What needs changing in Ames first?

[Mr Janny]

my wife and I had our wedding reception at Hickory Hall. It was really nice. The palm tree was a little disconcerting, but over all it was a great experience. I'd been there when it was Hunky Dory's so it was a little surreal. The place hasn't changed a ton.

 

[chuckd4735]

Any more news on the Wal-Greens rumor at Duff and Lincoln Way that I have also been heard floating around?

Im not sure about that? I know the North Grand bought them out of their current location, but I also heard that Walgreens bought out Okoboji Grills old location by the mall and were going to build there.

 

[Angie]

my wife and I had our wedding reception at Hickory Hall. It was really nice. The palm tree was a little disconcerting, but over all it was a great experience. I'd been there when it was Hunky Dory's so it was a little surreal. The place hasn't changed a ton.

They have some white tulle and Christmas tree lights hung up to make it more "wedding-like". I just wish they would leave the palm tree off.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Hunky Dory, that's right. I was brain-farting on the name.

 

[redrocker]

Im not sure about that? I know the North Grand bought them out of their current location, but I also heard that Walgreens bought out Okoboji Grills old location by the mall and were going to build there.

I have the demo plans for the old sears building. Last fall we gave out some Asbestos removal work on the roof of the Sears Anchor for the mall. I had a set of the proposed mall renovation that is going on.

The walgreens rumor at lincoln way and Duff was at the north east intersection. They were buying out the old Sinclair station, but we just put a new roof on it (like 2 months ago) so I have been lost on that rumor.

 

[redrocker]

They have some white tulle and Christmas tree lights hung up to make it more "wedding-like". I just wish they would leave the palm tree off.

Don't forget that you feel like a Gladiator in the Collesium when you are on the dance floor.:wink:

 

[Angie]

Don't forget that you feel like a Gladiator in the Collesium when you are on the dance floor.:wink:

That's true - and you're even bigger when you're in a poofy wedding dress. And rolling towards people in a giant hamster ball.

 

[bmuff]

Yes lets try and build a mall that can compete with the biggest mall in Iowa, and bulid it only 40 minutes away in a town that doesn't have nearly the same consumer base!

I hate to take the position of smart growth here but trying to compete with Jordan Creek is stupid. Yes it would be nice to have some more shopping options in Ames, but you will never have the same draw as Des Moines does. Rather than trying to carve away from their market Ames would benefit more from trying to fill markets not met in Des Moines, find some quirkier shops to give the college town more of a college feel, attract shops not found in Jordan Creek, ect. Don't try to compete head to head with it. Then work on advertising said markets to communities in the area, including Des Moines.

Lets face it, people are going to go to Jordan Creek, you cannot stop that. Insted of trying to stop it find something that will bring people to Ames as well, so that the money flows both ways

I don't think that they have to compete with Jordan Creek at all. I live in Ames. Try finding a place to buy mens clothing in Ames. Or how about stuff for babies. Things like that that the average family needs is NOT worth a trip to DM. Just opening a Dillards (which is planned in the new mall) would be a HUGE thing. Or how about an Old Navy or a Kohls? I shouldn't have to drive to DM/Ankeny every time I want to buy something not offered at Wal-Mart or Target.

We'll still make our trips to DM for get-away shopping days. But having better options in Ames will eliminate 3/4 of our trips there. And I'm betting many families from the surrounding communities feel the same.

 

[wonkadog]

My wife is in love with Kohl's and from going there a few times, I have to agree that they have some pretty awesome deals for cheapskates like ourselves. Open one of those in Ames and we probably hardly ever go south to shop.

 

[bmuff]

OK, here's my list:

1.CAMPUSTOWN. They need to close off Welch. Move the FD and open a new Peoples there. Renovate the storefronts and do some landscaping. And if the road is gone and the roadside parking is gone, then maybe have some sidewalk seating for bars and restaurants.

2.JOBS. I think that a LOT of people would move back to Ames if the jobs were there. No one likes a commute to DM. Keep pursuing companies to open in Ames, ISU grads almost universilly have an affection for the town. City Council, PLEASE do not fight businesses trying to open in Ames.

3.CITY COUNCIL IDIOTS. Quit fighting growth. If you want growth on Duff and Airport Road, then offer companies incentives rather than fight with them. Ryan Doll, you are right up there with the idiots. He fought the new mall tooth and nail, along with Goodman and Popkin. Get more people like Jami Larson and Riad Mahayni on the council and we can move forward.

4.LINCOLN WAY. Either force companies to keep up their storefronts along LW or force them to move. There's no reason why the main throughway in town should look run down.

5.WEST AMES. Eliminate the Section 8 housing that is causing all the crime in that part of town. Promote more places like West Towne Pub to move in there.

