Kingland Given Green Light on Campustown Redevelopment

It looks as though Kingland Software will be allowed to demolish a block of Campustown buildings on Lincoln Way and erect a three-story structure without moving the foot print of the building back from the sidewalk, as current codes require.

The Clear Lake software company asked the city earlier this year to waive a step-back requirement for all Campustown buildings above 30 feet to make redevelopment more affordable. The council asked the company to come back with more information before making a decision and discussed the project again Tuesday.

Now Kingland Software plans to knock down the businesses from Charlie Yokes east to Stanton Avenue and build a 75,000 square foot, three-story building on Lincoln Way. Jeff's Pizza Shop is not included in the $19 million redevelopment project.

The software company would rent the first floor of their new building to retail tenants. The second floor would house Kingland Software offices and the third story may be rented to Iowa State University for office space, according to an article in the Ames Tribune.

City council approved a resolution to revise the step-back standard to three-stories for all building sites that front Lincoln Way and prohibit residential use on the third floor. The council also approved a second resolution that would grant Kingland Software a 100 percent TIF rebate capped at $2 million up until the time the cap is reached or 10 years has passed, said Susan Gwiasda, City of Ames Public Relations Officer.

The council voted 5-0 on the step-back and 4-1 on the TIF rebate. Councilman Tom Wacha was absent and Councilman Matthew Goodman cast the dissenting vote on the TIF rebate, Gwiasda said. The votes provided direction to city staff on how to proceed on the project and were not final actions.

See previous stories:

Kingland Systems Would Rebuild Half Block of Campustown

Council Wants More Information on Campustown Development

Ames Software Company Buys 9 Campustown Buildings for Expansion