Cytown Update
- Thread starter norsemen
- Start date
Bought out by Mycogen and then was bought out by Dow. Now goes by Brevent, as a former Lynk’s dealer.
Looking forward to booking a room overlooking the UP railroad tracks. Only about 60 trains per day should make for a relaxing stay...
If you like it, you’ll be able to move into an apartment there!Looking forward to booking a room overlooking the UP railroad tracks. Only about 60 trains per day should make for a relaxing stay...
Since Linc was announced, CyTown announced and apparently has financing to build the hotel + conference center/Scheman combo. And there is already Gateway + conference center. Ames does not need a third hotel + conference center. And demand for office space has cratered since Covid. The retail space is shrinking only slightly and housing increasing significantly. All these programming changes make total sense given market changes.
Now, I think there is a good chance the developers go cheap with their design and build basic apartments and retail. Not the “destination” development originally proposed. But CyTown is checking that box. And it will still be good infill for downtown Ames.
Downtown Ames needs more housing, so I actually like some of these changes. Downtown still needs another hotel or two though.
There is a LOT of land dedicated to commercial development in Ames right now, and a lot of projects going, and there seems to be one individual with his name on all of them (as opposed to residential development, where there a whopping TWO firms). I’m a little curious and a little terrified to see how it all shakes out.
Off the top of my head, the Linc (Lincoln Way by downtown), Alliant has several hundred acres for industrial on East Lincoln Way, and the massive project on Dayton north of Lincoln Way. It seems like there are a lot of signs up for commercial lots around town, too. I’m sure interest rates aren’t helping.
Obviously these are basic renderings in the agenda but it looks a lot less impressive compared to the first couple of renderings, especially the hotel, but those were years ago now.
Not really surprising I guess. Conceptual drawings are just that. It looks like it's built to be expandable though. I'd rather that, than keep all of it in but have to cut corners and it comes out looking cheap.
As long as the guys who did campustown renovations aren't the ones doing this, it will probably turn out ok.
The BOR drawings are conceptual only and obviously not meant to impress. Please hold judgment until the development co releases detailed renderings prepared by the architect actually hired for the build.
pollard is no doubt going to release said detailed renderings with a big announcement/press conference. You will not see them first in a BOR agenda.
pollard is no doubt going to release said detailed renderings with a big announcement/press conference. You will not see them first in a BOR agenda.
For these things to go well, going big tends to be best imo. It’s going to be difficult to create a destination on the cheap. JP is going to need to get out of his comfort zone. Taking a leap with a “if you build (borrow) it, they’ll come” approach
We’re about a decade behind in starting this, but hopefully we get to a more stable situation on college athletics soon
7 stories and 220 rooms is a good sized hotel, plus additional conference space now. I like how they are attaching it to Schemen in the latest plan too. I think the rest of the project is similar to what was proposed before. The plan in the BOR packet is meant to show placement of buildings and uses. It’s not a rendering of the development like has been released before. I’m sure they will have that after this is approved.
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