HomeMy WebLinkAboutA013 - Letter from Terry Lewis, opposition to New Mall December 13, 2004
My name is Terry G Lewis. I am the coordinator of the Onion Creek Neighborhood
Association, which is all properties on North Dakota from the tracks north to Cameron
School Road. I live at 2216 North Dakota.
Up to this point, the proposed mall has generated a lot of interest and city staff has spent
a lot of time on the project. There was much debate about the statistical data used for the
original 740,000 square foot regional mall and 470,000 square foot power center. Now
that the plans have changed again, it should be time to stop,back up and review a few
points.
The original marketing study was designed around a 740,000 gross square foot mall and a
470,000 gross square foot power center. We were supposed to get a regional mall that
would draw shoppers from far north of Ames. Now we are told that the regional mall
will not be built, but a lifestyle center of 450,000 gross square feet will take it's place.
Stores are not connected and it is not enclosed.
The power center originally was to have a Wal-Mart and Home Depot as anchors. Wal-
Mart now appears to be out as a possible tenant. There was talk before of reducing the
built space of the power center, as two major anchors might not be found.
There is no way that the revised lifestyle center/power center will generate as much
revenue as originally projected, as now we won't be a regional mall or major destination
shopping experience. Jordan Creek is also a mall with a power center. I believe the
comparisons between the new mall in Ames and Jordan Creek were apples to apples.
Our proposed project may turn out to be one third the size of Jordan Creek, which is a
major regional mall. How can we get more revenue than Jordan Creek?
North Grand has 350,000 square feet. What is now proposed for east Ames is only
100,000 square feet more than what we have. North Grand is enclosed,which provides a
nice area for year around walking and shopping, regardless of weather. I am also a
member of the Ames Woodworking Club. For the second year in a row,we participated
in the community weekend in North Grand,where we demonstrated wood techniques,
members displayed some of their projects and we could talk to members of the
community. We also gained members as a result of this effort. This type of community
interaction will not be possible at the new lifestyle center.
Now that we see what truly is proposed for Ames, we need to vote no on the passage of
the Northeast Gateway Overlay District and no on rezoning. Mr. Wolford was only the
first developer with a plan. Lets back off on the whole mall idea and see if a better offer
comes along. I feel we can do much better. North Grand was willing to invest in adding
300,000 plus square feet to the existing mall. Right now, that looks very good and has a
higher possibility of success. Prior statements were made, based on the original proposal,
that we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. We will not be missing an opportunity, as
the original proposal was just smoke.
Terry G Lewis
2216 N. Dakota
Ames, IA 50014
515-296-2493