Business & Tech

Prairie Trail Developers Say Things are Picking Up as Several New Projects are Announced

DRA Properties, the developers of Prairie Trail, are ready to spread the word about several new projects slated for the Ankeny development.

Residents may not realize it, but there’s quite a bit going on right now within Ankeny’s Prairie Trail development.

As it stands today, the planned, mixed-use community purchased by DRA Properties four years ago, has seen about $200 million in development. Looking forward, another $12 million is planned, some of which is likely to be complete by the end of this year.

“I feel like we’ve already seen the residential side pick up and now we’re starting to see the commercial side,” said Tara Meredith, development coordinator with . “We’re starting to see more and more deals come across our desk, and we’re hoping this is a sign of things to come.”

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The 1,000-acre parcel was purchased by the in 2006 from Iowa State University. Soon after, it was purchased by DRA Properties and a development agreement was formed between the two entities. In 2008, Prairie Trail kicked off its development when it hosted the HomeShowExpo.

The ultimate goal for Prairie Trail is to resemble a small community within a larger one. Plans for the development encourage residents to live, work and play all within walking distance of each another. Twenty percent of the development will be dedicated to parks or green space, said Ashley Johnson of DRA Properties, and it also will feature more than 13 miles of walking trails.

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Johnson said since fall 2008, 29 percent of the land has been developed. Residents can see this development in the Precedence neighborhood located west of Southwest State Street, the Plaza Shoppes, Vintage Hills Retirement Community, the and .  , Southview Middle School and Prairie Trail Elementary School also were built within the development.

Today, about $12 million in projects are in the works, and developers are definitely ready to start spreading the word.

Perhaps one of the biggest will be the first business to open its doors in The District, a portion of the development designed to be the go-to place for Ankeny dining, retail and entertainment.

“Jethro’s BBQ will be kicking off The District with its new store,” Johnson said. “We’re really excited about it.”

Jethro’s is scheduled to open its Ankeny location by December.

Here are some other projects currently going on in Prairie Trail:

  • Hy-Vee is still planning to construct a store, Meredith said. The ground has been purchased and the building is designed, but Meredith said she is unaware of Hy-Vee’s timeline for the new store.
  • Haverkamp Properties is planning to construct a privately owned, 500-bed student housing facility. The project will be completed in two phases, Johnson said, and should be ready by August 2013.
  • Near the Plaza Shoppes, which houses businesses including and , plans for a 15,000-square-foot daycare are in the works. “Generation Next is building a facility large enough to accommodate 200 kids,” Johnson said, adding it should be complete by this December.
  • State Street Plaza, a multi-tenant retail development located on the northeast corner of Oralabor Road and Southwest State Street, is about 60 percent leased, Johnson said.
  • A multi-tenant office building, located at 1200 S.W. State St., also is being built. It is currently leasing for occupancy, Johnson said.

In the residential portions of Prairie Trail, Johnson said three neighborhoods still have lots for sale. The Precedence neighborhood is about 85 percent full, but developers have recently opened Precedence West, which is located north of Prairie Trail Elementary School, and Heritage, which is located just west of Ankeny High School.

Johnson said she feels there may be a misconception that Prairie Trail is expensive to build in, adding lots start at $48,000. She said DRA Properties also offers educational scholarships to students whose families choose to build or live in Prairie Trail.

As for when Prairie Trail might be fully developed, Johnson said things are progressing better than some may think despite the sluggish economy playing a role in the original timeline.

“Right now, we’re looking at a 12-year development time frame with the economic slowdown,” Johnson said. “We waited through the difficult times but we never changed our vision, and we’re excited to put that vision into play.”


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