6.TRAFFIC. Try to make it easier to get around. There is too much traffic on LW, Duff and Grand.

7.MINORS. Allow a couple of bars to let 19 y/o's in. Make them pay for a huge permit or something. The influx of money alone would improve the Campustown area. Give the bars the right to stay 21 and over and that will push more 21+ people to them.

 

[redrocker]

OK, here's my list:

1.CAMPUSTOWN. They need to close off Welch. Move the FD and open a new Peoples there. Renovate the storefronts and do some landscaping. And if the road is gone and the roadside parking is gone, then maybe have some sidewalk seating for bars and restaurants.

2.JOBS. I think that a LOT of people would move back to Ames if the jobs were there. No one likes a commute to DM. Keep pursuing companies to open in Ames, ISU grads almost universilly have an affection for the town. City Council, PLEASE do not fight businesses trying to open in Ames.

3.CITY COUNCIL IDIOTS. Quit fighting growth. If you want growth on Duff and Airport Road, then offer companies incentives rather than fight with them. Ryan Doll, you are right up there with the idiots. He fought the new mall tooth and nail, along with Goodman and Popkin. Get more people like Jami Larson and Riad Mahayni on the council and we can move forward.

4.LINCOLN WAY. Either force companies to keep up their storefronts along LW or force them to move. There's no reason why the main throughway in town should look run down.

5.WEST AMES. Eliminate the Section 8 housing that is causing all the crime in that part of town. Promote more places like West Towne Pub to move in there.

6.TRAFFIC. Try to make it easier to get around. There is too much traffic on LW, Duff and Grand.

7.MINORS. Allow a couple of bars to let 19 y/o's in. Make them pay for a huge permit or something. The influx of money alone would improve the Campustown area. Give the bars the right to stay 21 and over and that will push more 21+ people to them.

Good List, I agree. (not completely with #7, but the rest of the list looks good)

 

[redrocker]

That's true - and you're even bigger when you're in a poofy wedding dress. And rolling towards people in a giant hamster ball.

This post is worthless with out Pics!

 

[superdorf]

Who is THEY?

If THEY is the City of Ames, THEY can't build a Peoples...

THEY can't force an existing business to do anything, unless they are breaking the law.

I would like to see 1 example of the City trying to prevent new jobs...

You want better traffic, then widen Lincoln way... you see how well the widen Grand Ave. thing is going... I'm sure widening Lincoln way will be real easy...

 

[Angie]

This post is worthless with out Pics!

This isn't me, but I actually found one of these?!?

http://www.wedaholic.com/images/design/heavyweddingdress.jpg

 

[chuckd4735]

Who is THEY?

If THEY is the City of Ames, THEY can't build a Peoples...

THEY can't force an existing business to do anything, unless they are breaking the law.

I would like to see 1 example of the City trying to prevent new jobs...

You want better traffic, then widen Lincoln way... you see how well the widen Grand Ave. thing is going... I'm sure widening Lincoln way will be real easy...

The mall will bring new jobs, and if anyone tries to say that Ames didn't try and stop that....

 

[PolkCityClone]

Good List, I agree. (not completely with #7, but the rest of the list looks good)

Yeah - let's lt our underage athletes into a bar. Working wonders in Iowa City.

 

[Cy Hard]

Instead of building a new mall they need to make the existing managment company of the mall follow through on the renovation plans tht would have almost doubled the size of the old mall. For those who can remember it would've looked great and kept Ames the same. If people want to get pissed about a new mall , tell them to complain to the management firm at the old mall and city council.

 

[Erik4Cy]

The only thing Ames has going for it other than ISU is there are some good restaraunts.

lol, idk if that is the ONLY thing going for it, but you people in Ames don't realize how many good places and how many different choices you have for restaurants. I think Ames has a decent and growing bar scene, but could use more a little more "night life." People I know who live in Ames says that there are many "anti-growth" people living in the city who will vote down anything. Just like it took forever to pass the waterpark that is going to be built (can't remember the name.)

I will say that there is a bit of a traffic problem on some of the roads in Ames like Duff and Lincoln, which is kinda weird for a city that only has like 60K people. I find many of the larger roads in Waterloo less busy and it has 110K.

 

[Cyclone711]

Can anyone link pictures and info about about the new mall and tell when it will open? You must understand I'm from MN and don't go to ames on a regular basis now since my grandmother doesn't live there anymore.

 

[Cyclone62]

4.LINCOLN WAY. Either force companies to keep up their storefronts along LW or force them to move. There's no reason why the main throughway in town should look run down.

Oh boy, do I ever agree. There are some places on LW that I still can't tell if they're closed down, or just look like hell.