A respected Greater Des Moines real estate developer could change the face of a shuttered Urbandale hotel.

Signature Real Estate Services has a contract to buy the Villa Lodge at 11000 Douglas Ave., which had fallen into disrepair. Residents were told to move out in October because of a range of maintenance issues.

The poor condition of the hotel had been a sore point with city officials and nearby property owners. The city of Urbandale has launched a beautification project for Douglas and is making redevelopment efforts in the area.

Signature Vice President Andy Hodges said the company is working with Urbandale city officials to determine an incentive package for the redevelopment of the property. The nature of that development has not been determined. Some city officials would like to have the site cleared, while others believe the property could be renovated for multifamily housing.

“We think it’s a good site over the long term,” Hodges said. “There are a lot of things to like at that location.”

A closing date has not been set. and Hodges pointed out that the deal, as with many real estate transactions, might not come together.

“”We’re always looking at stuff,” he said. “Out of 10 things, 9 1/2 could fall apart.”

In preparation of the redevelopment of the site, an entity created by Signature paid $446,000 on Feb. 11 for the location of the former Dragon House restaurant, which fronts the Villa Lodge at 10912 Douglas.

Signature has other projects that are not falling apart. The company is set to build a 200-unit walk-up townhouse project in West Des Moines, just south of the Wells Fargo & Co. campus.

Also in West Des Moines, footings have been set for an office and retail project called Hawthorne Center along University Avenue between 94th and 96th streets. Signature and Accurate Development Inc. will move their offices to the center. Nearby, Signature has leased more than 70 percent of the space in the second phase of an office and retail project called Hawthorne Plaza.

“We are seeing good demand for specialty retailers and professional services providers,” Hodges said.

Signature also was a partner with Hurd Real Estate Services on the purchase and redevelopment of the former Wall Street Journal printing plant at 42nd Street and University in West Des Moines. The primary tenant at the location is Shive-Hattery Inc.