other buildings down for? Anyone?

This has got to be one of the dumbest ideas Ames has had along with having all the traffic issues on South Duff!!

The fact the Mandrin isn’t there also makes me sad. The number of times I have wanted to call them up to order fried rice soup and Mongolian Beef so many times!!

 

[GMackey32]

City of Ames trying to get

This has got to be one of the dumbest ideas Ames has had along with having all the traffic issues on South Duff!!

The fact the Mandrin isn’t there also makes me sad. The number of times I have wanted to call them up to order fried rice soup and Mongolian Beef so many times!!

Mandarin owners were retiring anyways

 

[CapnCy]

City of Ames trying to get

This has got to be one of the dumbest ideas Ames has had along with having all the traffic issues on South Duff!!

The fact the Mandrin isn’t there also makes me sad. The number of times I have wanted to call them up to order fried rice soup and Mongolian Beef so many times!!

Gosh, now you got me hungry for Mandarin.

Wouldn't it be funny if a bunch of "legendary" businesses were brought back to this space? CHC with cash only service? Hometeam Pizza, etc.

It will be so fascinating to see what businesses do go there...i saw some office space options, too. hopefully not a vape shop, lol. I could see a Burgie's coffee sneaking in there.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Lol. I had two horrible ideas. One low cost, beer garden. If go high cost I'd build hotel first, then smaller CyTown with an atrium so it would actually be used in winter.

Did a quick Google, and closest combination of the two is probably Deer Den in Milwaukee.

Thankfully, you aren't involved in any of the planning of this project. Do you think Jamie Pollard, Rick Sanders, Wendy Wintersteen and all others involved in the planning of this project are just flinging **** on a white board and winging it?

 

[cycloner29]

Mandarin owners were retiring anyways

The building was not in good shape either. The ceiling was sagging in the middle. Hence for the reason to order carry out.

 

[BCClone]

Gosh, now you got me hungry for Mandarin.

Wouldn't it be funny if a bunch of "legendary" businesses were brought back to this space? CHC with cash only service? Hometeam Pizza, etc.

It will be so fascinating to see what businesses do go there...i saw some office space options, too. hopefully not a vape shop, lol. I could see a Burgie's coffee sneaking in there.

Hard NO on that one.

 

[drmwevr08]

The conferences that aren't university specific are going to be tough to get back. Most large conferences want a big airport that attendees can then catch transit from to a downtown where there are conference facilities and transit/walkability to fun and interesting things. This is why DSM doesn't do huge business there either but still many notches above Ames. This will definitely be a lift to pull off and will challenge other parts of Ames in the meantime. The area will have to grow quite a bit to sustain everything - which could indeed happen. Nonetheless, ISU's job is not to shelve projects to save Ames so from the uni perspective it's probably well worth the effort.

 

[LeaningCy]

I drove from Ames to Decorah on a Sunday once just to go get some Toppling Goliath. I routinely make trips to Des Moines to go try out other tap rooms. Putting a Toppling Goliath tap room there will draw people from Des Moines and the surrounding areas year round.

I've met people from other states (e.g. Georgia) who flew to MSP, rented a car, and drove to Decorah just to get their hands on a Toppling Goliath lottery release. Then resold it online at a profit. Apparently it's a big deal.

 

[Linusvanp3lt]

So this is what he is suggesting?
View attachment 103329

Yep, that looks like a world class beer garden.

So as to go tit for tat should I post a picture of a vacant uninspiring strip mall?

 

[BCClone]

I've met people from other states (e.g. Georgia) who flew to MSP, rented a car, and drove to Decorah just to get their hands on a Toppling Goliath lottery release. Then resold it online at a profit. Apparently it's a big deal.

Seriously? I had pseudo sue and thought it was bad. Maybe their other stuff is better.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Crushed limestone and string lights? You serious? County fairs have better set ups than that.

This is what you do if you want to guarantee it only gets used 6 days per year.

 

[BCClone]

Yep, that looks like a world class beer garden.

So as to go tit for tat should I post a picture of a vacant uninspiring strip mall?

Well, food trucks, string lights and limestone isn't far off from that. It would be better to just leave the tent row than that.

You think it will be empty, but the rest of us can see it being successful.

 

[Al_4_State]

Agreed. Toppling Goliath is enough of a destination that it will drive a fair amount of traffic by itself in the off season.

It's going to bring people who don't care, or actively dislike ISU to Ames.

 

[Al_4_State]

I've met people from other states (e.g. Georgia) who flew to MSP, rented a car, and drove to Decorah just to get their hands on a Toppling Goliath lottery release. Then resold it online at a profit. Apparently it's a big deal.

Yup. My wife used to work there back before they built the big set up they currently have east of Decorah, and for one of the bottle releases there was a couple who flew up from Argentina for a rare bottle release.

 

[Al_4_State]

Seriously? I had pseudo sue and thought it was bad. Maybe their other stuff is better.

You probably just don't like hoppy beer if you didn't like Psuedo Sue.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Yep, that looks like a world class beer garden.

So as to go tit for tat should I post a picture of a vacant uninspiring strip mall?

Crushed gravel, food trucks and string lights =/= "world class biergarten"