Just drove by campus town

[Frak]

That won't happen unless they move the fire station

I think that if the city was serious about improving Campustown, they WOULD move the fire station. But even if they didn't, why couldn't you make that block of Welch a one way access road? If the fire trucks need it to go north, they can, but no vehicles can turn south from LW and it wouldn't be a through street either way. That would allow the city to widen the sidewalks and allow some outside seating. But man, if they did move that fire station, what kind of prime property would that be? If they don't want to move it, why couldn't the city renovate the fire station and put the doors facing South? The fire engines would be rerouted and go around the block. Response time would be altered maybe 5 seconds if that.

 

[Section110]

How anyone can think this is a bad thing for Campustown is beyond me.

Yes I'm not quite sure how people could think this is a bad thing. Anyone who believes a developer is going to come into a space like this and not provide plenty of retail space clearly doesn't know what they are talking about. Especially if they think they are not putting in retail space in order to make room for their own office. Guess what? Their own office doesn't bring in money. Retail space does. Now they might be building their own office in the area, but any good developer would not do so at the expense of prime retail space. Meaning they aren't going to put their office right on the street at a busy intersection. They make their money by renting space out. Of course they are going to provide plenty of retail. If they build a new office nearby it's probably for the sake of convenience. They will own all the property in the area so they might as well be located nearby.

I'm convinced the people who are complaining are the types who just don't like change. Once they see the final product they'll wonder what the heck they were upset about.

 

[Frak]

For those interested here are some renderings of the projects currently underway. Overall, the projects will add more retail than is currently there and increase the density in campustown as well as improve the asthetics.

Site of old campus book store

Site of First National bank building

Kingland Systems

Site next to Outlaws on Chamberlain

There's a pretty good boom going on in campustown right now. There's the new dorm tower getting built on Lincoln Way too and a project coming soon by Kum and Go, along with other possible projects.

I was a little disappointed that they weren't going into it with an overall plan that included the city and university, but this is a good second option. Seems to me that most of the building is centered toward housing. When the Towers closed down, Campustown lost a lot of foot traffic and this is a good step back in the right direction. More population in the area equals more investment in retail. Also, the city was smart to require commercial on the ground floor.

As for Kingland, I have no idea why they didn't save some money and relocate to the Research Park, which is supposed to be tripling in size in the next few years. I wonder how much they would really enjoy having a bar doing FAC while their employees are still working. Same goes for these apartment complexes. IMO they're going to be selective in what kind of businesses they lease to. That kind of limits the kind of retail they would let in there to operate during normal business hours.

I do think that it's great that there's a lot of development going on Welch. I just hope that the city is smart about it. With the record enrollment, the money is there to bring in all kinds of business and amenities. Does anyone know the timeline for Kum and Go's move across the street and what will happen with the current K&G spot?

 

[JP4CY]

Foot traffic is nice but with more restaurants and housing where are all the cars going to go?

 

[IcSyU]

Foot traffic is nice but with more restaurants and housing where are all the cars going to go?

That parking garage on Chamberlain and walk a block?

 

[CyArob]

That parking garage on Chamberlain and walk a block?

I can't be expected to walk an entire block...

 

[RedlineSi]

Manhattan's bar district is cleaner, but that's about the main difference.

Campustown looks like ****, but the bars are as good of a time as any other college town I've been to. Renovations are needed immediately, but this idea that it's just miles behind other places in terms of a good time confuses me.

Are you kidding me? ISU bars are some of the worst I've ever seen.

 

[CapnCy]

Yes I'm not quite sure how people could think this is a bad thing. Anyone who believes a developer is going to come into a space like this and not provide plenty of retail space clearly doesn't know what they are talking about. Especially if they think they are not putting in retail space in order to make room for their own office. Guess what? Their own office doesn't bring in money. Retail space does. Now they might be building their own office in the area, but any good developer would not do so at the expense of prime retail space. Meaning they aren't going to put their office right on the street at a busy intersection. They make their money by renting space out. Of course they are going to provide plenty of retail. If they build a new office nearby it's probably for the sake of convenience. They will own all the property in the area so they might as well be located nearby.

I'm convinced the people who are complaining are the types who just don't like change. Once they see the final product they'll wonder what the heck they were upset about.

Agreed. I think the project looks pleasant (some were mad we were losing 'historic' buildings...and I was bummed too, but they were also falling apart).

Also, Kingland could get a lot more bang for their buck in a lower rent real estate area. I'm happy they are investing in the area and hopefully attract businesses. As for businesses, I hope some decent restaurants and shops go in.

 

[capitalcityguy]

(Kingland to self) "hummm....stale autocentric research park or a new multi-use office building(s) in the heart of Ames walkable to housing, restaurants, bars, entertainment, etc.

