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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA017 - letters from Prairie View East residents To Whom it May Concern: in April 1977, we contacted Mr. Richard Bliss to discuss his building ct n._ J home for 't_.s. During G .r negotiations he advised us there would be some duplexes built at the North end of Prairie View East and single family homes would be built on the balance of the lets. Mr. Bliss gave us a plat of PVE and drew a line on it below the north eight lots (four on each side of the street) and wrote R in that area. We still have this plat in our possession. Eventually duplexes were built on the North twelve lots. We also recall being told by Mr- Bliss that Prairie View West would be developed in a similar- manner; specifically some duplexes at the north end and single family homes would be built on the balance of the lots. In 1977, we were told PVE would probably be fully developed within two-three years and development of PVW would theti begin. Since development was far- slower than this, we recall asking Mr. Bliss on numerous occasions when and how was PVW to be developed. Each time we received the similar responses and assurances with statements such as: PVW will be developed in a manner similar to PVE; The lots at the south end of PVW and behind us are too valuable to build anything but single family homes, Some condominiums may be built. In 1985, when the zoning throughout Ames was reviewed, it was the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Committee to rezone all of Prairie View to R-2 at the North end and the balance R-1 . The property owners at that time filed a petition in support of the committee's recommendation. The builders, however, offered to provide us with a covenant for the first addition, PVE, if we would not object to their requesting the City Council to not change the zoning. We reluctantly agreed since despite the assurances we had been receiving, we were concerned as to what may be built on the remaining empty lots on PVE. Fart of our concern was because just prior to this Mr. Bliss was negotiating with the E-Free Church for the sale of three lots located across the street from us which they wanted to use for a+. parking lot. This was a different use than had been ee pr `mi sed to us. W recalle do not when we first became aware of the .R- zoning of Prairie View and quite frankly it probably would not have had a great deal o4 meaning to us at that time. l do ::now we built our home based upon assurances made to us by our builder regarding hoes; they planned to develop this area and we would have not have built in Prairie View had we not received these assurances or if we had bet--_'n advised that multi -family rental units may be built in our back yard. 2036 Prairie View East Ames, Iowa 50010 September 14 , 1990 To Whom it may concern: We are Duane and Lenny Mangold, homeowners of 2036 Prairie View East. Our lot was purchased from Dick Coy and Sons in the summer of 1985 and our home was built in the fall and winter of 1985-1986 by Ron Coy. We have recently become- concerned over the possible development of Prairie View West into multiple dwelling complexes. At the time we were looking to buy the lot and choosing the Coys as the builders of our home, we discussed the development of Prairie View West with Dick and Ron Coy. The Coys stated several times that the area west of our home would be developed as single family homes with the possibility of duplexes at the North end of Prairie View West. We purchased the lot and had them build our home with the assurance that Prairie View West would be developed in a manner similar to Prairie View East. We considered Dick Coy and Sons to be honest and very reliable as Dick and Jack Coy built a home for us at 2115 Fillmore in 1965. We certainly want to see Prairie View West zoned to permit only single family -homes on the South and possible duplexes on the North. . We have enjoyed living in this area and consider the land to the west to be prime area to develop into quality single family homes. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Duane and Lenny Mangold 9-1-90 To Whom It May Concern Re: Prairie View Promises In 1984 we purchased lot 12 of Prairie View Subdivision from Broadmoor Enterprises, Inc. , represented by Mr. Richard K. Bliss . We had also negotiated with Mr. Phil Coy on lots controlled by Mr. Coy and his father Jack Coy. Mr. Bliss and Mr. Coy both assured us that the entire Prairie View Sub- division (East and West) would be developed with primarily single family homes. We remember Mr. Coy pointing out that there could be some duplexes built on the north end of Prairie View West, but that the majority of the area would be developed with single family homes. Mr. Bliss represented the area in a similar fashion. These assurances of continued single family residence development were crucial to us in making the decision to build our family home in Prairie View. We had