Urbandale, Johnston & Grimes Development News (NW Metro)

[Mastermind]

It looks like Johnston is quadrupling their DART service starting June 8th.

Northwest Express:
Formerly 4 stops, 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.
New schedule has 8 stops, 4 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon.

NW 86th Express:
9 Stops, 4 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon.

[Mastermind]

The Ramada renovation is humming along. They had the water slide pieces delivered and sitting next to Merle Hay last week.

[DMRyan]

Here's more detailed word on the new Grimes Wal-Mart from the DSM Business Record, construction now planned for September:

On May 26, the Grimes City Council approved a revised site plan for a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter at the intersection of Iowa Highway 141 and First Street. The amended plan calls for a smaller store and an additional outlot for a 26-acre parcel purchased by Wal-Mart in July 2008. Brian Buethe, executive director of Grimes Chamber & Economic Development, said according to the city's understanding, Wal-Mart is decreasing the size of its new stores nationwide by about 20,000 square feet. He said the developer plans to begin construction of the 152,000-square-foot store in September, with an estimated completion date one year later.

[Mastermind]

To put this in perspective, the Polk Couty Courthouse would cost $4.39 a month and a recreational complex will cost $10.61 a month??? I'm voting NO.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... y=Johnston

Johnston voters will decide sport complex's fate in August
By LISA LAVIA RYAN • community@dmreg.com • June 19, 2009

Voters in Johnston will go to the polls for a special election Aug. 4 to decide the fate of a $16 million bond issue that would pay for the majority of costs associated with building an outdoor sports complex.

The Johnston City Council on Monday approved the special election to issue general-obligation bonds to finance the projects, and also to make improvements to Lew Clarkson Park, home to Johnston Little League and girls' softball. To pass, the referendum would require affirmative votes from a minimum of 60 percent of voters who cast ballots.


The proposed sports complex would be built in the northwest part of the city

A bond issue of $16 million would raise residents' property taxes by $128 a year, or $10.67 a month on a home valued at $231,000, the average assessed value of a home in Johnston, according to figures provided by David Lindeman.

[DMRyan]

Why does every suburb need it's own mega millions super sports park anymore? This is the ultimate keeping up with the joneses' and it's starting to get shot down left and right. First Pleasant Hill, next Johnston.

You would think that some of these communities could use existing sports parks in neighboring suburbs. There's only so much tournament play money to go around when you already have a city with several mega youth sports parks.

This reminds me of a decade ago when every suburb built a shiny new library instead of combining efforts to create better regional facilities. There has to be some kind of way to share facilities and operate government a little more efficiently on this front.

[JMsioux]

Why does every suburb need it's own mega millions super sports park anymore? This is the ultimate keeping up with the joneses' and it's starting to get shot down left and right. First Pleasant Hill, next Johnston.

You would think that some of these communities could use existing sports parks in neighboring suburbs. There's only so much tournament play money to go around when you already have a city with several mega youth sports parks.

This reminds me of a decade ago when every suburb built a shiny new library instead of combining efforts to create better regional facilities. There has to be some kind of way to share facilities and operate government a little more efficiently on this front.

We should also be able to combine small couties such as Ida and Sac with others to creat efficiencies in county government but people like to have that name on their license plates. They probably also like their library to say Johnston Library rather than something like North Suburban Library...

[Mastermind]

I dont really think a library is a good example. Every city i can think of has several libraries. I shouldn't have to drive 10 miles to get to a library. A sports complex is different.

[Mastermind]

Mega complex is right, the plans have 12 softball fields (4 of which will be adult size), 6 soccer fields, 4 tennis courts, 4 sand volleyball, 3 basketball, 2 playgorunds, a fitness station, a splash park, a skate park and a plaza and stage area!
http://www.cityofjohnston.com/docs/docu ... 090521.pdf

The plan also includes converting 7 softball fields to baseball at Lew Clarkson Park.
http://www.cityofjohnston.com/docs/docu ... ements.pdf

[Des Moineser]

Hmmm... at that big of a tax hike, I bet this goes nowhere.

[econboy]

Some bright residential development news in Urbandale. Hubbell plans to contruct up to 340 homes at Waterford Landing beginning sometime late this summer.

From the business record:
http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... cleID=8416

[armface]

that will be a nice population boost if you have 3 people per house thats 1,140 added to our fine little metro

[Mastermind]

With a huge voter turnout (19%), the Park referendum was defeated 55% against -45% (60% was need to pass). With the economy and shear size of the project i could not vote for this referendum. I also feel there are numerous projects that should be a higher priority (Polk County Courthouse is one)

[UrbandaleGuy]

There are plans for a Holiday Inn Express to be built in Urbandale at the 8700 block of Plum Drive, putting it next to the Microtel hotel. It will be 4 stories tall and should closely resemble the image below. Not sure when construction will begin.

