Building permits valued at more than $97.8 million were issued for 15 new commercial projects in the Des Moines area in September, including a Target retail store in Waukee and a 70-unit senior living community in Pleasant Hill, records show.

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 91 permits for new commercial projects have been issued in Polk County and 13 communities surveyed by the Business Record. During the same period in 2022, 201 permits were issued; in 2021, 161.

Interest rate increases, inflation and uncertainty in the office market have contributed to a slowdown in new commercial construction, experts say.

Bright spots exist, however. Since the start of 2023, 14 building permits have been issued for the construction of apartments. Four permits have been issued for new hotel construction.
Highlights from September include:

• A permit valued at over $25.3 million for the construction of a 148,000-square-foot Target that will anchor the 62-acre Waukee Towne Center southwest of the Hickman Avenue and Alice’s Road intersection in Waukee. The first phase of the $132 million project, described as a “lifestyle shopping center,” is expected to include a Target, smaller commercial spaces, an 8-acre lake and several outlots along Southeast Alice’s Road. Pierson Cos., located in Burlington, is developing the Waukee Towne Center. Construction of Target is expected to be completed in mid- to late 2024.

• A permit valued at $9 million for the construction of Edencrest at Pleasant Hill, a 70-unit senior living facility being built at 6151 Martha Miller Drive. The project is the ninth Edencrest community developed by Hubbell Realty Co. in Central Iowa. A 10th facility is planned in Adel. Edencrest at Pleasant Hill, being built on 4.6 acres, will include 44 assisted living units and 26 memory care units that also can be used for assisted living. The project is adjacent to Hubbell’s Forge65 multifamily development that includes apartments and townhouses.

• A permit valued at over $23.8 million for the construction of a third warehouse in the I-80 Business Park at 2402 21st St. N.W. in Altoona. The speculative warehouse is the third in the development.

• A permit valued at $8.5 million for the construction of a 55,000-square-foot Hobby Lobby at 5075 S.E. Delaware Ave. in Ankeny. Parlay Ankeny LLC, located in Chillicothe, Mo., is developing the retail store.

More online:

To view the interactive map, click here.

To view the spreadsheet, click here.