Plan Could Make Way for New Stores at Ames North Grand

If the Ames City Council approves a redevelopment plan for the North Grand Mall during its regular meeting Tuesday, developers could break ground on a project this spring.

The mall's developer, GK Development, believes a group of tenants might be interested in setting up shop, but they'll need to make some changes first.

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The plan that council will be asked to approve Tuesday includes demolishing several vacant buildings, including the former Sears auto center, former Wells Fargo, former Walgreens and former Furman buildings, and renovating the former Sears store. The owners also plan to build new retail space and make changes to landscaping and traffic flow. The former Sears store would be redeveloped for two tenants, who have not yet been disclosed.

The city approved an adaptive reuse plan for the mall in 2007 but the recession stalled plans. A new was built and the former KFC was demolished, but nothing else happened.

The new plan requires city approval because the current project fails to meet all zoning requirements. Council can still approve the site plan as an adaptive reuse if they feel it's important enough, said Charlie Kuester, Ames city planner.

The owners are asking to have landscaping and set back requirements waived so that the project can move forward.

Kuester said that the developer said two larger tenants are interested in the site and that the opening of those stores will encourage others to follow.

Late last, year officials with said they planned on opening a location in Ames but would not say where. An email from GK Development that was first reported by AmesNewsOnline in early December also mentioned that Kohl's would be coming.

Kohl's officials have not returned calls or emails for comment.