strong concerns about the future development of. the entire Prairie View subdivision prior to our purchasing land and investing our life savings in a home in the area. Our concerns were based on the fact that there were already a large number of duplexes in the area. The resulting population density, traffic, and a home's ability to hold its value in the area were our main concerns. We were not well versed in zoning and relied on how the developers represented the area. We also asked people in the area about the credibility of the developers and what they had been promised. Nate and Annette Burnham showed us a plot map that Mr. Bliss (their builder) had provided them. This map showed that Prairie View East could have duplexes on the north and would be single family homes on the south. They also said that Mr. Bliss had told them that the west side would be developed the same way. Burnhams also showed us the restrictive covent that had been signed by the developers and the home owners in the area. This information coincided with what we had heard from Mr. Bliss and Mr. Phil Coy and so gave additional confirmation that Prairie View would be developed as we were promised. Prairie View Subdivision is predominately a single family residence area unless it was misrepresented to us at the time that we bought our land from Mr. Richard K. Bliss and had Mr . Phil Coy build our home in the subdivision. Mr. Kim H.Heckert Mrs. Lois A. Heckert TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: In 1981 we met with Dick Bliss to inquire about Lot #18 on Prairie View East which he owned. At this time we inquired about the remaining lots and what would be built to the west or Prairie View West. It was at this meeting , Dick Bliss said that plot of land would b e developed in the same manner as Prairie View East, which--would b( duplexes:: at_the trance of 24th and Prairie View West and single family dwellings would be built on the remaining lots and would connect with Prairie View East . He mentioned a possibility of a bike path adjacent to the southern border of lot #18 which we now own . With this information we proceeded to build our house at 2042 Prairie View East. If we had known this land was going to be used in any other way , we would not have built this home on Prairie View East. My former wife and I purchased the mouse at 2110 Prairie View East in 1980. At that time I was told by Ron Coy that Prairie View East would tie' developed as duplexes on the north and single family dwellings on the south . The plan for Prai— rie View West was to be the same . This }.plan was almost al— tered about 198 when Dick Bliss tried to sell three lots to the neighboring church for park-ing. The neighborhood ob— jected and the church reconsidered. At about this time the City Council reviewed the zoning of Prairie View in order to make it conform with the current development . Namely they wanted to down zone to R-1 and R Dick Bliss objected and (as I recall) threatened to immediately (before down zoning could occur) build duplexes on the open space in the R-1 area and to take us to court if we supported the down zoning. We were led to believe that R was needed on Prairie View West in case he wanted to build condominiums . He signed a cov— enant for R-1 and R on Prairie View East so in view of this compromise, we did not support the down zoning in 19E83. Maybe we should have stood up to Dick Bliss then. Dear, L. Isaacson 2.110 Prairie View East -1 — C w 2131 Prairie View East Ames, IA 50010 September 1, 1990 PRAIRIE VIEW HOME OWNERS ASSN. Mr. Nathan F. Burnham 2141 Prairie View East Ames, IA 50010 Dear Nate: In response to your request to document any comments we are aware of pretaining to the development of Prairie View West. we submit the following. 1. When we bought our house in 1978, we did not ask about future development plans of the area and remember being told nothing about it. 2. Curran talked with Ron Coy when Ron was pacing off the dimensions of Mangold's property. Ron talked about his hopes to build nice homes on the "very choice" lots on the south (next to the native prairie area). 3. We were present at a 1983 Ames City Council meeting when Dick Bliss made a statement that part of Prairie View West would be developed with condominiums. (The word 'condominium' has always implied 'owner-occupied' to us. ) 4. As homes were built in the Prairie View East area and new neighbors moved in, we talked with them concerning what they had been told by the land-sellers and builders about future Prairie View West development. What we heard: "Prairie View West development would be consistent with what you are seeing on Prairie View East" (i .e. , single-family homes on the south and duplexes at the north end) . 