Cytown Update

ISU_Guy

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Jul 21, 2021
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probably derailing the CyTown discussion, but does anyone think its funny that Ankeny has this super nice Community college Campus in Ankeny, but all the sports play in Boone, where the campus is the equivalent of the Old Farrar Elementary school. I know its been that way forever, but just amuses me.
 
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NATEizKING

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Feb 18, 2011
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I mean this completely honestly, can you name some. There have been times it would have been really helpful to eat in Ankeny and we couldn't come up with anywhere we wanted to try.
My buddy who lives in Ankeny sent me this list when I asked for places to eat last time I was in town. Matches up to what others have mentioned.

Sit Down/Carry out - Siam Table (Thai), Trailside Tap (American), Portofinos (Italian), and Jethro's (BBQ) are always solid.

Pizza - Grimaldi's, Nonna's, Wig n Pen are my favorites.

More adventurous - Red Chillez (Indian), Flavory Bistro (Greek).
 

83Clone

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Apr 27, 2006
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Get away from Delaware. As someone suggested Uptown Area is nice and growing a bit. Firetrucker is a cool Brewery, some may say their beers are not great, but its location is awesome and they sometimes have food trucks, my wife doesn't love Craft Beer, but Firetrucker has some ginger beers like Cat Dragon and Copper Cat that she enjoys. Same with Uptown Garage, more of a tap room, but they have some local beers as well. Both can have some food trucks around. The coffee shop and other retail are nice too. Leaning Tower is great.

Main Street Cafe is amazing on the South side by the South Hy-Vee. Some more non chain options in Prairie Trail as well like Grimaldi's, Flavory Bistro, Magee's, 30 Hop, a great brunch spot the Breakfast Club.

I'd say I try to avoid Delaware as much as possible, there are some fast food type places popping up more on 36th Street as well which living on the NE side I don't have to go far.
In addition to all those places already mentioned
Uptown Food and Beverage (owned by Dennis Gibson)
Hidalgo (ran into Kyle and Tessa Kempt there once but I digress)
District 36
Silk Elephant
Filet (if you want to spend a bunch of money)
Dough Co pizza
It's My Jam for breakfast/lunch
Curbin Cuisine
Sonny's Bistro (not exactly Ankeny but it's a hidden gem)
 
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cytor

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probably derailing the CyTown discussion, but does anyone think its funny that Ankeny has this super nice Community college Campus in Ankeny, but all the sports play in Boone, where the campus is the equivalent of the Old Farrar Elementary school. I know its been that way forever, but just amuses me.
This thread got derailed a long time ago.
 

Nor'MidWester

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Sep 25, 2016
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Just to confirm current status- BoR meeting tomorrow and we should get more details/update shortly after?
I'm sure Pollard is eager to share more information and answer the many questions people have on the development. I'm sure he'll try to get something out, hopefully Golden Rod has some fresh renderings.
 

Nor'MidWester

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Maybe this has been mentioned but this image for the meeting agenda seems to indicate that the McFarland Clinic is not part of Goldenrods development efforts? (The red square on Jack Trice Way) Maybe that was common knowledge but just wanted to verify if that's true. I'm guessing McFarland is building this out of their pocket?

1000001143.png
 

ISUTex

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My buddy who lives in Ankeny sent me this list when I asked for places to eat last time I was in town. Matches up to what others have mentioned.

Sit Down/Carry out - Siam Table (Thai), Trailside Tap (American), Portofinos (Italian), and Jethro's (BBQ) are always solid.

Pizza - Grimaldi's, Nonna's, Wig n Pen are my favorites.

More adventurous - Red Chillez (Indian), Flavory Bistro (Greek).

I haven't really driven around Ankeny other than Deleware and some of Oralabor Rd in 25 years or so. Was driving around Friday night. Holy crap.
 
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KennyPratt42

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Jan 13, 2017
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Maybe this has been mentioned but this image for the meeting agenda seems to indicate that the McFarland Clinic is not part of Goldenrods development efforts? (The red square on Jack Trice Way) Maybe that was common knowledge but just wanted to verify if that's true. I'm guessing McFarland is building this out of their pocket?

View attachment 140949
The clinic building is outside the management agreement between Iowa State, the Research Park, and Goldenrod. McFarland has a separate lease agreement with the university that they entered into last year.
 
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AuH2O

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Sep 7, 2013
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My buddy who lives in Ankeny sent me this list when I asked for places to eat last time I was in town. Matches up to what others have mentioned.

Sit Down/Carry out - Siam Table (Thai), Trailside Tap (American), Portofinos (Italian), and Jethro's (BBQ) are always solid.

Pizza - Grimaldi's, Nonna's, Wig n Pen are my favorites.

