New Mall

The new mall is still in the works and closer than ever to breaking ground.

James Wolford, owner of Wolford Development in Chattanooga, Tenn., said the new mall is planned to be built near the intersection of 13th Street and Interstate 35.

“The next step we have to do is submit a major site development plan for approval,” Wolford said.

The plan will have to go through city and staff, the planning and zoning commission and City Council. Wolford said he hoped the process would be done by the end of July.

“Assuming we get through this process, [we would] start construction as soon as winter ends,” Wolford said.

Wolford said if construction starts this spring, the mall could open as soon as fall 2009.

“We are looking forward to getting the approval done and moving forward on the project,” Wolford said.

Steve Osguthorpe, Ames director of planning and zoning, said Wolford is waiting for an amendment to Ames law that will change the zoning laws to submit his final development plan.

“I’m not sure opinions for the mall have changed,” Osguthorpe said.

After the final development plan is submitted, the city will need some time to review it. Then construction can start.

Osguthorpe said the mall is almost guaranteed to be built because there are no active groups or individuals opposing it.

“As long as the developers move forward in accordance with what the City Council has told them, it will be a done deal,” Osguthorpe said.

Old Mall

North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave., will be forcing the businesses in the strip mall adjacent to it to move by September. Valentino’s, 2500 Ferndale Ave., will be moving to the Northern Lights Center. Grand Cleaners LLC, 2507 N. Grand Ave., is moving to 2713 Stange Road. Walgreens, 2501 Grand Ave., and Okoboji Grill, 2719 Grand Ave., both declined to comment on their speculative moves.

Sears, 2701 Grand Ave., had its going out of business sale throughout the summer and closed its doors on July 31.