DMAAR Young Professionals Network presents Digging into Development.
Story by Tracy Dickinson | December 2025
Last month the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® hosted a Digging into Development luncheon at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ankeny. A full crowd of well over 100 attended the event.
After a box lunch, Economic Development representatives from Altoona, Johnston, and Bondurant each offered updates on activity in their respective suburbs. One perspective united all three: Des Moines’ suburbs are positioned for strategic growth.
Altoona
Boasting the fourth-largest growth in the state, Altoona benefits from a residential tax abatement that has been extended through 2032. Several new residential developments are underway. Most of the noncommercial growth is focused on the south and east edges of the city.
“We have had steady growth the past few years with 160 permits to date this year,” said Chad Quick of Altoona. “We’ve seen no new multifamily permits, though, and that’s something we would like to change.”
The city has also been expanding its industrial development. A second data center is in the works as well as ongoing expansion of the Meta facility, which now includes more than a dozen buildings and is currently the company’s largest data facility in the world.
In addition to new retail throughout the community, Altoona is constructing a new fire station, public works buildings, and a water treatment plant.
“The existing public buildings in our Olde Town area will be sold for development,” Quick said. The city anticipates those structures will be renovated for multipurpose renovations, such as retail and apartments similar to those in Des Moines’ East Village.
Quality-of-life improvements have included a number of new park areas, rejuvenation of Olde Town structures, a number of public art displays, and updates to the Little League facility and golf course.
Johnston
Like Altoona, Johnston has experienced steady residential and commercial growth in the past few years with no new multifamily permits. “We’re very interested in drawing more multifamily construction,” said Johnston’s Ethan Standard. “Our commercial construction had slowed, but we saw those numbers grow again this year.”
Most of Johnston’s growth has been on the northwest border of the suburb in recently annexed areas. To accommodate that, the city has spent more than $30 million in infrastructure in preparation for future development there.
Johnston has plans for a business park to be built over the next 10 years and mixed-use property in recently developed areas near Highway 141.
The city has also completed several quality-of-life projects. “We have a new kayak access set to open before the end of the year,” said Standard. “With our existing water trail system, you can now enter and exit the water trail within the city.”
The suburb also has its first dog park under construction, which will be a unique facility near the Trestle Trail and the Beaverdale Little League fields. Upgrades to a number of other parks, game courts, and the Crown Point Community Center offer additional resources to residents.
“The Johnston Town Center now has a hotel with a rooftop restaurant,” Standard said. That adds another attraction to the community area, along with other public events like the farmers market and live music productions.
Bondurant
In the past 15 years, Bondurant’s population has grown nearly 150%, and the suburb also leads the state in shovel-ready acres for development, according to Marketa Oliver.
“We’ve made it a priority to certify commercial sites so that we can turn them around quickly when we’re working with potential development partners,” Oliver said.
To accomplish this, the city completes due diligence tasks that typically are not completed until a development deal is reached, such as environmental assessments, infrastructure, and zoning. This approach has resulted in turn-around times as short as a week.
Bondurant was also named a 2025 Public Art Champion, recognized for its effort to incorporate a variety of artworks throughout the community.
“Our revitalized areas have become popular attractions,” Oliver said. “The Station, our renovated fire station that will open early next summer, includes a community center. And we’re excited about the plans we have for the grain district.”
The city is revitalizing the old grain silos northeast of the old downtown area. The project will serve as an extension to the current Chautauqua Trail system with a trail arboretum, an amphitheater, and a rock-climbing facility as well as new public art.
Other quality-of-life projects include tennis courts to serve both the high school and the public, new parks, a new elementary school, and a water treatment plant.
In addition, Bondurant and Altoona are working together with a team of consultants to plan a future exit for Interstate 80 between the two communities that will help with traffic.
With population around the metro continuing to rise, these three suburbs are planning their own growth strategically. That intentional approach, rather than growth for growth’s sake, has served these communities well as they head into 2026.
Young Professionals Network (YPN) is the newest professional network full of bright and dedicated real estate professionals in the Des Moines area bringing valuable, educational and fun events for real estate professionals in the metro. YPN helps young real estate professionals excel in their careers by giving them the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas: REALTOR® Associations, Real Estate Industry, Peers, and Community.