13th Street & Grand Avenue Intersection

[Havs]

Will anything happen with the 13th Street & Grand Ave intersection in Ames? I remember the protest from 2007 over many people losing their properties but nothing has become of it since. They put up new lights last month but that hasn't solved anything.

 

[nickwc]

i was actually wondering the same thing a couple weeks ago

 

[price26]

Can someone fill me in on what the issue is?

 

[Havs]

Can someone fill me in on what the issue is?

They want to demolish 8-12 homes in order to create more room for turning lanes, etc. There was a huge protest over the deal and I'm not sure what the ruling was afterwards. These pictures were taken in July of 2007.

 

[IcSyU]

Screw 'em. Take out their front yard. Eminent domain baby!

 

[price26]

Now I remember . . .

When it comes to traffic in Ames, it seems to always be very poorly managed (from someone who drives the roads for usually 3-4 hours every day).

 

[IcSyU]

Now I remember . . .

When it comes to traffic in Ames, it seems to always be very poorly managed (from someone who drives the roads for usually 3-4 hours every day).

I drove that intersection M-F from August last year until now and it is by FAR the worst intersection in Ames. It needs turning lanes. Turning left across 13th to get on Grand is dangerous when there's multiple people waiting because you can't see.

 

[Frak]

I don't think that they planned to demolish 8-10 houses. From what I remember, the plan was to demolish more like 4 and eat into the front yards of another 4-8. It was voted down by the city council due to protest. Since that time, three of the four property owners at that intersection have come to the city wanting to sell... the church, the business and the apartment duplex. The city is buying the apartment building. The real holdup is the person on the SW corner.

I for one can't believe that anyone would want to live right at that intersection. They're offering appraised value and the owners can get second opinions if they don't like the number. In this market, I'd be packing the second they mentioned buying the property. Move somewhere that's NOT the busiest intersection in town. IMO it will still happen eventually, but I'm betting it's 5-10 years down the line. The city is going to want to streamline Grand when they connect it all the way to S 16th and that intersection will be the first priority.

 

[IcSyU]

The city is going to want to streamline Grand when they connect it all the way to S 16th and that intersection will be the first priority.

I'm waiting to see how this goes down due to Coldwater Golf Links being there.

 

[price26]

I drove that intersection M-F from August last year until now and it is by FAR the worst intersection in Ames. It needs turning lanes. Turning left across 13th to get on Grand is dangerous when there's multiple people waiting because you can't see.

I could give you a laundry list of intersections that are horrible.

S. 16th & Duff (you often can't see people coming at that intersection either)
20th & Grand
30th & Grand
Lincoln & Hazel (used to have a bad habit of changing to traffic on hazel with no one waiting on Hazel)
The new one on Grand at the entrance to the DOT and east Hy-Vee is getting to be a ***** now as well.
S. 4th & Walnut
Lincoln & Beach often doesn't stay green long enough during the school year either.
Mortenson & S. Dakota (gives arrows when no one is there)

Those are just the ones off the top of my head, I'm positive there are more.

 

[IcSyU]

I could give you a laundry list of intersections that are horrible.

S. 16th & Duff (you often can't see people coming at that intersection either)
20th & Grand
30th & Grand
Lincoln & Hazel (used to have a bad habit of changing to traffic on hazel with no one waiting on Hazel)
The new one on Grand at the entrance to the DOT and east Hy-Vee is getting to be a ***** now as well.
S. 4th & Walnut
Lincoln & Beach often doesn't stay green long enough during the school year either.
Mortenson & S. Dakota (gives arrows when no one is there)

Those are just the ones off the top of my head, I'm positive there are more.

I agree with you on all of them, but Grand/13th is by far the most dangerous. Turning across it from 13th to Grand is insanely dangerous between 8 and 10, 11 and 1, and 4 to 6. I'd like to add SE 16th and Dayton (where they need a light but probably can't because of 30. Even with the new work on Dayton, that intersection with stop signs is terrible. It looks like they're finishing off Bell Avenue behind DMACC so that'll compound the issue even more.

 

[Frak]

I'm waiting to see how this goes down due to Coldwater Golf Links being there.

Already in the plans. There's going to be a cart tunnel under the road. Last I heard they were supposed to start work in 2012, so it's a ways off yet.

 

[LindenCy]

I don't think that they planned to demolish 8-10 houses. From what I remember, the plan was to demolish more like 4 and eat into the front yards of another 4-8. It was voted down by the city council due to protest. Since that time, three of the four property owners at that intersection have come to the city wanting to sell... the church, the business and the apartment duplex. The city is buying the apartment building. The real holdup is the person on the SW corner.

I for one can't believe that anyone would want to live right at that intersection. They're offering appraised value and the owners can get second opinions if they don't like the number. In this market, I'd be packing the second they mentioned buying the property. Move somewhere that's NOT the busiest intersection in town. IMO it will still happen eventually, but I'm betting it's 5-10 years down the line. The city is going to want to streamline Grand when they connect it all the way to S 16th and that intersection will be the first priority.

If you are going to kick someone out of their home and you need the property, you should pay a lot more than appraised value.

 

[JP4CY]

Already in the plans. There's going to be a cart tunnel under the road. Last I heard they were supposed to start work in 2012, so it's a ways off yet.

I bet the coldwater owners might get a good check from that then huh? I would imagine that they might have to reconfigure some of the holes?

 

[cstrunk]

I agree that 13th and Grand is the most dangerous intersection in town. Some others are dangerous, but more annoying than anything.

There are numerous wrecks at 13th and Grand. So anyone complaining about losing their property needs to ask themselves if property is more important than safety.

 

[everyyard]

They want to demolish 8-12 homes in order to create more room for turning lanes, etc. There was a huge protest over the deal and I'm not sure what the ruling was afterwards. These pictures were taken in July of 2007.

poor planning? yes, I am sure when the home was built in 1924 that they should have had the forsight to know that 85 years down the road they would need the land for a turning lane. geez. we are just lucky enough that back in the horse and buggy days they built roads as wide as they did or there is no way any downtown goes two land traffic.

 

[mj4cy]

As a Civil Engineer grad, we were taught that if it's for the betterment of the community, some homes may have to be demolished. Ames has many many people that like to resist change, and I think that voice was louder over the issue.

 

[Havs]

I bet the coldwater owners might get a good check from that then huh? I would imagine that they might have to reconfigure some of the holes?

I just looked on google earth and it looks as though the right of way is already there.

 

[Irresponsible]

i was actually wondering the same thing a couple weeks ago

Yes, but Haverhill gets the credits for starting the thread.

Screw 'em. Take out their front yard. Eminent domain baby!

Sadly, the Supreme Court agrees with property confiscation even for shopping malls. Taking land here won't be an issue.

 

[SilverCyclone]

I agree that 13th and Grand is the most dangerous intersection in town. Some others are dangerous, but more annoying than anything.

There are numerous wrecks at 13th and Grand. So anyone complaining about losing their property needs to ask themselves if property is more important than safety.

... If I lived at 13th and Grand... You are infringing on my pursuit of happines... **** the safety of others...