Cytown Update

[2speedy1]

I remember when people used to fly planes over JTS during games with banner ads towed behind them.

Still do....but I am sure they have a license to do it, and have all the paperwork etc.

Keep in mind an airplane would be in contact with the airport and control, so would be a known flight. And would have to file its flight plane etc with the FAA beforehand.

Which is why this is a no fly zone for Drones and other things like ultralights etc that would not have any of the above, unless they went through the proper channels etc.

 

[3TrueFans]

I remember the first half while in school. The second is news to me.

FWIW my dad said Ames residents were ******** about things like that in the 70s when he was in school.

The Ames mall thing was still being discussed and proposed in like 2004 as Jordan Creek was opening, they weren't the same developers.

 

[MJ271]

Dr. Wintersteen is well thought of in major ag circles so I could imagine she'd have some good influence that a "Deere/Case/Vermeer" type of large donor would be interested in.

Now all I can think about is giant speakers playing "You have entered the Case IH... CyTown" every time someone walks into the area.

 

[JP4CY]

Now all I can think about is giant speakers playing "You have entered the Case IH... CyTown" every time someone walks into the area.

Until some mom grabs her kids arm and then they have to leave.

 

[psycln11]

Here's an article from 2002...

Plans for second mall in Ames take shape

ISU students’ shopping options may change if a second mall is built in Ames. North Grand Mall officials said it’s too early to tell if another shopping center in Ames will affect business, however. Kurt Carlson, general manager of the North Grand Mall, said the project is not far enough along to...

iowastatedaily.com

 

[3TrueFans]

If only we had built the mall, maybe that Burger King would still be open!

 

[Pat]

Yes, South Duff is an absolute clusterfuck. Ames city planners get an F.

The good news: while I don’t agree with all of the plans, Ames finally has a pro-growth city council that is actually attempting to put the infrastructure in place to (hopefully) avoid stuff like that. The bad news: Story County appears to be actively trying to throw a wrench in all the plans.

 

[GoldCy]

Still do....but I am sure they have a license to do it, and have all the paperwork etc.

Keep in mind an airplane would be in contact with the airport and control, so would be a known flight. And would have to file its flight plane etc with the FAA beforehand.

Which is why this is a no fly zone for Drones and other things like ultralights etc that would not have any of the above, unless they went through the proper channels etc.

No, you don't need a flight plan.

 

[NWICY]

Noticed on FB Ames People that you have a lot of people ******** about it. Even went so far to call it “Pollywood”.

Dumbasses, everyone knows the correct name is the Pollard and light District

 

[Farnsworth]

The Ames mall thing was still being discussed and proposed in like 2004 as Jordan Creek was opening, they weren't the same developers.

I stand corrected. Here is an article on it from shortly after Jordan Creek opened.

Mall planners unconcerned with Jordan Creek’s impact

Ames retailers could be in for a run for their money. The newly opened Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines has attracted approximately 2 million shoppers since its Aug. 4 opening, said Rocell Viniard, senior marketing manager for the Jordan Creek Town Center. With 60 new stores...

iowastatedaily.com

I think these are the talking points I was remembering. Don't exactly remember them talked about this way, but obviously my memory sucks. I think the conversation was capturing the markets above DSM before one got thrown up in Altoona or Ankeny.

Ames officials recognized that the Jordan Creek Town Center would attract numerous shoppers during its first few months, but they also recognized the market Ames serves.



“I’ve read quite a bit of market studies that have been submitted to the city of Ames,” said Joe Pietruszynksi, Ames city planner. “They all come to the same conclusion — that Ames has a particular trade area.”



He said the Ames area serves shoppers from the north, the west and the east, but shoppers from the south are limited because the Des Moines metropolitan area already serves many of those shopper’s needs.

Flegal said building a new mall in Ames could equalize the economic impact Jordan Creek will have on the city of Ames.



“Jordan Creek will have a greater impact if Ames does not get a new mall than if it does,” he said.

