.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;} A $37 million housing and retail project on the western edge of Drake University is on track to be finished by August 2008, just in time for students to move in.

Hubbell Realty Co. and the university entered into an agreement last year that allowed Hubbell to develop land that Drake owned. Construction started last March.

“The project is on track to be ready for students to arrive next year,” said Jared Bernstein, a public relations specialist with Hubbell.

When complete, the development will include 9,000 square feet of retail space. Bernstein said the company is looking to attract businesses that would cater to the student population, such as coffeehouses, copy stores and late-night food options.

The project will include three five-story student apartment buildings plus a three-story student apartment building. The total complex would provide housing for up to 500 Drake students in 132 apartment suites. The housing will be a mix of one-bedroom apartments and two- and four-bedroom suites with common living areas. The plans also include fitness rooms, common study areas and an outdoor plaza.

“We will be targeting graduate students,” Bernstein said. “This is a significant upgrade from most student housing.”

Bernstein said the project also serves as a way to improve the area surrounding the university.

“We saw a way not only to do a great development, but to also make the neighborhood better,” Bernstein said. “It’s not just good for Drake; it’s good for the entire community.”

Freedom Financial Bank

The 18,000-square-foot building on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway that was the home of The Art Store is being “totally remodeled” to become the first new branch of Freedom Financial Bank, said Heather Miller, the bank’s senior vice president.

Miller said this will be the bank’s second location, adding to its headquarters in West Des Moines. It will be a full-service location with decision-makers on site, she said.

“We were very interested in serving the Gateway West-Ingersoll corridor,” Miller said. “There is not really a community bank presence there right now, and it is an attractive area.”

Miller said the hope is that the new branch will be open by June, but because The Art Store had such a well-known building and identity, a lot of work has to be done on the building to make it their own.

Freedom Financial opened in 1999, specializing in small business and commercial lending. Miller said the company is looking to diversify and increase its consumer business.