Editors Note: The Debatable is a new feature by the Daily. Every Thursday, a question will be posed of a significant issue affecting the Iowa State and Ames communities. It will be accompanied by basic information on the issue, as well the leading perspectives shaping the debate. The intent is to inform and make you feel educated enough to where you feel comfortable debating the issue with others, while prompting you to form your opinion on the subject, which we at the Daily welcome you to share with us.

For several years now, Ames has been in the process of reviewing the implications and benefits of building a new mall. The new plan has shifted the mall’s location and now refers to the development as a “lifestyle center:” a large collection of stores and shops making use of pedestrian walkways and vast amounts of open space. Lifestyle centers are preferred to standard malls because of their openness, but criticized for their use of available land.

The driving force behind building the lifestyle center is James “Bucky” Wolford, the head of Wolford Development, Inc. The new development is scheduled to be constructed east of the intersection of Interstate 35 and East 13th St., just south of the Ketelsen Marsh. It was originally slated to be built around the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 30, but the site was moved because of a lack of direct access to the proposed stores and environmental concerns associated with its proximity to a nearby stream.

Wolford, and supporters of the project, believe the new center will bring added business and revenue to Ames and the surrounding counties. Proponents believe the lifestyle center will offer alternative stores and a different atmosphere than North Grand Mall, and will therefore be able to generate new business gains in Ames. These new businesses, it is believed, will in turn create jobs for the citizens of Ames. Proponents say people from surrounding counties and cities will be drawn to the new center and bring in business to the city of Ames. They believe the development will spur growth and Ames will benefit from a new, more aesthetically pleasing shopping center.

The proposed lifestyle center faces opposition, however, both from certain members of the Ames City Council and Ames residents.

Residents associated with the “Smart Growth” group in Ames believe that major community developments should be adequately planned in advance to minimize the effects of uncontrolled sprawl and environmental damage. Opponents claim that the new lifestyle center will draw business away from North Grand Mall, which has already seen declining business in the past few years.

They believe the new development will not create new retail business, but simply move existing business away from North Grand Mall and other areas. It is believed economic development should be focused on fixing existing problems with North Grand Mall and finding ways to invigorate the declining downtown district.

Should Ames build a new “lifestyle center”?

Readers can leave their feedback to this Debatable online at iowastatedaily.com and participate in our online poll regarding this issue (located in the far-right column of the frontpage above “Today’s PDF”).

The next Ames City Council meeting regarding the mall will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Ames City Hall.

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