The proposed mall slated for U.S. Interstate 35 and 13th Street seems to be out of the local news for the time being.

As a citizen of Ames, I don’t appreciate even the consideration of such a proposal, and a plan for a regional mall should be removed from the Ames Land Use Policy Plan. Such an idea flies directly in the face of this city’s attempt of traditional growth within current retail and business areas.

Show me where it would be in the best interests of the citizens of Ames and business owners from surrounding smaller communities in Story County.

Who benefits from such a mall?

Investors or developers perhaps, but not the people who will have to drive even further or ride the bus further. Forget about walking or riding a bike. The city council’s approval to build such a mall would be equivalent to selling out the citizens of Ames to James “Bucky” Wolford of Tennessee and his cohorts.

You only have to look to the Coralville mall to see what that development has done to downtown Iowa City. It has been gutted.

Sprawl is not inevitable. It occurs through a lack of leadership and adequate interpretation of unbiased information.

Just because you can do something, does not mean you should. Just because “everyone else is doing it”, does not mean it is wise. There are viable alternatives to “land consumption”. Failing to actively seek and pursue alternatives within the traditional city limits of Ames means a failure in representing your tax paying, voting and non-voting constituents.

John Smith

Senior

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