Altoona shopping center to begin construction

A new Altoona shopping center, originally planned to open this fall, will begin construction this month and have its grand opening in October 2017. The 34-acre, 300,000-square-foot outlet mall was delayed in order to ensure the Massachusetts-based company, New England Development, had the proper plan. Approximately 500 construction jobs are expected to be created during the process, and the shopping center is expected to bring in 1.5 million visitors per year. The mall was originally announced in 2014. It is unknown which tenants will fill the new mall. Ryan Companies U.S. Inc., a national developer and design-build contractor with a large Des Moines office, will manage the construction of the site. The new mall will be located at 801 Bass Pro Drive N.W. at the intersection of I-80 and US-65.

ER

The new William C. Knapp Emergency Department and Trauma Center at Iowa Methodist Medical Center is open. The cost of the new 40,000-square-foot facility, which is twice as big as the current one, was $37 million. The center’s last update was in 1993 and was constructed to facilitate 30,000 visits each year. Currently, the site receives about 55,000 visits a year.

New Broadlawns facility

A new medical clinic is opening on East University Avenue sometime this fall. Plans were announced by Broadlawns Medical Center for a new 10,000-square-foot facility that is currently under construction. The new building will help care for the needs of Polk County residents residing in the eastern corridor. Family practice and urgent care will be available once the new clinic is operational.

New amphitheater in Johnston

Prairie Meadows recently approved a $50,000 Community Betterment Grant for Johnston’s new outdoor Amphitheater being constructed at Terra Park. The $4.4 million project will include an eight-acre fishing lake surrounded by a large lawn for concerts and games as well as the amphitheater for larger gatherings, a picnic pavilion, smaller shelters, a fishing pier, trails, children’s play structures and numerous native plantings. The project will tie together Terra Park, Beaver Creek Natural Resources Area and Crown Point Community Center to create a 200-acre park. The project is located at 6300 Pioneer Parkway.

Yum and yum

Two new fast food chains are coming soon to Ankeny. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panda Express are both on the docket of new restaurants set to open in the expanding suburb. The two eateries will be constructed to the west of the current Target store. A drive-through is slated to be installed at both locations.

Ankeny wine bar and grill opens

Ankeny has a new restaurant and bar in the Prairie Trail development. District 36 Wine Bar and Grille is now open for lunch and dinner. The new dining spot seats more than 240 guests indoors and an additional 60 on the patio. The location is seen as a modernized, upscale version of Urbandale’s Urban Grill, which has the same owners. The menu consists of steak, seafood, sandwiches and other entrees, as well as appetizers and desserts. The address is 1375 S.W. Vintage Parkway. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 515-261-2502, or visit www.district36winebar.com.

Mechanical contractor

Baker Group recently made a $3.4 million purchase of 20 acres of land in Ankeny. The mechanical contractor plans on using the new real estate to construct a $22 million office with a manufacturing plant. Ankeny’s city council recently signed off on the estimated tax rebates amounting to $1 million for the project. The construction is expected to bring 480 jobs to the suburb. If that happens, Baker Group would be the city’s third-largest employer.  CV