Myth: Urbandale’s past defines its future.

We respect our past, but it isn’t our script for the future. From a developer’s lens, the right question is simple: are a city’s systems—governance, finance, regulations, infrastructure—built to enable the next project, not repeat the last one? That’s where we live. As our marketing & communications director Derek Zarn puts it, “The past is our baseline, not our ceiling—and we’re genuinely excited about what’s next.”

We maintain one of the lowest tax levies in Iowa while delivering exceptional quality-of-life amenities for residents and employers. Our 60+ miles of paved trails already knit Urbandale to Des Moines and the broader metro, giving mixed-use, residential, and build-to-suit projects real connectivity on day one. And the playbook is clear: our downtown master plan is guiding core revitalization to create a more livable, walkable center and a stronger business district. The City recently acquired land in the heart of Urbandale’s downtown to accelerate that work—raising the yield on every private dollar by upgrading what sits outside the property line.

Our “sweet spot” population and location, plus targeted infill and redevelopment, is making Urbandale’s downtown more attractive for investors. We bias toward achievable sites, infrastructure already in the ground, and the compounding effects of a connected street and trail grid.

Urbandale isn’t defined by what it was; it’s defined by how it works. And if your project solves for quality, longevity, and connectivity, you’ll find a partner here who speaks your language.

Walk it with us. From 60+ miles of connections to a downtown in motion, you’ll see why your next project belongs here.