The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit group, is acquiring a 1,114-acre area known as the Brenton Slough, for just over $5.5 million, records filed with the Dallas County recorder show.

The area, which straddles the northern border between Polk and Dallas counties, includes wetlands, woodlands and oak savanna. 

The foundation is acquiring the land from the Brenton family, who has farmed a portion of it for more than 100 years.

The property had been owned by the family members of Charles Robert “Bob” Brenton and Junius Clyde “Buz” Brenton, who are the sons of W. Harold Brenton and Etta Spurgeon Brenton, operating as Brenton Brothers Inc. and Brenton Farms Inc.

The real estate transaction was done in the form of a contract sale, records show. A down payment of $1.65 million has been paid to Brenton Brothers Inc. and Brenton Farms Inc., records show. Four additional payments of just over $1 million plus interest will be paid between July 2024 and July 2027, according to the contract filed with recorder.

The foundation took possession of the property on July 7, records show. It plans to transfer ownership and management of the property to Polk County Conservation.

More information about Brenton Slough and plans to open it to the public can be found here.

Polk County
Mickey and Terri Kane paid Keven and Jessica Simmer $1.4 million for property at 1658 S. 49th St. in West Des Moines, Polk County real estate records show. The property includes a 2,578-square-foot house built in 2001. The transaction was recorded July 3.

98 Investments LLC, based in West Des Moines, paid C&D Land & Cattle LLC $3.75 million for property at 2163 N.W. 11th St. in Clive, records show. The property includes a 22,936-square-foot, one-story building that was constructed in 1985. The building, which includes warehouse space, is occupied by Pella Windows & Doors of Des Moines. The transaction was recorded July 3.

Hope K Farms LLC, based in West Des Moines, paid Eigh14t Land IA West Des Moines LLC $852,033 for property at 895 51st St. in West Des Moines, records show. The 1.8-acre tract is undeveloped. The transaction was recorded July 5.

Deborah Garner paid the Gregory Brown Trust and the Judy Brown Trust $1.37 million for property at 6231 Pinnacle Place in Johnston, records show. The property includes a 2,360-square-foot house built in 2019. The transaction was recorded July 5.

HOA Aston LLC, managed by Heart of America Group, paid Terence Millis and Janet Millis $1.76 million for property at 603 E. Sixth St., records show. The 1.2-acre parcel includes a 8,072-square-foot, one-story building that previously housed the American College of Hairstyling. The building will be razed so that a mixed-use project can be built on the site. The $44 million project, called the Aston, will include 186 apartment units and 7,000 square feet of street-level commercial space. (Architectural rendering above.) Construction is expected to begin in spring 2024 with completion slated in 2025. The transaction was recorded July 6.

The Jane Purcell Revocable Trust paid Brian Wilkinson and Carma Wilkinson $1.27 million for property at 7110 N.W. 95th Court in Johnston, records show. The 1.3-acre parcel includes a 2,656-square-foot house built in 2015. The transaction was recorded July 6.

North Polk Estates LLC, based in West Des Moines, paid Orville H & Iowa Mack Co. $1.55 million for property at 1000 E. Northside Drive in Polk City, records show. The transaction was recorded July 7.