Campustown/Intermodal Transportation Facility

[Frak]

I remember hearing a few years ago about a plan to move the fire station and turn it into a community center. If they did that, they could close the 100 block, but unless the post office and Kum n Go moves they won't close the 200 block.

I'd settle for the 100 block. Either make the fire station entrance on Chamberlain or move it somewhere more accessable. Honestly, it just makes too much sense...imagine Campustown without the parallel parking. Wider sidewalks with outdoor tables in front of restaurants and bars. That would be a major improvement.

 

[ornryactor]

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't see any possible way to give the fire station access from Chamberlain. That station is WAY deeper than it is wide, so it can accommodate fire vehicles. Even if you rotated the whole thing 90 degrees, there's not enough room for them to park that way, to say nothing of having access from both ends of the station. To top it off, they don't exactly turn on a dime, so forcing them to do a hard 90 or 180 to get out of the station is probably impossible.

If the 100 block is going to close, then the fire station has to entirely move, which is actually the proposal. The almost-100%-guaranteed location would be on North Dakota, near Ontario. That seems like it's really far away, but apparently their response time would be almost the same.

 

[wxman1]

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't see any possible way to give the fire station access from Chamberlain. That station is WAY deeper than it is wide, so it can accommodate fire vehicles. Even if you rotated the whole thing 90 degrees, there's not enough room for them to park that way, to say nothing of having access from both ends of the station. To top it off, they don't exactly turn on a dime, so forcing them to do a hard 90 or 180 to get out of the station is probably impossible.

If the 100 block is going to close, then the fire station has to entirely move, which is actually the proposal. The almost-100%-guaranteed location would be on North Dakota, near Ontario. That seems like it's really far away, but apparently their response time would be almost the same.

ummmm I have seen many fire trucks make turns like that out of their stations...granted there would be no parking along chamberlain but it's very doable

 

[Havs]

ummmm I have seen many fire trucks make turns like that out of their stations...granted there would be no parking along chamberlain but it's very doable

Put the fire station in the intermodal facility. Done.

 

[CycloneNick]

It sounds like people like the idea of closing the 100 block. There are those of us that would love for the fire station to move. The City could sell it and make some pretty good dime. It would be great if the PD could get a satellite station in Campustown. Just think about having street performers in Campustown and making a great place to people watch.

 

[Havs]

I'd be a fan of closing Welch from Hunt to Lincoln Way, and Chamberlain from Stanton to Hayward. Making a + shaped pedestrian mall.

 

[Frak]

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't see any possible way to give the fire station access from Chamberlain. That station is WAY deeper than it is wide, so it can accommodate fire vehicles. Even if you rotated the whole thing 90 degrees, there's not enough room for them to park that way, to say nothing of having access from both ends of the station. To top it off, they don't exactly turn on a dime, so forcing them to do a hard 90 or 180 to get out of the station is probably impossible.

If the 100 block is going to close, then the fire station has to entirely move, which is actually the proposal. The almost-100%-guaranteed location would be on North Dakota, near Ontario. That seems like it's really far away, but apparently their response time would be almost the same.

Yeah, that's a good point. I like the idea of relocation and then sell that spot to someone who wants to build a nice three story bar. Hell, sell it to Hooters. They'd make money like crazy at that spot. Or separate it out into three separate businesses.

If it's too difficult/expensive to move the fire station, my thought would be to turn that first block of Welch into an access road. That way, fire trucks still could head north to get to LW. Eliminate the parallel parking and widen the sidewalks. IMO outdoor seating would really add to the area. More street vendors and performers. Retailers could have outdoor displays.

 

[wxman1]

I'm not trying to start anything major but why couldn't the gsb donate a good chunk of that money to the university to you know actually clear parking lots. It takes days for the university to clear parking lots decently and after that blizzard back in December it took them nearly a week to go through the eaton martin lot once, meanwhile no one could get anywhere...including the dps and police vehicles stuck in those lots. I'm just saying if you want to "improve the students experience" then why don't you do it for stuff like that instead of building new stuff and buying buildings.

 

[A-town Cy]

What are they building West of Eaton and Martin dorms and State gym?

 

[Frak]

What are they building West of Eaton and Martin dorms and State gym?

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~saff/recreation/2009-02-26_SD Townhall.pdf

 

[Havs]

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~saff/recreation/2009-02-26_SD Townhall.pdf

Very cool!