Reported
milestone
Urban-renewal proposal reported
Regency West redevelopment →Business Record reports a proposed urban-renewal area and ongoing development discussions.
The development record
What’s changed
Approvals, construction updates and openings—organized by the date of the event or report.
Reported
planning
Planning work still reported
Valley West Mall →WHO13 reporting said consultants were still being sought.
Reported
milestone
Regional progress update
Regional water-supply projects →The regional board packet updates design, construction and anticipated completion milestones across the current projects.
Reported
milestone
Expansion receives economic-impact recognition
Arcadia Building renovation →The Partnership recognized the occupied office expansion, citing a $12.5 million investment and support for more than 100 new jobs.
Reported
milestone
Documented program stage
Future water-network investments →The draft 2027 budget outlines future distribution, storage and treatment investment through 2036.
Reported
milestone
Documented program stage
Water-main renewal →Replacement and road-linked water work renews the local distribution network across established neighborhoods and growth corridors.
Reported
milestone
Documented program stage
A.C. Ward water-treatment renewal →Facility renewal and modernization continue at A.C. Ward, which West Des Moines Water Works operates for the regional authority.
Reported
milestone
Documented program stage
88th Street aquifer storage and recovery →Aquifer storage and recovery work is in testing, with the latest progress report extending that phase into early January 2027.
Reported
milestone
Later amendment reported
Grand Experience →Reproduced proceedings report an amendment. Its original text and effect were not obtained.
Reported
milestone
Documented program stage
Water-storage renewal →Tank and tower maintenance combines recent coating work with upcoming renewal and equipment projects.
Milestone
opening
East parking opens
RecPlex Event Center →The official expansion page reports the east parking expansion open. RP Market is also operating.
Reported
construction
Trail paving underway
Riverview Drive and S. 81st Street extension →Street and utility extensions serving Village at Sugar Creek.
Reported
construction
Earthwork and storm sewer underway
Grand Avenue widening →City reported earthwork and site grading started, with storm-sewer installation underway.
Reported
construction
Paving complete; restoration ongoing
Booneville Road reconstruction →Gravel road replaced with paved two-lane roadway.
Reported
construction
Storm-sewer and road work underway
16th Street and Grand Avenue improvements →Intersection widening, crossing beacon and storm-sewer upgrades.
Reported
milestone
Grading complete; storm sewer underway
12th & Vine Regional Stormwater Facility →The city update records completed grading and ongoing storm sewer installation.
Reported
opening
Connecting trail open
Raccoon River East Greenway & 1st Street Access →The city construction update records the 1st Street trail open, with restoration remaining.
Milestone
milestone
Five walkway murals completed
Vivid Junction →The official Vivid Junction page identifies Off the Rails as the completed first phase of an ongoing district placemaking initiative.
Reported
planning
Sale reported
Valley West Mall →Business Record reported a sale to Threshold. The recorded deed was not obtained.
Reported
milestone
Event Center going vertical
RecPlex Event Center →The facility describes vertical construction for an addition including a third ice sheet and flexible event space.
Reported
milestone
Subgrade preparation underway
SE Salix Drive extension →Earthwork, grading, water main and storm sewer were complete; subgrade and subdrain work had begun in preparation for paving.
Reported
milestone
Substantial completion reported
Mills Civic Parkway widening →Road widened to six-lane divided configuration.
Reported
milestone
Phase 2 subgrade preparation underway
Giles Street reconstruction →City reported Phase 2 subgrade preparation started ahead of paving.
Reported
construction
Roadway work reported ongoing
Ashworth Road reconstruction →Road reconstruction and water-main replacement.
Reported
opening
Phase 2 trail open
Sugar Creek Greenway Trail →The city reports the trail open, with restoration work remaining.
Milestone
opening
Wendover–South Grand Prairie segment opened
EP True Parkway extension →August 18 city update reports this segment opened to traffic; remaining punch-list and restoration work continued.
Reported
milestone
Later phases in preparation
Legacy Woods →City updates describe trail paving, lighting design and a Heritage Center planning procurement. Orchard planning was paused pending contractor evaluation.
Reported
milestone
Substantial completion reported
Valley Junction alleys — Phase 10 →Residential alley paving between Maple and Elm.
Reported
opening
Skate facility open for public use
Crossroads Park skate facility →Replacement concrete skate facility with related trail work.
Reported
approval
Acceptance listed
Water Works Distribution Shop →The board agenda lists acceptance of the completed improvements.
Milestone
approval
Agreement approved
Grand Experience →Official council minutes record approval of the urban-renewal plan and development agreement, 4–0.
Reported
opening
Trail reported open
Legacy Woods →The city reported the trail open and 95% complete, with additional work planned.
Reported
approval
Acceptance communication
Athene Pedestrian Bridge →The council communication concerns contract acceptance and administrative closeout.
Milestone
planning
Council workshop
University Avenue Corridor →The city’s active-project record identifies a workshop on the redevelopment framework.
Reported
planning
Financing framework considered
Valley West Mall →The city packet sets out planning estimates and a proposed amendment.
