The University Place Lofts and Rowhouses has served as an opportunity for the project’s developers to stretch their imaginations, and for neighborhood groups to inject life back into the community.

“We just thought that we do the same kind of things all over the place, let’s do something different and fun,” said Rob Myers, vice president of Executive Property Management, the property manager. Regency Commercial Services is overseeing construction.

The University Place Lofts, which are set to open Aug. 1 at the corner of 24th Street and University Avenue, include a mix of retail, located on the first floor, and loft apartments on the second and third floors. Myers said the company tore down the one-story building that was previously on the site and began construction on the new three-story building. The new building extends beyond the boundaries of the previous building and includes a brick patio to be used by a retail tenant.

Following completion of that building, Executive Property Management will continue construction in an adjacent two-story building, the site of the former Newens Dairy, which will have a similar mix of retail and residential units.

“I think the market’s moving toward more of this, so we’re trying to do some of these projects in each city,” Myers said.

Joy Brown, president of Executive Property Management, described the loft apartments as upscale with a “New York-style, industrial, urban chic” look. Construction will begin on the Newens Dairy Lofts after phase I is complete in August, and are expected to open Dec. 1.

The University Place Rowhouses are under construction on 23rd Street south of University Avenue, and are scheduled to open May 1. Brown said each of the three-story rowhouses includes a tuck-under garage, first-floor kitchen and living room and bedrooms on the third floor. The company has already received a great deal of interest in the housing units, particularly from Drake University graduate students.

With 20,000 square feet of retail space, Myers intends to fill the space with services that will primarily support the loft and rowhouse residents, such as restaurants, coffeehouses and clothing stores.

“I think it’s going to be huge for these students, with the convenience of just being able to walk downstairs and get your coffee, sandwich or pizza.”

Don Adams, a Drake University administrator and chair of the Drake Neighborhood Improvement Task Force, compares the University Place project to a late 1980s project that included the Old Main Apartments, the Drake Diner and a motel.

“That was a phenomenal breakthrough and obviously this is a project that’s in that same category,” he said. “Between 23rd and 24th, it’s just going to come alive with new living areas and commercial areas and it’s going to be great.”

Adams said this project fits in with current work by the university and its board of trustees on a campus master plan, which calls for more partnerships with the surrounding neighborhood and other Greater Des Moines businesses and individuals.

“We’ve got some major players in this city who really care about this area,” he said.

Revitalization efforts in the neighborhood are stretching beyond University Avenue, particularly to the Forest Avenue corridor, which Adams said has been made possible through collaboration between the university, Polk County and the city of Des Moines.

“You just can’t drive into the neighborhood and not be excited about what’s going on here,” he said.