.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Home builders vying for one of the 21 lots in the 2008 HomeShowExpo packed DRA Properties’ basement on July 16 to take part in a lottery. The event was in the middle of the 2007 HomeShowExpo, which showcased just six homes in Johnston’s Silverstone development.

Based on this and past years, David Vollmar, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines, which organizes the event, expected 10 builders would purchase lots in Ankeny’s Prairie Trail development. But as they drew builders’ names and gave each a set time to select their lot and one of four housing styles, Vollmar saw the event explode.

“I was trying to be optimistic with 10,” he said, “but to walk out of there with 19 says a lot about the development and the thought process that went into this. Now our thought is how do we get people through 21 homes in a day.”

The 2008 HomeShowExpo will mark the start of construction for Prairie Trail, a 1,037-acre development located in the heart of Ankeny, northwest of Oralabor Road and Ankeny Boulevard. With the event blowing up to the largest in the Home Builders Association’s recent history, it will be a showcase of what’s to come in the area over the next few years.

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“It’s going to bring all the Des Moines people and all the surrounding communities out to look at our new development,” said Dennis Albaugh, own-er of DRA Properties, the developer of the site. “There’s a lot happening out here with the grading of the town center, the two lakes being graded and different buildings going up.”

The big picture

The HomeShowExpo site is part of Precedence at Prairie Trail, a 150-lot residential community located on about 62 acres west of State Street, the primary road that bisects the entire development. Seventy-five additional lots have been purchased, which promises additional activity at the time of the 2008 HomeShowExpo.

The city has been working on infrastructure for the entire development, putting in a main sewer line and water line along State Street. It also has begun construction of a new police station on the northeast corner of Prairie Trail and recently announced that it will construct a new high school next to the police station, expected to be completed by fall 2010. DRA also is in the process of selling another parcel to the school district for a future elementary school.

Grading is near completion for the town center, which could bring up to 600,000 square feet of mixed-use development around a town square. It also will include four restaurants set along one of two lakes, with an outdoor amphitheater on the other side. DRA has received one proposal for the development of the entire town center and is expecting to receive another in two weeks.

The Iowa FFA Foundation could soon begin construction of The FFA Enrichment Center on the southwest edge of Des Moines Area Community College’s campus, and Albaugh said he is working with another company looking to locate its 40 to 50 employees near the town center.

On the northwest corner of State Street and Oralabor Road, a major grocery chain is about to purchase a parcel on which to construct a new store. Next to it will be the Plaza Shops at Prairie Trail, a 38-acre, 11-lot mixed-use development.

Parks and green space also are a major component of the 200-acre Prairie Trail project. RDG Planning & Design developed the master park plan, which will include two major lakes and a 40-acre park west of State Street. It will also help connect major recreation trails in Central Iowa.

Getting all these plans approved by the city has been easy, Albaugh said.

“When we went through our series of meetings to lay out this [planned unit development], there was no opposition,” he said. “Everyone knew this property was set for development. It went through perfectly.”

Show time

Construction on the expo homes could begin as early as October as crews finish paving the roads and putting in infrastructure.

With 21 homes being built at the same time, in addition to the city developing a park in the center, Vollmar sees challenges in coordinating everything.

“It was chaotic enough with six homes,” Vollmar said. “It will be a mini circus with 21 homes.”

But unlike past home shows, Vollmar said the association has strong support from the developer and city. “It seems anymore we run into obstacles, such as storm water [management], road use and permit fees,” he said, “so we’re excited to see a new attitude.”

The city has agreed to waive the building permit fee for all 21 home builders and Albaugh is giving each builder $2,000 toward architectural renderings.

“They can’t take their cookie-cutter plan that they built somewhere else and put it in here,” Albaugh said. “They’re going to have to get involved with the architect.”

In Precedence Park, the city is planning activities to encourage people to stay for the entire day and tour all the homes. Located in the center of the development, the park will include a small shelter and rose gardens.

Unlike past shows, the expo will also have a greater mix of homes, with prices likely to range from $300,000 to $1 million. DRA encouraged this by selling lots in three sizes: village lots, which are 60 by 80 feet, for $68,000; estate lots, which are 80 by 100 feet, for $85,000; and manor lots, which are 120 feet or more in each direction, for $115,000.

Architecture is key

But of all the elements, the architectural design might be the most unusual aspect, organizers said. Builders must choose from one of four styles – Arts and Crafts, European Romantic, Colonial Revival or Victorian – DRA selected after touring traditional Iowa neighborhoods. Arts and Crafts and European Romantic have been the most popular so far.

A pattern book provides standards for each style, including size, location on the lot (most of the homes will sit close to the street and include front porches), and location of the garage, which must be set on a back alley or far enough behind the house so that vehicles parked in the driveway won’t block views from the front. The pattern book also suggests moldings, siding, windows and other design elements.

An architecture review committee will meet once a week throughout the Prairie Trail project to review builders’ plans before they can apply for a building permit.

“Hopefully it won’t be cumbersome,” said Tara Meredith of DRA Properties, “but it will make sure that everyone is complying with that pattern book.”

“The pattern book is to avoid getting a cookie-cutter project,” added Ted Rapp, development coordinator for DRA. “It lays out a few restrictions and several guidelines.”

Though the pattern book restricts builders’ creative freedom, people seem inspired by the designs.

“I was a little hesitant when it was first mentioned to me, but I was overwhelmed to see how they were looking for something different.” Albaugh said. “They’ve done the standard for a lot of years and done a lot of it, and the real estate market is not aggressive now, but they came in and liked this new concept a lot.”

Chaden Halfhill, president of Silent Rivers Inc., a design/build company, has been a strong proponent of the new urbanism movement for several years and sees the home show as an opportunity to showcase what his company can do in residential design and sustainability.

This is the first home show for Halfhill, who primarily focuses on renovating older homes. He’s working on an Arts and Crafts-style home on a village lot.

“We feel the development suits the aesthetically driven approach we take to residential construction, and we feel it’s a great opportunity to show what we can do,” he said. “Frankly, I’m jazzed up about the whole development and want to see it succeed.”

Though the pattern book places restrictions on the architectural design of the house, Halfhill embraces the concept because “it provides a consistency in the neighborhood,” he said. “I think it allows diversity, but it also controls the streetscape and it really helps strengthen the overall unity of the neighborhood. As a designer, of course I would like more freedom, but part of the joy of design is working within constraints and seeing how far you can stretch them.”

Tom Stevens of TS Construction, who built two homes for this year’s show and has participated in the expo for six years, also is excited about the architectural styles in the development, which are unique for today’s suburban communities.

He is working on an Arts and Crafts-style home on an estate lot.

“We actually have more freedom than at other sites,” Stevens said. “This year it’s going to put more people on a level playing field. They’re limited on their designs, but they need to bring in their own creativity and flair to it to make it stand out above everyone else’s.”