CityofSlater

General Observations

Slater is a quaint, well established community with many ties to other small and thriving central Iowa towns, especially, but not limited to those of the Ballard community school district. Many of these communities have a shared heritage and history.

Land previously occupied by one of the Ballard school district buildings, formerly the site of the Slater High School has been in the process of demolition. Land is currently being filled and prepared for final grading for a return to marketable/useable condition.

Citizens recognize an opportunity to influence construction and marketing of the property to enhance the community. A great diversity of opinions are naturally and reasonably expressed.

The goal of this proposal is to engage discussion and perhaps support for specific directions.

1) Enhancement of commercial interest in the city including support of existing businesses, such as those that occupy properties on Slater's main street.

2) Enhancement of the community identity and integration of marketable features and activities that would continue to support the economic development and controlled growth of the community and its sister communities.

Available land along busy corridors such as highway 210 and r38 often represent retail opportunities as well as residential development opportunities. The available acreage provided by the demolition of the Slater school represents a limited short term investment in residential development and limited long term investment in terms of proper;ty tax valuations.

Commercial development, hover, represents risk due to the potential for transient business leases and types of businesses and their impact on residential neighbors. While such risk is unavoidable, it can be offset by an evaluation of opportunities that are consistent with community goals and design processes that enhance residential neighborhood conditions.

Proposed herein is a plan to create a retail/office building that serves as a "gateway" to bike and walking trails and the other amenities of the community including the Slater pools, parks, library, Senior Center, Historical Center and our many existing business.

Prospective businesses could include a bicycle shop, ice cream/coffee shop, small office space (utilizing business incubation potentials), second hand shops, and space for flea markets and antiques among other businesses such as farmer's markets, pre-school, and adult daycare

Inspiration for this design is the old Ames railroad depot that provides a covered pedestrian space and flexible retail modules. Second floor community space could be available for special events, or additional offices and meetings spaces.

Community efforts to promote Slater as a biking destination would be very helpful to support business types consistent with casual touring that draws visitors further into the community and its businesses, parks, and other amentias. Other regional activities and events could also be scheduled that would draw visitors, such as art in the park, flea markets and garage sales, holiday celebrations, much of these, in fact, already occur.

Variations on a theme include assisted living/senior housing condominiums/apartments with such amenities as a courtyard and access to above mentioned acitvities.

Notes/Additional Observations

Although platting information indicates housing lot lines in the northern property, lots seem misconfigured relative to existing neighborhood structure and would require extension of Fifth St. to the east to accommdade frontage for homes sited on the south portion of that location.