5. Phil Coy built the porch and family room addition to our house in 1982. We felt comfortable adding value to our house because of our perceptions of future Prairie View West development. Phil told us then that, based on what his father told him, Prairie View West would be developed single-family homes on the south, duplexes in the north part, with probably two four-plexes at the very northern end to make their investment worthwhile. We appreciate your and Bob Mortensen's efforts on the behalf of the present Prairie View area homeowners. Sind' Curran and Anne Swift 3. 9a 0001, 67, Q _ t � Z - . p b G. s C 9 3 4 � • �1llG �uS1G��SPc� 'o � ZO t5� A'Ciq' � •Oa � � Crq.�r�• C-: .� .eti% AUU � Gr.e�G� �iU C COt� � to tG�•¢YS ��i C�•e � a�eYS' C Au Cac� d•e S �'� �e d au d ��- -� o r,s� om�c _ W i.� v•c -1-0 ( cl tILA QaV y d t.�v • Uc1 -��� • M+� r -i-�^4� (�� W�V'� N'e�D C•� ��i-�j -� �.� � cc3�C Y1aS2 6� �� !oT WGLS r1 � 5 ��tS��re �O �,EVeIO�� -S 4 G k !O lv ... 6u -4"l _fa Cj'CA-I�-(=-�� 5 ,may l 4.v, a K 5 (>-*-.% A- 7 +�Z II Ya•Y - 'c b • r�.� f l9J.c S I AL.:.,, �or CQS4 fVTeL C,J,ev.e -S 423 Paulson Drive Ames, Iowa 50010 September 18, 1990 Nate Burnham Prairie View Home Owners Assn. 2141 Prairie View East Ames, IA 50010 Dear Nate: Regarding your request for information on future development of Prairie View East and West, it has been more than 12 years since we purchased the property at 2137 Prairie View East. (Legal description: Lot 24, First Addition to Prairie View Subdivision. ) Consequently, I am not able to quote precisely what I was told by Contractor Dick Bliss who sold the property to us. However, since the development of Prairie View East was not completed and construction in Prairie View West had not begun, I was vitally interested in what was to be done with the vacant property in the subdi vi si on. And though I cannot recall his precise words, I do have a clear mental picture of what bliss indicated was to be in both the uncompleted section of Prairie View East and in all of Prairie View West. The property behind (to the south) 2137 Prairie View East was going to be single family dwellings, Bliss indicated_ There was some uncertainty as to the exact placement of homes and streets, he told me. This was because the city originally had planned to extend 2Oth .Street west from the high school . Then the city found it would be too expensive to bridge the ravine there, which required Bliss and his partners to change the plat of the subdivision. He then intended to put in a cul-de-sac off of Prairie View which would have prime sites for single family homes. Finally, it was indicated to me that there would be no additional multiple family units built on Prairie View East south of where they had been completed in 1978. And it was my understanding that there would be some multiple family units only on the north edge of Prairie View West near 24th Street and also along the western border that backed to Schilletter Village. None of the multiple-family units were to be in the area of the single family dwellings in Prairie View East. nC rE�y, Sohn A. l;;al 1 i zc >>> I ri�if 1 fJ'. TI'! .ttfTe�} I 1 ;t :�I r,�• �I � � I 1 li I (I r , t ( / Ar t !r r C. ctt S.*• I I I ` t 1. 1 t s r 11 '•, t I i:• ( S � �,. 7 t I .I I I I it r ty -.r- :t . 1 r I I f 1 ip tQA—VM r -k ! 9 I r r. f{A '.� �t�•>+�k\� }S f l i. joy t :J I I Y t }t } t a t { f !I r� 13-w it F ( .rTl�.py}rj&` �•(+( +pr,t' tj,ht,( '��'+ '1 1(1 f I } 1! � ).�. r t I J A °j}' i'T {ra(,, •4. � r f. • }�- I + { } 1 _ r ar t i Ir }f...nc�ti 4t 'fi I . I 1 t f - R�C Prairie View East Survey Names September 1-3, 1990 Address 21)s l������r€,•� F � Where you told anything by the. developers of Prairie View about possible future development? If so, what were you told, . who . told you and when..were you told. please write a statment with this information. // f(/ = way Ao l� d&4 �o,l� ctz 1400 &1,-If 1. • �o t? )^fk 111w, (��{irf�J(4J Fa�� Gr/at d/r�cY°y �ij� �r1�efT O�ea�+ E�0 rlecer #'r( A"lel C/snd, rkcre�O'/re, IhC City WOU�� Q��dG� lid �icr f/h2r q�eJ� �OPI►9�1� Oil 7�1Q S�rCef -L-f lt/d�(( st/ar' �c4 IFS c zerml / 1 C Prairie View East Survey Names � n s September 1-3 , 1990 Address Where you told anything by the developers of Prairie View about possible future development? If so, what were you told, who told you and when were you told. please write a statment with this information. Po� P.� w q �u S C Prairie View East Survey Names q/ /moo September 1-3 , 1990 Addressc�l'/5 ���. /.,ce. ✓' Were you told anything by the developers of. Prairie View about possible future development? If so, what were you told, who told you and 'When Vbge you told. please write a stat((ment with this informatio V *jT1 t Prairie View East Survey Names (f�d/r� G ���� ✓�� pnn September 1-3 , 1990 Address C- --al';�� C . Where you told anything by the developers of Prairie View about possible future development? If so, what were you told, who told you and when were you told. please write a statment with this information. / dII ev6lo i.� ��ic SuirnG irj7ctn. cr rra �aii1� (�cGJ �= r 5.�,9/G/ ��1 -,66 6 p s s.'f!i l �' en OT �l�a�rrit�l A,. i/I4 4-- ;2 o JGSs w Hie- OrG�c.icL 4-0 SG �i� �J/ dor -�'IriG S1Lu6Q..7�5 Nw�/.;�� Gf/23 eiYGf c�OnG .