New Mall Proposed for Northeast AmesHead: New mall proposed for northeast Ames
Subhead: proposal already raising questions about sales potential
By Rebecca A. Petersen
and David Grebe
Staff Writers
A Tennessee developer is working to build a retail center nearly twice the size of
North Grand Mall at the intersection of Interstate 35 and 13th Street in Ames.
Wolford Development Inc. of Chattanooga wants to build a 700,000-square-foot
enclosed regional mall in the northeast quadrant of the intersection, according to a letter
sent to city officials. The company hopes to begin construction this fall and open the
center in 2003 or 2004, said Mark Reinig, the city's director of economic development.
The letter was made public at the Ames City Council meeting Tuesday night. The
proposal location is presently in Story County, but adjacent to city limits and within the
city's two-mile growth boundary.
Specifications of the project were not outlined though company President James
L. Wolford said in his letter that the Younkers and Sears stores at North Grand Mall
could benefit from expansion.
North Grand Mall is about 390,000 square feet, according to information obtained
from the Ames Assessors Office.
Wolford's letter asked city officials to consider changes to its land use policy plan
that designates land at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 30 as a growth area
for a regional mall. That location has several difficulties, including access and visibility,
according to the developer.
"After looking at several sites and evaluating their location and site
characteristics, we concluded that the best site in the Ames market was the northeast
quadrant of Interstate 35 and 131h Street," Wolford wrote.
Reinig said the proposal is market -driven and there are no incentives being
offered to the mall, at least for now.
Attempts to reach the developer Wednesday morning were unsuccessful.
Council member Russ Cross said Tuesday he was "interested" in the concept of
the mall, largely because of the leakage of sales from Story County residents shopping in
Polk County. But Ken Stone, an Iowa State University retail expert, said not many sales
are leaving Story County, according to 2000 data.
"It's not that bad," Stone said. He noted the 1.4 percent sales leakage does not
include student spending.
"If we could account for the students, we could have a surplus," he said.
Mayor Ted Tedesco said the city has an obligation to investigate every possible
opportunity for the community.
The tax revenues from a retail center as large as the proposed mall are difficult to
estimate though tens of millions seem likely, said City Assessor Richard Horn.
"It's difficult to say without seeing the plans," Horn said. "There would be a large
amount of value but (the city) would lose value at North Grand Mall."
North Grand Mall Manager Kurt Carlson said Ames cannot support two malls.
But he also said there is a lack of available land for interested retailers. The Best
Buy Corp. has considered several Ames sites but hasn't been able to secure a location.
"Whether (a new mall) is feasible or not, it's still up in the air," Carlson said. "We
could really get in the position of being overbuilt."
In other action, the council:
® Rezoned the area known as "Ames Quarry" to Airport/Government so it can be
converted into a nature preserve and park.
® Approved new sculptures for the "Art Around the Corner Project."
® Approved the creation of the "Ames Circle of Arts" sculpture in Bandshell
Park.
® Granted first passage of an ordinance prohibiting the placement of upholstered
furniture in the yard and front porches of rental housing. Council member Sharon Wirth
questioned whether the proposal ought to be expanded to include owner -occupied
housing as well.
Staff Writer Rebecca A. Petersen can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 348 or by e-
mail at rpetersen@amestreib.com.
Staff Writer David Grebe can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 346, or by e-mail at
dgrebe@amestrib.com.