Wilson Avenue residents oppose potential apartment building in old bus barn

Residents living near a property on Wilson Avenue are concerned about its future development.

The owner of the property at 1621 Wilson Avenue, which was once home to the Ames School District bus barn, is looking to redevelop it into a 14-unit apartment.

Concerned neighbors criticized the plan directly at the Ames City Council meeting on Tuesday.

The item did not appear before the city council until Tuesday night's public forum. A public meeting was held Feb. 22 for the property owner to inform neighbors of the proposed development.

Area Wilson Avenue residents said they knew they were a little premature by talking with the council Tuesday, Lori Fawcett said, but the community members wanted to voice their concerns due to "strong community pride."

"Some of the older homes have been purchased, renovated and upgraded," Fawcett said. "It's a lovely community now, and we take great pride in it. We ask for your consideration to keep the zoning as it is."

More: The Ames council has approved a new tax abatement program to help improve a housing shortage

1600 block Wilson Avenue would need rezoned

The 1600 block of Wilson Avenue is currently zoned for individual, private homes. Fawcett said erecting multiple units would cause "more problems due to what is already there."

"There's a lot of cement in that area now," Fawcett said. "Sometimes, even in our community now, when there's a lot of high waters, there's flooding in our basements. Snow removal would be a problem, and there are children who go to Meeker School nearby who (may) be a problem. We've addressed to the owner of that property several issues that would be a problem."

Resident Kim McDermott referenced the Ames 2040 Plan, which the city is using to guide its growth over the next 20 years. She said the plan encourages an increase in owner-occupied households rather than apartments.

"I understand that the city does want more infill building, but what I really feel Ames needs is more single-family housing, not more apartments," McDermott said. "I really am hopeful the council will at least take that into consideration and hopefully we'll see something like duplexes or townhouses."

Ames Mayor John Haila emphasized the proposal had yet to appear before the city council, and because it wasn't on the agenda, no action could be taken.

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Plans to turn former Ames bus barn into apartments met with opposition