More adventurous - Red Chillez (Indian), Flavory Bistro (Greek).
Jethro's sucks ballz. Plus they recently tacked on a surprise "inflation fee" to the bills rather than reflecting it in their prices. The dude that runs them seems bat **** crazy.
 

KennyPratt42

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For those interested, it looks like the value being assigned to the university land in the development agreement is just over $48 million ($22.96/sq ft for 48 acres). Goldenrod is going to be spending an estimated $175 to $225 million to construct the buildings and outdoor spaces.

The University isn't liable for the debt that Goldenrod will be taking out to do the construction. Once lease revenue starts to come in the first part goes to the University to pay the City of Ames PILOT program (essentially property tax), the next part goes to Goldenrod to fulfill their debt obligation related to the project, and the remaining is split based on their equity shares. That's where the value of the land and building construction costs come in. There are some other items to factor into the equity shares like the money the University has spend for the infrastructure upgrades so you can't just use the above numbers to find the percentages for how those revenues will be split.

A couple of other items, the University will own the buildings after they have been constructed and Goldenrod will be managing the development going forward and getting some compensation for doing so. The Research Park is providing oversite of Goldenrod and their members get priority for leasing the office space and certain facility use.
 

Mr Janny

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If you like Italian Portafinos is a solid local restaurant. I love pho and Pho 88 is great for that. If you like sushi there is Wasabi in prairie trail, although I guess it is technically a local chain. You can't go more than five blocks in the metro without seeing a local tex-mex place and Ankeny is pretty much the same. Red Chillez is an Indian restaurant that just opened up that I've heard really good things about but haven't tried yet. I haven't been to Filet Steakhouse yet either, but my neighbors really like it. I know you said pizza places aren't your thing but Nonnas Pizza is my favorite pizza in the metro.
Another vote for Nonnas. Very good. Dough Company is also pretty good. And if you like Asian food, Silk Elephant is right in that area, and is quite good. Also, my daughter has a specific liking for the ice cream place on the same block. I can't think of the name, but they have a goat cheese and cherry ice cream that is amazing.
 

alarson

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Another vote for Nonnas. Very good. Dough Company is also pretty good. And if you like Asian food, Silk Elephant is right in that area, and is quite good. Also, my daughter has a specific liking for the ice cream place on the same block. I can't think of the name, but they have a goat cheese and cherry ice cream that is amazing.
the outside scoop? they're pretty good.

Uptown dairy is also a solid option for ice cream
 
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KennyPratt42

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Another vote for Nonnas. Very good. Dough Company is also pretty good. And if you like Asian food, Silk Elephant is right in that area, and is quite good. Also, my daughter has a specific liking for the ice cream place on the same block. I can't think of the name, but they have a goat cheese and cherry ice cream that is amazing.
The Outside Scoop

Interestingly enough I was really good friends with the guy who started and ran it as a shop in Indianola. A few years ago someone bought the business and his recipes. The goat cheese & cherry was his most mentioned flavor when articles were written about his shop/truck and how I knew right away what you were talking about.

I haven't had anything since he sold it. I would guess its still good, but probably not quite the quality of what it used to be because he made everything himself and was a bit of a perfectionist.
 

AgronAlum

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Jul 12, 2014
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I mean this completely honestly, can you name some. There have been times it would have been really helpful to eat in Ankeny and we couldn't come up with anywhere we wanted to try.

There are a couple new Asian spots I really like.

Fun Chinese Cuisine - Hawkers Kitchen -
Leaning Tower - Pizza
Nonnas - Pizza/Pasta
30 Hop - Bar Food
Uptown - Pizza/Bar Food
Main Street Cafe - Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Cafe type stuff
The Breakfast Club - Phenomenal Breakfast
Waterfront - Seafood
Flavory Bistro - Mediterranean
Silk Elephant - Thai
Guadalajara - Mexican
Cazador - Mexican
Pho 85 - Pho
 

Paz23

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Feb 23, 2016
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No doubt it's great for the AD and will bring in people all year to the development, just sort of unfortunate it's in a prime spot but it is what it is. Hopefully student athletes don't get hit by cars walking across the street to the medical clinic lol.

Time to build another bridge? Screw it, I say just go all in with a Skywalk (sCYwalk for marketing purposes). Walking from the peasant lots to Hilton in early February, you could charge a fee.
 

ISULibrarian

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Apr 17, 2010
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I mean this completely honestly, can you name some. There have been times it would have been really helpful to eat in Ankeny and we couldn't come up with anywhere we wanted to try.
I'm going to tack on a few more that I haven't seen yet:
Hokkaido Ramen is very good
El Mocajete is our favorite of the Mexican options in town
30 Hop isn't bad for what it is
Ornery Chicken is a solid ghost kitchen
Naughtea for Korean corn dogs

Of the ones that other folks have already listed, other favorites are Nonna's, Portofino's, Wig and Pen