Which is going to be a more attractive place to work for young professionals? "

 

[wonkadog]

I was a little disappointed that they weren't going into it with an overall plan that included the city and university, but this is a good second option. Seems to me that most of the building is centered toward housing. When the Towers closed down, Campustown lost a lot of foot traffic and this is a good step back in the right direction. More population in the area equals more investment in retail. Also, the city was smart to require commercial on the ground floor.

As for Kingland, I have no idea why they didn't save some money and relocate to the Research Park, which is supposed to be tripling in size in the next few years. I wonder how much they would really enjoy having a bar doing FAC while their employees are still working. Same goes for these apartment complexes. IMO they're going to be selective in what kind of businesses they lease to. That kind of limits the kind of retail they would let in there to operate during normal business hours.

I do think that it's great that there's a lot of development going on Welch. I just hope that the city is smart about it. With the record enrollment, the money is there to bring in all kinds of business and amenities. Does anyone know the timeline for Kum and Go's move across the street and what will happen with the current K&G spot?

"The Towers" never closed, there are still 2 residence halls out there and there is plenty of foot traffic. Obviously not as much as when there were 4 but there is still a lot of activity in the area.

 

[JP4CY]

That parking garage on Chamberlain and walk a block?

I haven't used that before (haven't been to campus town in a while).
Does that work out pretty well, get full?

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I haven't used that before (haven't been to campus town in a while).
Does that work out pretty well, get full?

I honestly thought it was a private parking garage.

 

[JSmoove]

I honestly thought it was a private parking garage.

Looks like you need to buy permits which I was unaware of.

https://aif-parking.sws.iastate.edu/

 

[Rabbuk]

Just park by that bank on Lincoln way.

 

[3TrueFans]

Looks like you need to buy permits which I was unaware of.

https://aif-parking.sws.iastate.edu/

Says there's meters too.

 

[laminak]

I hate to say this and will probably get crucified, I wish Campustown was at least as good as Iowa City's Ped Mall. As an ISU alum who lives in CR, I've been down there in my mid-20's doing the party scene and as a 40 year old with a wife and kid, will still go there for their various festivals and restaurants. Yes, it's infested with local idiots, however they appear to balance entertainment for college, grad students/young adults, and even families.

When I go back to Ames, I don't shop/eat/drink in Campustown anymore.

 

[Al_4_State]

Are you kidding me? ISU bars are some of the worst I've ever seen.

In what regard? Being dirty/divy? I'd agree with that. In terms of a fun atmosphere? I'd disagree completely. I've had a ton of fun at the Ames bars and most everyone I know that's ever partied in Ames felt the same way.

I go to bars to have fun; not admire their pristine character.

Campustown needs to be renovated. There's no denying that, and the current developments are going to help a lot. All I'm saying is that for college bars, they aren't any less fun than anywhere else I've been. Yeah, I wouldn't go out for a nice dinner there or take my kids there, but that's not really what those places are geared for. It would be good to see those types of places to diversify the district, but for example, when we were down at K-State this fall, a lot of the places were really nice, but it wasn't the type of atmosphere I would get jazzed about as a college kid, and the market in Campustown is college kids. I would have thought that Aggieville was a little too laid back/tame when I was 21, even though as a 28 year old, I'd rather hang out there. But I don't think Campustown should be catering first and foremost to alumni types.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

In what regard? Being dirty/divy? I'd agree with that. In terms of a fun atmosphere? I'd disagree completely. I've had a ton of fun at the Ames bars and most everyone I know that's ever partied in Ames felt the same way.

I go to bars to have fun; not admire their pristine character.

TL;DR Bars are fun when the crowd is all 21-24

 

[Al_4_State]

I hate to say this and will probably get crucified, I wish Campustown was at least as good as Iowa City's Ped Mall. As an ISU alum who lives in CR, I've been down there in my mid-20's doing the party scene and as a 40 year old with a wife and kid, will still go there for their various festivals and restaurants. Yes, it's infested with local idiots, however they appear to balance entertainment for college, grad students/young adults, and even families.

When I go back to Ames, I don't shop/eat/drink in Campustown anymore.

I too think a Ped Mallish area would be good for Ames. Block off the lower block of Welch for starters. IC is a more diversified area than Campustown, but you also have to remember that it's not only the campus neighborhood, it's the Central business district. Campustown is not the central business district.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

I hate to say this and will probably get crucified, I wish Campustown was at least as good as Iowa City's Ped Mall. As an ISU alum who lives in CR, I've been down there in my mid-20's doing the party scene and as a 40 year old with a wife and kid, will still go there for their various festivals and restaurants. Yes, it's infested with local idiots, however they appear to balance entertainment for college, grad students/young adults, and even families.

When I go back to Ames, I don't shop/eat/drink in Campustown anymore.

One thing about Ames that is different from other college towns is usually the downtown is closer to the campus. Iowa City's downtown and 'campustown' are basically one in the same. ISU/Ames would be a lot different if this was the case. I personally like the separation but I'm hoping these new developments attract some new restaurants/bars that are more attractive to non-students as well as students.