I was 20 at the time and more concerned about finding a house party than the economical development regions of central Iowa

 

[Clonefan94]

If only we had built the mall, maybe that Burger King would still be open!

Sam Mack’s ears just perked up.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Ya’ll enjoy Cytown at Gunnerclone Crossing Meadows Peaks Fields Ridge View Creek.

If you got that big a purse we need to hang out.

 

[Frak]

I still think a shopping center out by I35 would have been successful. But instead the investment was in the north grand area and some box stores along hwy 30. It turned out ok even though it’s a cluster getting around town.

 

[JSmoove]

The good news: while I don’t agree with all of the plans, Ames finally has a pro-growth city council that is actually attempting to put the infrastructure in place to (hopefully) avoid stuff like that. The bad news: Story County appears to be actively trying to throw a wrench in all the plans.

…go on…

 

[Pat]

…go on…

https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/1140/Current-Projects - the “Natural Resource Areas” proposal creates some giant hurdles for development. I’m acutely aware of this because a developer that has been sitting on some land near us started clearing acres of trees, presumably so he won’t have to deal with it in a few years.

I don’t know how it settled or if it is ongoing, but the county was also pushing back hard on the Ames 2040 plan, and the city council seemed less than pleased.

 

[RLD4ISU]

It was a question.. dont know never tried to fly a drone in an FAA no fly zone..

You should try it.... and report back.

Actually...from what I have researched most drones have GPS built in that will not allow them to fly in NFZs.

But if you have one that will or it does not have a good GPS signal and get in.....

What Happens if You Fly a Drone in Restricted Airspace? (Important) - Droneblog

One of the first rules to know about safe and legal drone flight is that you’re not allowed to fly in restricted airspace. But for boundary pushers out there,

www.droneblog.com

However, if you are caught, and especially if you are making a nuisance of yourself, you could face fines from the FAA of up to $32,666, per incident. So better to know the rules, and abide by them, rather than pushing your luck.

In 2023, you won’t be able to fly most drones in the US without broadcasting your location

But licensed drone operators will fly over people and at night.

www.theverge.com

My husband took the drone certification test in 2016 and, for a short time, we had a side business doing aerial photography. (License has since expired and we shut down the business a couple years ago...we're too freaking busy to have a side business) From what I remember, regulations are (for the most part) basic common sense things or somewhat similar to those for aircraft. Then you have BillyBob that buys a nice drone for his kid for Christmas and they get upset because it crashed when they took it outside in below freezing temps with winds.

 

[ISU_Guy]

If only we had built the mall, maybe that Burger King would still be open!

How piss poor managed was that BK off the interstate? There is only an Arby's and Jimmy Johns to compete with off a major interstate and they just closed it down a couple years after they built a new one? Just makes me question it is all...

 

[theshadow]

How piss poor managed was that BK off the interstate? There is only an Arby's and Jimmy Johns to compete with off a major interstate and they just closed it down a couple years after they built a new one? Just makes me question it is all...

The guy who owned all of the BK franchises in the area died, and his family reportedly didn't want to take on the business. So they shuttered everything.

 

[RLD4ISU]

FWIW, this is from ISU's website:

MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium Policies and Procedures

MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium Policies and Procedures

cyclones.com

Aerial Equipment/Drones​

Any of our vendors or partners interested in flying drones around football events need to get the appropriate airspace waiver from the FAA. Additionally, for reasons of privacy and safety, the operation of drones (i.e., unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)) on ISU property (indoors or outdoors) requires prior written approval from ISU Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M)​

 

[ISU_Guy]

The guy who owned all of the BK franchises in the area died, and his family reportedly didn't want to take on the business. So they shuttered everything.

Well I take it back then. That is sad.

The family does realize they can sell it right...lol. Mabye its caught up in the estate or something?
Probably decent value for a BK right off I35 that is brand new. Or just let it rot I guess? doesn't seem like a great plan either.