Ankeny’s Prairie Trail development will have its first restaurant when Jethro’s LakeHouse opens in December.

Real estate developer and restaurateur Bruce Gerleman said he hopes to start construction on the 7,200-square-foot structure early next week.

The restaurant will sit on the north shore of the 6-acre Promenade Lake. It will be the first building in an area called The District, which is conceived as a local government center with a retail and office complement.

“I think this is by far the premier spot in the city,” Gerleman said.

In addition to Jethro’s staples such as Cajun and barbecue, the menu at the Prairie Trail restaurant also will feature walleye and trout.

This will be the fourth Jethro’s restaurant to open in the Des Moines metro area.

Other projects under way or about to begin construction include private housing for Des Moines Area Community College students and a 60,000-square-foot commercial building, said Ted Rapp, development coordinator for DRA Properties, the developer at Prairie Trail.

To read a related story about development in Prairie Trail, click here.