Spencer, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — A member of the Spencer City Council long-range planning committee has a vision for 40 acres the city owns in the Southwest corner of town.

Loren Reit says new housing is key, but a new Iowa Lakes Community College campus would be the perfect anchor. Reit says he wrote down the idea on the back of a napkin while he was having lunch with College President Scott Stokes.

Reit and several community leaders attended the college Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday to present the wide concepts of the plan. He offered the college land; Spencer Municipal Utilities CEO Steve Pick offered to install the necessary infrastructure; and Spencer Hospital CEO Brenda Tiefenthaler said her institution would build state-of-the art labs.

Reit says many members of the business community have even offered to help financially.

Reit says the city of Spencer “Can do better than a 1960s Mall.” He said since the college board is willing to at least consider the matter further, the city will engage an engineer to flesh out details and a construction budget.