The Ames city council voted unanimously Tuesday to give Youth and Shelter Services (YSS) possession of the old Ames City Hall.

“This is a big step toward a dream come true. I don’t think the council realizes how many lives they touched when they passed this,” CEO George Belitsos said.

In the agreement, YSS will pay the city of Ames $500 for the building and spend $1.5 million refurbishing the interior of the building. YSS also asked for 36 parking spaces, but because of limited parking downtown, the council granted YSS only 14.

The 80-year-old building, which has been vacant for five years, is Ames’ first historical landmark. For this reason, it was important that the new owner preserve and restore the building to its natural state, council members said.

“It’s a building that Ames could be very proud to have in the downtown,” said Ann Campbell, council member.

After YSS completes restoring the building, it will consolidate several YSS locations there to house a youth and family center. In about two years, kids and families will be walking out of that building better for having been there, Belitsos said.

The council put down any ideas of waiting until next spring when the downtown advisory committee could take a look at the issue.

“I don’t see an advantage in waiting to develop it,” said Judie Hoffman, council member.

Others said they thought it would be disastrous to let the building sit empty for another year.

The decision comes at a good time for YSS, which announced last Friday that a lead donation of $500,000 had come from Des Moines businessman Richard Jacobson. The donation is a major step in goal of $2 million for the building. Their campaign, “Preserving the Past—Preparing for the Future,” will be formally announced in the spring of 1996, said Rick Lewis, YSS board member.

In other action, the council approved 4 to 1 the four-story apartment building at 608 and 612 Douglas Ave. Earlier this summer, the council had denied construction of this building, but after the developer made specifications to the design, the council approved it.

The council also approved two building signs on property owned by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Since no citizens voiced concern at the meeting, the council to approved the signs, which some had said were too large.

The council agreed to listen to any concerns at the next meeting and possibly reconsider.