Ames Council approves purchase of 2715 Dayton Ave. for new animal shelter; $3 million private gift pledged

The Ames City Council approved the city’s purchase of 2715 Dayton Avenue for $1,100,000 at its Feb. 18 special meeting, clearing the way for a proposed animal shelter and control facility that consultants say can be implemented by renovating the site’s existing building and adding a purpose‑built kennel wing.

The motion, moved by Councilmember Betcher and seconded by Councilmember Correary, carried on a roll call vote (ayes recorded for Venture, Edie Hansen, Rollins, Gloria, Thornton and John). The vote authorized staff to proceed with the purchase; the council also discussed anticipated fundraising, design and construction phases.

Chief (police) introduced the item and said the council’s approval would allow staff to pursue the facility purchase and next design steps. Brett Van Zee of Envision Architecture told council members his team’s six‑week evaluation found the roughly 10,800‑square‑foot building and site utilities in good condition and suitable for conversion to a shelter footprint, but noted the interior requires substantial rework.

Scott Learned, an animal‑shelter consultant with DesignLearn, advised council that converting the existing structure and adding a targeted addition for dog kennels (with the underfloor drains, plumbing and acoustic separation that kennel spaces require) would be more cost‑effective than a complete new build. Consultants recommended locating the kennels in a new addition to limit the need to remove floors and install extensive interior plumbing in the existing footprint.

Key project figures discussed at the workshop and in consultant estimates:

- Purchase price: $1,100,000 (authorized Feb. 18) - Existing building footprint: approximately 10,800 square feet (built 1995; pre‑engineered metal structure) - Site area: roughly 6 acres (slopes westward; usable room for modest expansion) - Current shelter capacity: 14 dog runs and 42 cat enclosures (current months see cat counts regularly above 60; dog counts vary from mid‑teens to 30s) - Preliminary total project budget range discussed by consultants and staff: approximately $7.0 million to $7.5 million (includes renovation, contingency and selected additions); earlier CIP had a $4.5 million figure that did not account for the dog‑kennel addition - Private fundraising: a single anonymous pledge of $3,000,000 was announced at the meeting; staff reported roughly $3,000,000 in confirmed donations and said they would continue fundraising toward additional private support

Consultants said the building’s most significant constraint is the pre‑engineered roof structure (built in 1995), which limits rooftop mechanical equipment and requires ground‑mounted HVAC solutions. They also recommended including flexible spaces, better volunteer and public areas, separate air‑handling zones for infectious‑disease control, and a phased set of alternates so the base bid remains within publicly available funds while optional enhancements can be added if private donations materialize.

Council members raised questions about long‑term maintenance risks for an older metal roof, the need to plan for exterior shell work during renovation, and contingency planning if pledged private funds fall short. The consultants said the $7–7.5 million preliminary budget includes allowances for exterior work and contingency and that competitive bidding and alternate bid packages would be used to keep the project within the council’s budget cap when possible.

Chief and the shelter director (Ron) highlighted operating benefits that could follow the project: in‑house spay/neuter space (reducing current veterinary contracting costs), better volunteer support areas (volunteers contribute roughly 7,000 hours annually), and clinic spaces that could lower ongoing operating costs. The council discussed phasing design and construction so that essential animal‑care and public‑health systems are prioritized.

Outcome: Council approved the purchase of 2715 Dayton Avenue for $1,100,000 and directed staff to proceed with design and fundraising steps; staff will return with phased design details, bid documents and further cost‑estimates before construction authorization.

For donors or community members seeking information, council indicated the shelter team will release fundraising contact information and donation options as design and campaign materials are finalized.