The Ames City Council is looking for ways to save money on a city-backed housing development proposed for land where the old middle school sat. Housing Coorindator Vanessa Baker-Lattimer says the city got just one bid for the development of market rate and affordable housing at 321 State Ave., which was more than $400,000 more than city's Community Development Block Grant funds can cover. City Planning Director Kelly Deikmann says cost saving measures include not putting in a small park planned for the development, as well as changing it's street configuration. The council directed staff to work with the developer on those proposed changes.