[DMRyan]

I'm surprised hotel developers are still letting loose in the western suburbs after what I hear is a very saturated sub market. Good news nonetheless on a part of Urbandale that I'm surprised hasn't been built out already.

Keep us posted Urbandaleguy, there's definitely a lot of smaller projects under way in the NW metro that really don't see much for coverage on this website.

[Mototail]

GRIMES GROWTH: Walmart breaks ground on its newest location in the metro

Walmart officials say the facility should bring about 300 jobs to the area. The store is expected to open summer of 2010.

I'm glad to see some job growth and commercial growth. After all, this development is what best symbolizes the U.S. According to a CBS poll a couple weeks ago.

http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-gri ... ?track=rss

[Mototail]

Here's an article about the debate that's taking place for the direction of Johnston.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... /1001/NEWS

We want growth, but we don't want to be like WDM. However, we want an urban style living so people can come together. That's pretty much what I got from it.

[econboy]

Actually, Johnston is getting close to being landlocked in another few years with the South and West being blocked by others and the north and east being guarded by Camp Dodge and the Lake/River areas then Ankeny farther to the east.

I see Johnston hitting about 25,000 and then topping off and filling out.

Interestingly, cities like Waukee with 12,000 now will probably get larger themselves someday and actually surpass Johnston.

Johnston has a much more conservative feel to it's growth. It has the possibility of being a very densely packed cohesive community.

West Des Moines by contrast is already a city onto itself (Des Moines still being 'king') that I can see probably hitting 80,000-100,000 before it would run into any western or southern barriers. In fact West Des Moines could fit another 15,000 into the area it already has now.

[Mastermind]

There is still a lot of room for growth in Johnston. 25,000 is way to small. I like WDM and would love a West Glen type center in Johnston (Merle Hay). There has been little movement IMO. There are a lot of for sale/lease signs up and down Merle Hay.

[DMRyan]

If Pioneer ever gave up their test plots right in the middle of Johnston, there's a hell of an infill opportunity for a West Glen type area (not like we need more retail space right now anyway though). Theres probably thousands of acres in the heart of Johnston saved for growing research crops.

[GlacialTill]

Not thousands but certainly hundreds of acres. That area would be between 62 and 70th Avenues and 86th Street and the Johnston High School. I certainly would not look for conversion from research plots to commercial any time soon.

How about the area north of Camp Dodge for future Johnston growth? The area around Beaver Drive out to nearly the Mile Long Bridge is already incorporated. The area to the west of Beaver and north of the camp is open and very nice with rolling hills and timbered ridges. How far north would depend on when Granger would feel uncomfortable.

[Cyclonefan]

I know Johnston and Grimes have a deal that lists highway 141 as the dividing line between the two cities all the way up to the mile-long bridge exit.

[Mastermind]

doesnt Grimes have both sides of 141?

[Ex-Chicago]

doesnt Grimes have both sides of 141?

That's what I was thinking.

[econboy]

Yes, Grimes goes about a half-mile east of 141, so Johnston is out of luck as far as 141 goes. They've just got I-80. Much of that is already being developed now in Grimes.

[icia]

Does anyone know if the city of Grimes has ever considered changing it's name?

[Ingersoll1978]

Does anyone know if the city of Grimes has ever considered changing it's name?

Why would they do that? Grimes is named after James W. Grimes, former senator and third governor of the state of Iowa.

[icia]

Why would they do that? Grimes is named after James W. Grimes, former senator and third governor of the state of Iowa.[/quote]

I think it's obvious why they might consider changing the name of the town. I was just curious if it has ever been discussed.

[dogbo]

Why would they do that? Grimes is named after James W. Grimes, former senator and third governor of the state of Iowa.

I think it's obvious why they might consider changing the name of the town. I was just curious if it has ever been discussed.[/quote]

I think lined up shortly behind them should be, Grundy Center.

[econboy]

Why would they do that? Grimes is named after James W. Grimes, former senator and third governor of the state of Iowa.

I think it's obvious why they might consider changing the name of the town. I was just curious if it has ever been discussed.[/quote]

Why is it obvious?

[dogbo]

this (I assume):

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grimes

grimes - 3 dictionary results
–noun 1. dirt, soot, or other filthy matter, esp. adhering to or embedded in a surface.

–verb (used with object) 2. to cover with dirt; make very dirty; soil.

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Origin:
1250–1300; ME grim; appar. special use of OE grīma mask, to denote layer of dust; cf. dial. D grijm
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source |Link To grimes
grime (grīm)