More re-development

[ribsnwhiskey]

I heard about this a while back but wasn't sure when it would happen.

http://amestrib.com/news/campustown-businesses-figuring-out-next-step-due-new-complex

Too bad they didn't give the business owners more than a month to re-locate.

 

[Skidoosh]

Damn that sucks, I really liked India Palace.

 

[roundball]

India Palace has the blandest Indian food I've ever tasted. They could quadruple the amount of spice they use.

 

[carvers4math]

Seems like all of campustown is becoming high rise apartments.

 

[chuckd4735]

Seems like all of campustown is becoming high rise apartments.

As long as there is an element of commercial, thats a good thing, IMO. Density will just bring in better businesses.

 

[klamath632]

As long as there is an element of commercial, thats a good thing, IMO. Density will just bring in better businesses.

Agreed. Current perception of Ames is crappy. Perhaps a bit of (light) urbanization will raise its stature.

Edit: I mean to say: "perception of Campustown by fans of other schools." Rightfully or not, Ames is generally listed near the bottom of any "fun places to watch a road game in the Big 12" lists. They obviously aren't reading any of the leading magazines that love Ames as a college town.

 

[SCNCY]

I think light urbanization is the correct term for campustown. Apartments like legacy and cyclone plaza (if i remember correctly) are too tall for that kind of area. I think so long you keep the apartments to no more than 6-8 floors, campustown will look nice.

 

[roundball]

I haven't checked the rent on some of the newer apartments in Ames; how expensive are they compared to the older apartments and houses?

If they're as pricey as I assume, it's a common trend around college campuses and I'm so torn about it. On the one hand, I want to be happy for students who are able to have nice things, and good for them getting to live in sweet apartments that are 100x nicer than anything I had. On the other hand, the only way students can afford them is to borrow a lot (bad) or let mom and day pay (arguably worse).

 

[SoapyCy]

I haven't checked the rent on some of the newer apartments in Ames; how expensive are they compared to the older apartments and houses?

If they're as pricey as I assume, it's a common trend around college campuses and I'm so torn about it. On the one hand, I want to be happy for students who are able to have nice things, and good for them getting to live in sweet apartments that are 100x nicer than anything I had. On the other hand, the only way students can afford them is to borrow a lot (bad) or let mom and day pay (arguably worse).

Good points. With newer, more expensive, units being built it will either force the worse places to raise their standards or lower their rents. These places are more expensive due to location obviously. When I was in school we paid $800 for a 2 bedroom across from campus while others paid $600 in west ames.

 

[Dr.bannedman]

please do not complain about housing prices in ames.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Paid $1400 for a six bedroom on Lincoln Way just west of campus. Still can't believe it. Some of those apartments are too expensive and nice for college students IMO. You can't be borrowing money like that. You shouldn't get used to living like that because once you graduate, you might not be able to afford a similar level of living in Chicago, KC, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Omaha etc. (Picked random cities where a lot of our grads go to). But that is just me

 

[roundball]

Good points. With newer, more expensive, units being built it will either force the worse places to raise their standards or lower their rents. These places are more expensive due to location obviously. When I was in school we paid $800 for a 2 bedroom across from campus while others paid $600 in west ames.

True, this puts the pressure on the slum lords to clean up their act, which is great news.

The skeptic in me says that it's all just another symptom of college becoming a rich kids' club. Students at most of the Big Ten schools are demographically identical to Ivy League schools in terms of wealth and background, and they're about the only ones who can afford the drastic tuition increases that have occurred over the past 10-20 years. Public universities are straying so far from their mission of being affordable and accessible, and it's really sad.

 

[roundball]

please do not complain about housing prices in ames.

Please don't complain about income levels in areas where housing is more expensive.

 

[theshadow]

I haven't checked the rent on some of the newer apartments in Ames; how expensive are they compared to the older apartments and houses?

I've seen "reduced price" 2BR listings for $1000+ out in West Ames. Several 4BR/5BR places closer to campus are listed as ~$600 per bedroom.

 

[iastatehunter]

I haven't checked the rent on some of the newer apartments in Ames; how expensive are they compared to the older apartments and houses?

If they're as pricey as I assume, it's a common trend around college campuses and I'm so torn about it. On the one hand, I want to be happy for students who are able to have nice things, and good for them getting to live in sweet apartments that are 100x nicer than anything I had. On the other hand, the only way students can afford them is to borrow a lot (bad) or let mom and day pay (arguably worse).

The brand new apartments on Lincoln way that opened up in the fall are $699 per bedroom I believe. Super super super expensive IMO. How anyone could justify spending that is beyond me. My 2 bedroom in West Ames is $625 total..

 

[isufbcurt]

Seems like all of campustown is becoming high rise apartments.

Yeah I personally am not a fan of this, but I don't live in Ames or go to school there anymore.

 

[dualthreat]

When I was in school way back in 2012 I lived for 1 summer on Welch in an old house. Homeowner had to have been at least 95 years old. She charged us $145 each for the 4 bedroom apt.

Good old days!

 

[SCNCY]

When I was in school way back in 2012 I lived for 1 summer on Welch in an old house. Homeowner had to have been at least 95 years old. She charged us $145 each for the 4 bedroom apt.

Good old days!

What was the rent during the school year?

 

[dualthreat]

What was the rent during the school year?

Same $145 I'm pretty sure, although I never lived there during the school year so I can't remember. It was ridiculously cheap. The one girl that lived there paid $0 because her aunt was the owner.

 

[Farnsworth]

Same $145 I'm pretty sure, although I never lived there during the school year so I can't remember. It was ridiculously cheap. The one girl that lived there paid $0 because her aunt was the owner.

She had a 95 year old aunt? eesh, how'd that work. One of her parents a gold digger?