A nearly 10,000-square-foot retail building on East University Avenue is expected to be completed by July.

Mike Brown, a senior broker associate at CB Richard Ellis/Hubbell Commercial and co-owner of the property, said he’s happy to be bringing more retail space to the East University Avenue area, especially near the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

“I think that area has been underserved, and so this is a real opportunity for us” he said.

Brown and his partner in the project, Mike Kinter, founder of Kinter Construction Services Inc., acquired the land in August with building the project in mind. The hope is that the building, which will be named University Shops and is located at 2301 E. University Ave., will attract retail and service businesses, such as chiropractors, mortgage brokers, a hair salon and a restaurant with a drive-through.

The building has 10 bays ranging in size from 842 to 963 square feet, but they can be combined to accommodate tenants needing more space.

Brown said Iowa Department of Transportation traffic counts show an average of 25,800 cars pass by University Shops every day.

“It’s a very prominent building in a very visible area,” he said.

Bright Kavanagh House

Hospice of Central Iowa officially broke ground last month on its third Bright Kavanagh hospice house in the Des Moines area, with completion expected in a year.

Kim Medici Shelquist, community engagement director for Hospice of Central Iowa, said the building at 3001 Easton Blvd. will be larger than the organization’s other two facilities, with 24 rooms.

“It is typical for us to be on a waiting list,” she said. “But right now we are at 97 percent capacity at our existing Kavanagh Houses. When we get to that level, we’re extremely full and need to start thinking of ways to alleviate it.”

Two years ago, Shelquist said, the organization began a capital campaign to raise funds for the new facility. Nearly $5 million was raised for the effort.

The Kavanagh Houses were established as a haven for patients facing the end of life and their families, she said. At the Kavanagh Houses, patients and families create a care plan to meet their specific needs and round-the-clock nursing care is available. The houses also provide a home-like atmosphere and personal support.

“People come to us near the end of their life,” Shelquist said. “It’s a difficult time for their entire family, so we work with them to add quality of life at the end of life.”

Once the new Kavanagh House is compete next spring, Shelquist said, her organization will be ready to move people into the facility almost immediately.