Cytown Update

[Nor'MidWester]

The original plan looks like a cheap 1990s era strip mall.

For that top picture having the central axis of the development end at University didn't make any sense, pulling people away from Hilton and JTS with nowhere to go on University? It also looks outdated and an outdoor outlet mall that would have been built 10 years ago, the current version actually looks pretty decent. I do like the canopy thing and tornado lazer beam statue thing from the original design though lol.

 

[Kinch]

Why would they tear it down? Are they talking about the old alumni hall?

The one where the band plays before football games.

 

[Kinch]

There is less than 0 chance they would tear down a really expensive less than 20 year old building.

A donor told me that.

 

[GetAwesome]

No one said it will suck, but the most recent renderings suck compared to what it was supposed to be.

Which renderings are you referring to? Ever since the project was approved the renderings have always been very publicly advertised and have not changed what “it was supposed to be”.

 

[RustShack]

Whuch renderings are you referring to? Ever since the project was approved the renderings have always been very publicly advertised and have not changed what “it was supposed to be”.

Check the post everyone today is responding to.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

For that top picture having the central axis of the development end at University didn't make any sense, pulling people away from Hilton and JTS with nowhere to go on University? It also looks outdated and an outdoor outlet mall that would have been built 10 years ago, the current version actually looks pretty decent. I do like the canopy thing and tornado lazer beam statue thing from the original design though lol.

Yeah, the orientation obviously had to change. Though I can see why some would prefer the original design if it were rotated instead of the more separate buildings. Though this may work better for flow of people on gameday. If there were large buildings in the middle with no breaks in between it could be a pain to get between tailgating lots.

Hopefully there are some announcements on tenants before too long. This development as a whole seems like a no-brainer to take advantage of the prime land the university is sitting on, but there have to be willing tenants, and as someone who has taken an interest in development projects for a long time, I definitely tend to default to "i'll believe it once I see steel rising out of the ground". I think of projects like West Glen in WDM that were originally better plans but got cut down over time as it was trying to launch right before the 08 real estate collapse. The current environment could certainly give some headwinds.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

Check the post everyone today is responding to.

Though to be fair that was a super early rendering before research had really been fully completed on what would work here. It was more of a 'what if' conceptual design than something concrete.

 

[GetAwesome]

Check the post everyone today is responding to.

You started responding to the top/bottom photo comparison post,

There are far more detailed videos and flythroughs available since that photo was released, but that has been the design ever since the project was approved.

So that’s why I’m asking, what were you under the impression “it was supposed to be”?

 

[cedarstrip]

I don't understand why the hotel isn't first on the list. I think it has the best chance of being successful.

 

[Die4Cy]

Though to be fair that was a super early rendering before research had really been fully completed on what would work here. It was more of a 'what if' conceptual design than something concrete.

I mean, concept art is literally designed with the sole purpose of attracting interest in a project without regard for practicality or budgetary constraints. Have you seen the original concept art for Hilton Coliseum? The Ribcage of Doom?

 

[Zyklon]

I don't understand why the hotel isn't first on the list. I think it has the best chance of being successful.

Agreed. I actually thought a hotel or two with a few attached restaurants and bars would have been a great compromise if cytown fell through.

 

[Cloned4Life]

I cannot imagine looking at both photos and saying the 1st one...

...which looks like every single generic-ass strip mall built in the last 25 years (you know, the ones that have sucked the absolute life out of creative Urban development)...

...looks better than the second one. LOL what!?

Like, I'm not saying the second one is some crazy creative engineering and design miracle, but putting a strip mall next to iconic buildings like Stephens and Hilton would be criminal. And insane. The latest video flyovers looked pretty cool.

 

[3TrueFans]

First rendering definitely has a T-mobile store AND a Verizon store in it.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I cannot imagine looking at both photos and saying the 1st one...

...which looks like every single generic-ass strip mall built in the last 25 years (you know, the ones that have sucked the absolute life out of creative Urban development)...

...looks better than the second one. LOL what!?

Like, I'm not saying the second one is some crazy creative engineering and design miracle, but putting a strip mall next to iconic buildings like Stephens and Hilton would be criminal. And insane. The latest video flyovers looked pretty cool.

Moving away from University Avenue only makes sense, it's already a cluster getting in and out of the area now, if they had built where the first diagram shows it would have made it even worse. The current location moved West will allow more people to get into and out of major of lots, and not bother the tailgating situation as much.

 

[Clonealways]

No one said it will suck, but the most recent renderings suck compared to what it was supposed to be.

Where have you been? These most recent renderings have been around for quite awhile. You just noticed they changed from tho original about 4 years ago? Okay.

 

[Messi]

I find some of you really difficult to understand. Cytown will be earth shattering for Iowa State and Ames if it gets built to plan and is successful.

“thing will be good if it’s successful”

 

[Kinch]

I mean, concept art is literally designed with the sole purpose of attracting interest in a project without regard for practicality or budgetary constraints. Have you seen the original concept art for Hilton Coliseum? The Ribcage of Doom?

The original drawing of JTS was not good, either.

 

[Kinch]

There is less than 0 chance they would tear down a really expensive less than 20 year old building.

The story we heard is that the Foundation now has the building and doesn’t have a use for it. The foundation is deciding its options, including possibly tearing it down.

 

[Land Shark]

A donor told me that.

If that were true- I would house the AD offices in the Alumni space and turn the Jacobson Bldg into an interactive Hall of Fame/ Hospitality space.

 

[Die4Cy]

The original drawing of JTS was not good, either.

I can't find it anywhere online.