Ariya Magga Buddhist Missionary Society is looking for land - a bunch of acres, some wooded, some arable - for an ashram consisting of a 200 guest residential meditation center, a 5 to 10 monastic monastery and a farm to raise organic vegetables and fruits for the local market. We would like to have 200 acres, plus or minus, with at least 150 of those tillable.
We've only just begun fundraising, but as of this date we've got about $12,000 in donations and pledges.
According to a usually reliable source (thanks for looking this up, Sook) “The 2020 ISU Land Value Survey shows a 1.7% increase in average Iowa farmland values from November 2019 to November 2020. The average statewide value of an acre of farmland is now estimated at $7,559. This modest rise is the third increase in Iowa farmland values over the past six years, and a second consecutive rise.” Let’s say $8,000 an acre, times 200 acres is $1,600,000 (figured that in my head) just for land.
Building a single-story commercial office building in this area will cost an average of $238–$286 per square foot. The buildings as conceived will top out about 90,000 square feet. Let’s say at approximately $300 per square foot, we get roughly $27,000,000.
What with delays, price increases, cost overruns, etc. we have set a goal of raising $30,0000,000. We have a long way to go.
Right now, we would benefit from someone helping us with the creation of “Architectural Conceptual Drawings” of the project. Basically, pretty pictures of what the place MIGHT look like. We could use these in our fundraising efforts.
Feel free to contact us for more information, or if you can help out. Donations of energy, time, skill, knowledge and experience will be greatly appreciated. For details on what we need, and when, please text or message (Facebook) for details.
In the meantime, if you’re in the Greater Des Moines Metropolitan area, join us Wednesday evenings at 7:00 for meditation and discussion.
Dhamma Group
Pure Land Hall, Suiite D
8364 Hickman Road
Clive, Iowa 50325
