Imagine the parking lot in front of Target on Lincoln Way filled with downtown-style streets with mainstreet-style store fronts, parking ramps, a Cy-Ride terminal and housing.

The Quality of Life Network commissioned a drawing to demonstrate these possible development techniques for the entire Target shopping center area, 620 Lincoln Way.

The coordinator of the Quality of Life Network, Joe Lynch, said the design is not necessarily what group members want the site to look like.

“This is just a proposal for communication to show how to improve the site,” Lynch said. “The design is meant to engage the imagination.”

The drawing was commissioned in response to Target’s plan to move into University Inn’s location on South Duff.

Mike Pitula, senior in environmental studies and Spanish, said the new location is on a flood-plane.

“[Development on flood-planes] curtails the land’s ability to take care of watershed problems,” Pitula said. “Target’s development there would really add to [urban] sprawl that takes up land that’s better suited to holding and draining water for us.”

According to Pitula, urban sprawl contributes to traffic problems such as car accidents and the emission of ozone-depleting gases.

Urban sprawl also causes the “breaking down of social ties” and health problems from less exercise, he added.

“[The proposed design] would reduce dependence on cars,” said Jim Popken of the Ames Neighborhood Coalition. “It integrates living, work and recreational opportunities in one space so you don’t have to drive everywhere.”

The drawing is a plan that allows for easier bicycle, pedestrian and bus entrance and travel, Lynch said.

“The existing site was designed with the car in mind,” Lynch said. “A classic mistake is to let parking dominate design. Downtowns have died because of that philosophy. There’s lots of parking, but nothing to do.”

Students could also find advantages in the more affordable housing and increased access to community areas, Pitula said.

“A lot of students could benefit [from this development] because a lot of students don’t have cars,” he said.

Lynch said support for the proposed design has been mostly vocal. “Getting people to give up personal time has been difficult,” he said.

“This is people-centered development as opposed to profit and auto-centered development,” Pitula said.

“Part of that process is getting people involved in developing the places they’re going to live in,” he said.

The new design will be presented to the Ames City Council tomorrow, Lynch said. He said he feels the council has not taken the issue seriously so far.

“I’m very willing to look at new ideas if the property owner is willing to implement them,” said Judie Hoffman, at-large council member. “The land doesn’t belong to the city or Target,” she said.

According to Lynch and Hoffman, the land belongs to an out-of-town property owner.

“[Some time ago] Target looked at buying the land it was on and some land to the east … but the people were not willing to sell,” Hoffman said.

“The city can’t tell people to sell their land,” she said.

Lynch said Target should be encouraged with tax breaks to stay where it is and consider new development ideas

“Target values their public image and our business,” he said. “It’s silly to roll over and die for Target when we should be asking for the moon.”