Construction could begin this fall for the Line 7 apartment development in an area of Urbandale that the developer says is underserved by multifamily housing.

When it’s done, Line 7 will be 225 apartments, including a mix of studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units. There will also be a clubhouse with a pool, dog park and garages.

The site where Line 7 is being developed at 142nd Street and Waterford Road is attractive to Hubbell because of its unique location, said Kevin Lohry, development project manager for Hubbell Realty Co.

“We saw that this particular area became available and took a look at it and it fit the size requirements we were looking for as far as the kind of development and unit layout we’re looking for,” he said. “We noticed in this area of Urbandale there really weren’t a lot of new apartments that came online within three to five miles of this spot that have been built in 20 years or so.”

While there is a lot of new, single-family and townhome development happening, with warehouse and industrial development occurring nearby, most of that is happening in Grimes and Waukee, not Urbandale, Lohry said.

Access to major roads was also an attraction for Hubbell, he said.

“It has pretty decent access to the Highway 141 and 80/35 corridors,” he said.

Though in Urbandale, Line 7 will be in the Waukee Northwest school district.

Lohry said construction is expected to begin this fall, with the project being compete by March 2027.

The first phase will be 135 units — three 45-unit buildings with a clubhouse, pool, dog park and garages.

There is an affordable housing component of the project.

According to Urbandale City Council documents, 15 of the first-phase units, or about 11%, will be reserved for income-eligible families for 15 years. Six units would be reserved for families making 80% of the area median income. Nine units would be reserved for families making 60% of the area median income. In exchange, Hubbell will receive a $775,000 grant from the city, documents show.

Line 7 helps satisfy the council’s goals of increasing the variety of housing in the city, said Curtis Brown, assistant city manager.

“The city council’s strategic plan and the recently approved comprehensive plan make it clear that a wide range of housing options that make it possible for more households to make Urbandale home is a priority,” he said in an emailed statement. “This project on the growing Dallas County side of Urbandale meets an important need, especially for people that work and live on the western side of our community.”

Why is the development called Line 7?

It’s a nod to the history of trolley lines that traveled through Urbandale, taking people from Des Moines to the coal mines in western Urbandale, Lohry said.

“The trolley line that really brought a lot of the population out west was the Line 7 railcar, so we thought it was a cool homage to the history of the area,” he said.

Lohry said he believes the Line 7 development is important for the area, “because it’s a type of development that has been overlooked in this area as the western suburbs started to develop.”

“As there’s more single family homes and for sale products, we really felt like this area was lacking a rental unit type,” he said. “Apartments serve an important need. They keep costs down because they’re smaller in nature. Not everyone needs or can afford a single family home, so that’s what we’re trying to fit into here.”