Don't forget the "no" vote on a 2% hotel/motel tax increase, which would have helped fund Hilton renovations.
The "no" voters weren't smart enough to understand that the tax would have been imposed on visitors, and not the people actually voting.
Cytown Update
- Thread starter norsemen
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Don't forget the "no" vote on a 2% hotel/motel tax increase, which would have helped fund Hilton renovations.
The "no" voters weren't smart enough to understand that the tax would have been imposed on visitors, and not the people actually voting.
I believe there are conflicting reports on the economic impact of expanding Scheman. The initial estimates of economic impact were inflated according to reporting around the time of the vote. The Linc looks like a pretty cool option, especially with a hotel as part of the project. I don't believe the Scheman expansion plan included a hotel.
0% of $0 is still $0. So, if getting an investment that brings jobs and will raise sales tax revenue means trading 10 years of RE taxes, that I wouldn't have gotten previously, how is that not worth it? Is there a cost to the city for infrastructure, sure there is. But long term, they will make a pretty good tax on a project that not otherwise would have happened.
This doesn't apply to CyTown, that is different, and I am haven't made up my mind on the RE tax issue. Most of the infrastructure issue will be on the University, Fire and Police with the city, so maybe some form of reduced tax makes sense.
It has nothing to do with the recent Ames nimby thing but the fact that Campus town and downtown Ames are in two separate areas of the city is unfortunate. Probably because of the history of the city the campus and the actual city of Ames were much more distinct and separate but it's led to two fine central business districts but if it were one area it'd be much healthier, most other college towns have two Downton areas. And I feel like the relationship with the city would be better if all our eggs were in one basket.
I don't know where I'm going with this besides BRING BACK THE DINKEY NOW. You could put a stop by CyTown. Connect em all.
I don't know where I'm going with this besides BRING BACK THE DINKEY NOW. You could put a stop by CyTown. Connect em all.
What I've always thought we be great for the block between Lincoln Way and Chamberlain and Welch and Hayward is if the University purchased the entire block.
On the south half of the block have a large building designed like Friley or a large Dutch urban apartment building. Inside the building would be: Admissions, University Records, Career Centers for each college, Student Health Center, other offices from Beardshear. The north half of the block would be a large plaza with a central fountain or statue.
In addition, maybe turn the Friley turret into a giant cuckoo clock facing the plaza. The Methodist Church stained glass window would be to the west of the plaza. To the east would be the four story Kingland commercial building. The plaza would have a very European feel to it and would become a center piece of the Iowa State Campus. The parking garage on Hayward would be an easy place for perspective student families to park and cross the street to the Admissions office. College recruiters would have an easy place to park.
The current student health building would be given to the College of Engineering. Beardshear Hall could be converted to a general service classroom building. This would help keep more students close to the center of campus for entry level classes. And the Current Admissions (Old Alumni Hall) building could be used for the President's office. (Wasn't sure where to post this so I posted in both Downtown Ames and Cy-town threads).
On the south half of the block have a large building designed like Friley or a large Dutch urban apartment building. Inside the building would be: Admissions, University Records, Career Centers for each college, Student Health Center, other offices from Beardshear. The north half of the block would be a large plaza with a central fountain or statue.
In addition, maybe turn the Friley turret into a giant cuckoo clock facing the plaza. The Methodist Church stained glass window would be to the west of the plaza. To the east would be the four story Kingland commercial building. The plaza would have a very European feel to it and would become a center piece of the Iowa State Campus. The parking garage on Hayward would be an easy place for perspective student families to park and cross the street to the Admissions office. College recruiters would have an easy place to park.
The current student health building would be given to the College of Engineering. Beardshear Hall could be converted to a general service classroom building. This would help keep more students close to the center of campus for entry level classes. And the Current Admissions (Old Alumni Hall) building could be used for the President's office. (Wasn't sure where to post this so I posted in both Downtown Ames and Cy-town threads).
I love Ames, but the city council and the residents have no interest in bringing the city into the 21st century. This is coming from a friend of mine formerly on the council.
I understand. I'm probably way out on an island with this - but I think athletics and entertainment should still be charged tax as it's not an educational aspect of the school. But I also think the same of pro leagues that get tax advantages.
Make CyRide free?
I don't even know if current ridership would make that feasible, or if the city would have an interest in spending money toward getting more students to access things downtown, they may not.
Pro teams getting tax advantages is no different than businesses getting tax advantages. My company got nearly $1 billion in tax cuts from Kansas City for building a new campus that was supposed to include building a new strip mall and hotel. So far they've only delivered on the hotel and it's caused some uproar.
Oracle Cerner asks to preserve $1B in tax incentives in Kansas City - Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis
Oracle Cerner is expanding its workforce in Kansas City, MO, and has requested access to $1 billion in incentives. The move will keep Kansas City attractive to the EHR vendor, company officials said.
www.beckershospitalreview.com
It is if you held on to your student ID
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
I remember when Ames residents howled when they shut down Carr Pool. It took years for Ames residents to get a new aquatic center. These same Ames residents shot down a wellness center for years, then complained about what fitness center charges are.
Reminds me of a story my grandpa used to tell about how his mom and dad would take the horse and buggy to dances from Tama to I think Grinell every few months. Drink way to much, hop in the buggy and just yell "home", pass out and wake up at home.
I'm pretty sure the aquatic center opened two years before Carr Pool was closed.
It's not a single mind. Some people want things and others don't.
Like I said before, the culture of "no," no matter what, in Ames is so toxic and exhausting. Ankeny is a lot bigger today than it should be, because Ames says no to so much.
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It was the fitness centers in town, that helped coalesce opposition to the wellness center. It was sort of like the fox convincing the chickens they didn't need a new fence. At the end of the day, I can't blame them, but they weren't exactly motivated by what was good for the community. They were looking out for their own interests, which is probably all anyone could expect.
