Page 2 of 4
A LICE ' S R OAD /105 TH S TREET I-80 I NTERCHANGE P ROGRESS R EPORT , A PRIL 2005
Waukee's Growth Remains Strong
New Mall Projected to Have Ancillary Impact
More new subdivisions than any other time in City's history
Development remains strong around new mall
Waukee has more real estate developers building homes in the community than in any other period
Did You Know…
City of Waukee Building Permit Valuation 1998 to 2004
According to The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) explosive metro-area growth has given the suburbs a slight population edge over Des Moines in 2005. The MPO studied employment and household numbers to estimate Des Moines population. City planners from the suburbs based their estimates on the number of new homes, apartments and townhomes, factoring in vacancy rates and the average number of people per household.
A LICE ' S R OAD /105 TH S TREET I-80 I NTERCHANGE P ROGRESS R EPORT , A PRIL 2005
in the City’s history. City officials said while they are excited about the new developers building in the community, it is also gratifying to see the developers that initiated the building boom continue to develop new subdivisions in Waukee.
Jordan Creek Town Center is already serving as a catalyst for new development and is providing an immediate impact on the surrounding area. Here's a look at the most obvious impacts to date.
"Waukee feels fortunate to have this caliber of developers building in our community. We are also grateful that there is housing being developed at all levels of the market," said Jody Gunderson, Waukee's Director of Community Development.
The mall and the adjacent Wells Fargo Home Mortgage complex are igniting a development boom. West Des Moines Community Development Director Clyde Evans said the City is expecting about $1 billion in construction and more than 16,000 jobs created in the surrounding area within three years. Those two projects and others nearby will add more than 6 million square feet of primarily retail and commercial construction. Evans said these projects alone could add at least $800 million worth of new property to the suburb's tax rolls.
Building Boom
…continued on page 4
Sin
ly mi Fa
do on ia l e/C erc ily m ho mm fam n o C w ltiTo Mu
gle
r he Ot
19
19 98
99
20
00
20 01
Page 3 of 4
20 04 20 03 20 02
Evans is pleased with the direction development has taken and expects more to come. "You name a retailer, and they have probably already had initial meetings with the City," he says. The office, retail and commercial projects are attracting more housing opportunities. Millions of dollars' worth of condominiums, apartment buildings and other housing are planned around the mall. In addition, Evans said, the City has been working through the preliminary plans with developers which have the potential of adding 1,500 to 1,800 single-family homes and townhomes.
Traffic
PROGRESS REPORT
Alice's Road/105th Street I-80 Interchange • November 2001 - The cities of Waukee and West Des Moines enter into a 28E agreement committing $5.6 million toward the development of the estimated $16.0 million I-80 interchange project. • January 2003 - Interchange project receives $2.5 million Congressional earmark. • May 2003 - Interchange project added to the IDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). • January 2004 - Interchange project receives $3.0 million Congressional earmark. • December 2004 - Interchange project receives $1.5 million Congressional earmark. • January 2005 - Waukee/West Des Moines enter into formal contract with Iowa Dept of Transportation specifying terms and eligible uses for appropriated federal funds. • January 2005 - Cities contract with CH2M Hill to conduct the environmental document for the I-80 Interchange. • April 2005 - Cities jointly submit formal request for remaining $3.0 million for interchange project to Iowa's Congressional Delegation.
West Des Moines officials predicted 40,000 vehicles for Jordan Creek Town Center's first weekend. When surrounding development is completed in the next few years, Mills Civic Parkway and Jordan Creek Parkway each will have a traffic volume of 35,000 to 40,000 vehicles a day. City officials said the new six-lane streets were designed to accommodate larger traffic volumes. The improvements represent a $74 million investment to the infrastructure by West Des Moines and through state grants. The City is also constructing extensions of Grand Avenue as Jordan Creek Parkway is extended south. This will provide another Interstate 35 exit for the area and allow access to the complex from the south. City officials are anticipating the completion of these projects in the next couple of years.