Under construction: Madden reflects on Campustowns shift

When Warren Madden was a student at Iowa State in the 1950s, Campustown was lined with sharply dressed students meandering along Lincoln Way exploring small local businesses, grocery stores, drug stores and suit and dress shops.

In the past 60 years, businesses have come and gone in Campustown, and Madden, senior vice president for business and finance, said the fluctuating economy and changes in university size and demographic are top factors.

Today, the Ames community is watching Campustown take on redevelopment. The area along Lincoln Way from Welch Avenue to Stanton Avenue is a sight of muddy holes in the ground beneath a looming crane that is preparing to lay the foundation of projects by Kingland Systems, Gilbane, Inc., The Opus Group and Randall Corporation.

Maddens student experience with Campustown is different than what a student might expect today. For instance, alcohol was nowhere to be found in Campustown and a few bars were located in downtown Ames, according to Madden.

Madden also said that student attire has also changed dramatically, affecting the shops in Campustown.

Students dont walk around in coats and ties and suits, Madden said. Women dont wear dresses the same way they used to. When I was a student at Iowa State, women wore skirts to class.

Changes in student commodity desires have attracted more stores such as chain restaurants, tattoo parlors, tanning salons and now more student housing, replacing smaller local shops throughout the years. Much of this, Madden said, was driven by the marketplace and the student enrollment increase at Iowa State.

The enrollment increase has attracted new business prospects looking into building in Campustown.

The student growth at Iowa State has built a need for additional houses, and the students become customers for businesses, Madden said.

Some of the housing project designs show six-story buildings, Madden said, with the top five stories housing students and the bottom floor hosting commercial and retail businesses.

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Under construction: Madden reflects on Campustowns shift