To the occasional visitor, Johnston is like many other Central Iowa communities, with new homes, new schools and land slated for new development. But to established residents, it’s a completely different city today than it was even 10 years ago.

“There’s really no comparison,” said Community Development Director Gene Martens.

When Martens moved to the northwestern suburb in the mid-1990s, there was one subdivision west of 86th Street. Now the city is considering the potential for development west of 100th Street. The Green Meadows housing development along 86th Street was nothing more than a cluster of houses. And the large fields at the corner of 86th Street and Northwest 62nd Avenue have been replaced by the Foxboro Center, John Deere Credit, a gas station and a strip center.

With a record number of housing permits, a dramatic population increase and signs of new commercial development, the city of Johnston has shaken its not-too-old reputation of a sleepy suburb as the city commits funds for economic incentives, quality-of-life improvements and infrastructure projects with expectations that the growth pattern will continue.

“I think that our biggest challenge and opportunity is to continue our growth in a way that is planned and of the highest quality,” said Mayor Brian Laurenzo, who has seen the city’s population increase by 50 percent since moving to Johnston in 1998. “We want to make sure that we continue to attract quality commercial development to add to our tax base.”

Johnston’s population at the time of the 2000 census was 8,649, but current estimates put the population at approximately 13,000. Laurenzo said the city will conduct a special census this year in order to become eligible for additional sources of revenue that are doled out on a per-resident basis.

The Johnston Community School District’s enrollment increased this year to 4,948 – a 267 student increase over the 2003-2004 school year and a 1,000 student increase since the 1999-2000 school year. The district has opened a new elementary school and middle school over the past year and a half to account for the increase in students.

Martens said development started to take off in the mid-1990s as Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. began to subdivide land and sell lots. Mid America Group Ltd. completed the Longmeadow subdivision and Hubbell Realty Co. began work on North Glen.

“A couple of subdividers come in and do well and that attracts [other subdividers],” Martens said. “And we’ve seen more and more developers putting in subdivisions and selling lots, and that just compounds.”

The city issued a record number of single-family housing permits in 2004, and along with new housing, Martens said, comes commercial development.

“Johnston has one of the highest median incomes in the state of Iowa, and it’s fortunate to have two good companies (Pioneer and John Deere Credit),” said Chris Murray, executive vice president of Denny Elwell Co. “Johnston is situated to grow very well over the next several years. Its proximity to I-80 is another plus, not to mention that it draws from Urbandale and Des Moines for its consumer base.”

Denny Elwell will begin construction this spring on Johnston Station, a 64,000-square-foot, two-story building on Merle Hay Road, which will be used for office, retail and services.

“We think Johnston is an aggressively developing community, and it’s attracting businesses that are going to want to occupy that building,” he said.

Though the city has plans for improvements to areas along Merle Hay Road, particularly north of Northwest 62nd Avenue, the bulk of new development is planned for the 86th Street corridor. Development began with Birchwood Crossing near the Interstate highway 35/80 interchange, which includes the Wynnsong 16 movie theater, restaurants and flex office space.

“The other projects are in their embryo stages,” Martens said. “But that’s deceptive because there are a lot of projects that we’ve been working on for six months that people who are driving around see no evidence of.”

Stewart Weeks Brown Commercial Real Estate Services is working to develop the 40 acres that make up Windsor Office Park at 86th Street and Windsor Parkway. Twenty lots, ranging in size from one to three acres, are for sale for the construction of office buildings, banks and restaurants. The single existing building, owned by Iowa Health Systems, is occupied by Johnston Family Physicians and Physiotherapy Associates.

Bob Stewart said the Scherinian and Walker Law Firm will begin construction on one lot, and his company will construct an office condominium project west of Iowa Health Systems’ facility. He said Johnston Family Physicians located in the development because of its immediate access to Windsor Parkway. The street is a direct route for many district parents who send their children to Horizon Elementary and Summit Middle School, which will provide a similar incentive to other potential users.

The Siedenburg Group represents the landowners who originally owned 80 acres of land and sold the northern 40 acres to Stewart Weeks Brown. The remaining land is zoned for office park development, though three acres along 86th Street have been zoned for retail. Doug Siedenburg considers it a “high-end corporate office site.”

“We think it’s one of the finest sites in the city, because it rises to the west and overlooks the entire Johnston valley,” he said.

John Deere Credit moved into its new facility, which covers approximately 27 acres on the northwest corner of 86th Street and Northwest 62nd Avenue, in May 2000. Jim Meenagh, manager of communications, planning and supply management, said Johnston city leaders were easy to work with and enthusiastic about the possibility of the company becoming a part of the community. The city’s tax advantages also played a part in the company’s final decision.

“It’s a wonderful community,” Meenagh said. “It’s got the small town appeal, but it’s still progressive and growing. For our employees it offers an attractive location and ample housing opportunities.”

“We’ve been very pleased and feel like we’re all a part of the community.”

Laurenzo said the relationships between the city and companies such as John Deere Credit have provided two-way benefits, through an economic boost to the city and a high quality of life for employees who choose to locate in Johnston.

“Those types of companies provide such a huge boost to our commercial tax base,” he said, adding that 86th Street is not conducive to retail due to low traffic levels in that part of the city and a lack of interstate frontage. “Also, our community is desirable for the people who work at these companies because we have an excellent school system, lots of green space and great trails and parks. So that is something that helps put it together.”

Residents will vote on a city referendum this year regarding an outdoor aquatic facility, and Laurenzo said the city will continue to be “aggressive” in its trail plan, with the goal of connecting all of the city’s neighborhoods through the trail system.

But new recreational opportunities are merely the beginning of construction projects. This year will see roadway improvement projects to Northwest 62nd and 70th avenues, as well as sewer projects throughout the city. The $18 million 70th Avenue project, which is expected to receive federal funding, will be completed in phases over the next two to three years.

“We feel in some ways we are already playing catch-up, but we just need to make sure that we are proactive in our development,” Laurenzo said.

Developers of West Park, a 75-acre office park at Northwest 54th Avenue and 100th Street, are counting on roadway projects for the success of that development. Curt Johnson, a commercial listing broker who represents landowner K.C. Holdings Inc., said 54th Avenue will eventually be widened between Johnston to Grimes.

“Eventually, everybody anticipates a 100th Street interchange (with I-35/80),” Johnson said.

But the city is looking beyond West Park and 100th Street, as well as to the north and east, as it considers annexation options. Martens said the city will build out over the next 10 years unless it expands its borders.

Laurenzo said that until Camp Dodge is annexed, Johnston is limited in its development to the north, but says city leaders have been working with Camp Dodge and believe it will be annexed in the foreseeable future.

“It’s inevitable that we will annex property in the future, and we are looking at what directions make the most sense,” he said. “We’re looking to the north and to the west as well as to the east side of the [Des Moines River]. But at this point we’re just studying the alternatives to see what makes the most sense.”