Cytown Update

[Havs]

Water and sewer should be paid by water and sewer.

Yeah, but if you build where water and sewer already exist, you get more tax revenue without having to expand the system.

 

[CascadeClone]

It is if you held on to your student ID

What if my student ID has punch card holes in it? And my social security number?

 

[Die4Cy]

What if my student ID has punch card holes in it? And my social security number?

Same thought I had. Hope they don't need to scan anything on it, that would be a problem.

 

[BCClone]

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.

Current students ride Cy ride for free.

 

[BCClone]

Yeah, but if you build where water and sewer already exist, you get more tax revenue without having to expand the system.

True. I guess I was thinking new areas. Most cities don’t budget long term for water sewer so they end up subsidizing the updates.

 

[Freebird]

Ames residents voted down the convention center expansion on the Scheman Building.

Also, cities like Lincoln partnered with their universities to get new amenities built, like Pinnacle Bank Arena. No such collaboration can be remotely considered in Ames for whatever reason, whether it be political will or just overall stubbornness of residents.

Everything here just seems to be a huge culture of "no."

Like we were discussing in the other thread. This town has no ambition to improve itself. No ability to think big.

 

[Die4Cy]

Like we were discussing in the other thread. This town has no ambition to improve itself. No ability to think big.

I don't want to bag on Ames residents too much. They have their say in how this stuff goes. I just think it's short sighted to play off the giant employer in your city as an antagonist when Ames would most likely be State Center without them there. "Don't ask us for help fixing your property, you don't pay public taxes on it" quickly becomes "How can you build that property without following the tax rules the rest of us follow" when circumstances change.

 

[cycloner29]

What if my student ID has punch card holes in it? And my social security number?

Like this?

 

[2speedy1]

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.

Ames Light Rail here we come!!

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I'm in for horse travel. Romantic except for the poop

View attachment 125422

So, put the cart before the horse?

 

[CascadeClone]

Like this?

View attachment 125426

From a forgotten age when punch cards were still a thing (though never used) and putting your SSN out there for everyone was considered no biggie.

JFC I am officially old...

 

[cycloner29]

From a forgotten age when punch cards were still a thing (though never used) and putting your SSN out there for everyone was considered no biggie.

JFC I am officially old...

I got this in '84 so....yep I'm old too. Happy 40th punch card anniversary to me!!

 

[TitanClone]

What if my student ID has punch card holes in it? And my social security number?

I have a baby face, buzzed head and look 20 years younger than I do now even though it was taken in 2010. Has still worked to get me some discounts here and there. Another trick is to get an alumni email address, the .edu on the end can get you discounts https://www.isualum.org/s/565/20/interior-subnav.aspx?sid=565&gid=1&pgid=349&cid=915

 

[RoseClone]

I don't want to bag on Ames residents too much. They have their say in how this stuff goes. I just think it's short sighted to play off the giant employer in your city as an antagonist when Ames would most likely be State Center without them there. "Don't ask us for help fixing your property, you don't pay public taxes on it" quickly becomes "How can you build that property without following the tax rules the rest of us follow" when circumstances change.

Hey...Nothing wrong with being the Rose Capital of Iowa.

 

[Sevey]

Hey...Nothing wrong with being the Rose Capital of Iowa.

I grew up in State Center. Class of ‘75 from West Marshall. Good little town!

 

[Mr Janny]

I don't want to bag on Ames residents too much. They have their say in how this stuff goes. I just think it's short sighted to play off the giant employer in your city as an antagonist when Ames would most likely be State Center without them there. "Don't ask us for help fixing your property, you don't pay public taxes on it" quickly becomes "How can you build that property without following the tax rules the rest of us follow" when circumstances change.

I get what you're saying, but what Ames would or wouldn't be without the university is pretty immaterial. It's not like ISU is suddenly going to relocate to Boone.

 

[dafarmer]

Can I use my 1972 student ID?

 

[psychlone99]

I don't want to bag on Ames residents too much. They have their say in how this stuff goes. I just think it's short sighted to play off the giant employer in your city as an antagonist when Ames would most likely be State Center without them there. "Don't ask us for help fixing your property, you don't pay public taxes on it" quickly becomes "How can you build that property without following the tax rules the rest of us follow" when circumstances change.

Bingo. Early in my career, I interviewed for a position with the City of Ames. Part of that half-day process included a van tour of the city with some current staff. I was shocked and honestly appalled by how much of that tour included bad-mouthing two of the city's largest employers (ISU and DOT) as we drove by any properties that weren't contributing to the tax base. It put a really bad taste in my mouth.

 

[BryceC]

The fact that the block right across from Friley still has vacant lots next to mayhem is kind of appalling. The place looks like a crumbling downtown in southern Iowa. They’ve had all kinds of opportunities to revamp that area and it’s been a craphole for decades.

 

[RoseClone]

I grew up in State Center. Class of ‘75 from West Marshall. Good little town!

There's a reason I'm RoseClone and it's not that my name is Rose