Ames Council Approved Residential Rezoning Plan

The city moved forward with a housing project on 17 acres of former Iowa State University land.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Residential

Ames Council Approved Residential Rezoning Plan

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The Ames City Council approved the first reading of a rezoning ordinance for a new 97-unit residential development. The project seeks to address a local workforce housing shortage on land once slated for a health center.

Why it matters

The development aligns with the city's 2040 plan to improve the local tax base and housing availability. It utilizes land previously rejected by voters for a different project in 2019.

The 17-acre site was sold to developers for $550,000 in early 2026. The plan includes 26 single-family homes and 71 townhome units, with minimum lot widths set at 43 feet for buildings and 27 feet for street lines.

The players

Ames City Council

This local governing body manages municipal ordinances and land-use planning for the city of Ames.

Hunziker Development Group

This company is a local developer planning a 26-unit single-family home project on the site.

574 Investments

This firm is the developer responsible for the 71-unit townhome portion of the housing project.

Iowa Board of Regents

This state authority oversees public university land holdings and approved the property sale in 2026.

The details

The rezoning moves the property to a Floating Suburban Residential Low Density District to accommodate Hunziker Development Group and 574 Investments. City staff have requested that developers coordinate driveway approaches to manage the reduced lot width requirements.

Voters rejected the original health center bond project in 2019.
The Iowa Board of Regents approved the sale of the property on Feb. 26, 2026.
The Ames City Council approved the first rezoning reading on Sept. 22, 2026.

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Roadmap

The development reflects a broader municipal trend of converting university-owned land into private housing to expand the local tax base. This shift supports the city's 2040 plan for prioritized infill growth.

Residents can expect the construction of a new public road, Yukon Street, to improve access to the area. The project aims to increase the local supply of workforce housing to address existing market shortages.

The takeaway

This development transforms a previously unused site into a concentrated housing area to address local inventory needs. Future homeowners should monitor the final two ordinance readings for official project confirmation.