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Partnership with Iowa State is critical to the improvement of

Campustown for students, visitors and the greater Ames community.

Stanley Perdios is concerned that campus would invade a place that

now provides a retreat from classes and homework, specifically

through the relocation of some university offices and a multi-use

movie theater-lecture hall complex proposed in LANE4’s

redevelopment plans for Campustown.

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By committing to lease, not own, office space in the new

development, the university is simply ensuring that this space will

not sit vacant and will contribute to an increase in daytime

population of Campustown, allowing a greater variety of businesses

and services.

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I can understand Perdios’ point about not wanting to attend class

in a movie theater, but this is another case where a university

partnership may be necessary to ensure the facility could be

sustained financially. A new cinema, especially with multiple

screens, could draw in non-students from around Ames and expand

Campustown nightlife options for students under 21 and those

desiring an alternative to drinking. It is my understanding that

both these facilities would be developed and managed privately, not

by the university.

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Successful urban neighborhoods are built on synergies between

different businesses, activities, and institutions that can

compliment and sustain each other. The inclusion of university

functions in Campustown redevelopment is intended to facilitate a

wider variety of businesses and services, which in turn makes Iowa

State more attractive to prospective students and fosters more

interaction with the Ames community.

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The Campustown redevelopment initiative is something the entire

Iowa State and Ames community can stand behind. The current

proposal is very preliminary and will inevitably change and be

refined as the process moves forward. However, it deserves

thoughtful consideration and reasonable discussion based on an

accurate understanding of the project goals, its stakeholders and

sources of funding.