Milestone
construction
Groundbreaking held
Fire and EMS Station 13 →New fire and EMS facility south of the Raccoon River, intended to improve response capacity as the city grows.
Milestone
milestone
Ribbon cutting
Water Works Distribution Shop →Water Works proceedings record the distribution shop ribbon cutting.
Milestone
approval
Water-service memorandum amendment approved
Southbranch Business Park →Draft board proceedings record unanimous approval of the WB Realty memorandum amendment. Permanent-service completion is not documented by this action.
Milestone
approval
Ginger West permit
Microsoft campuses →DNR air-quality operating permit 26-TV-003 was issued, expiring April 9, 2031.
Reported
construction
Construction progress reported
Merchants Bonding →Business Record reported the expansion taking shape with a year-end 2026 target.
Milestone
approval
Water-service memorandum approved
Southbranch Business Park →WDMWW approved a memorandum addressing three easements and the next steps for South Branch. Approval alone does not establish that permanent water service or occupancy followed.
Reported
approval
Agreement amendment
122 Fifth Street infill →The council consent agenda includes a development-agreement amendment with Forest Ave Properties, LLC.
Milestone
construction
Construction begins
RecPlex Event Center →Official facility timeline identifies site development and early construction in spring 2026.
Reported
milestone
GMP amendment milestone
RecPlex Event Center →Indexed official minutes record approval of a GMP change-order amendment; the full amendment was not recovered.
Milestone
approval
Station 13 site plan approved
Fire and EMS Station 13 →Council approved the approximately 17,000-square-foot public safety station plan, subject to code and approval conditions, by a 4–0 vote. This is approval scope, not the final measured building area.
Milestone
approval
Public improvements accepted
Forest Place →Official minutes record acceptance through the consent agenda, vote 26-003, 5–0.
Milestone
approval
Building 2 approved
Southbranch Business Park →A subsequent city staff report records approval of the second office/warehouse building.
Milestone
construction
Access work completed
Legacy Woods →The city update reports the parking lot, grand lawn and connecting sidewalk complete.
Milestone
opening
Grand opening celebration
Porsche Des Moines dealership →New dealership facility celebrated its opening in West Des Moines.
Milestone
approval
Site plan approved
Merchants Bonding →Council approved the major site plan 5–0, including 26 deferred parking spaces.
Milestone
approval
Final plat approved
Forest Place →Council approved the final plat 5–0, subject to surety for unfinished improvements. The plat includes 101 single-family lots, two outlots and six street lots.
Milestone
opening
Three homebuyers became homeowners
Valley Junction Community Build →Habitat and the city replaced blighted buildings with three adjacent homes.
Reported
approval
Council site-plan approval reported
The Lancaster →Two four-story apartment buildings proposed west of the Jordan Creek area. The city agenda establishes the project scope; Business Record reports approval.
Reported
milestone
State assistance announcement
Merchants Bonding →IEDA described the project’s capital investment as just over $22 million. This is a dated estimate, not a final audited cost.
Milestone
opening
Opening ribbon-cutting held
Iowa National Guard Readiness Center →The new readiness center supports National Guard training and emergency response, housing infantry and transportation units.
Reported
milestone
State water-quality investment
Legacy Woods →IDALS announced $250,000 for native plantings, bioretention, a swale and stormwater wetland. The announcement is not a completion certificate.
Milestone
opening
New store opened
Toys R Us at Jordan Creek →New retail occupancy inside Jordan Creek Town Center.
Reported
milestone
Procurement begins
RecPlex Event Center →The City issued a notice of intent for guaranteed-maximum-price construction management.
Milestone
milestone
Phase I completed
Raccoon River East Greenway & 1st Street Access →The city annual report identifies completion of the first phase of river access.
Milestone
milestone
Second office phase completed
Oaks on Grand — Phase II →Additional office space extends the Oaks on Grand Business Park along the Grand Avenue corridor.
Milestone
milestone
Apartment development completed
Concord at Marketplace →New affordable apartments for adults 55+ in the Village of Ponderosa, near shopping and dining. Community spaces and outdoor patios are included.
Milestone
opening
Holmes Murphy occupies Arcadia space
Arcadia Building renovation →The city reports approximately 75,000 square feet leased for Holmes Murphy’s office expansion.
Milestone
approval
Ginger East / Willow Creek permit
Microsoft campuses →DNR air-quality operating permit 24-TV-005 was issued, expiring December 8, 2029.
Milestone
Milestone
Reported
milestone
LEED Silver certification announced
Des Moines University campus →DMU reported that its new campus had received LEED Silver certification.
Reported
planning
Land-use framework
Valley West Mall →City minutes indexed text records PUD adoption. That is not approval of a final replacement site plan.
Milestone
milestone
Ceremonial ribbon cutting
West Bank headquarters →Bank held a celebration after the April 15 public opening.
Milestone
opening
Headquarters opened to the public
West Bank headquarters →West Bank consolidated employees from two leased offices into its new headquarters, with a public lobby and drive-up banking. The four-story building also includes employee and gathering spaces.
Reported
opening
Opening reflected in university retrospective
Des Moines University campus →DMU included the new campus among its major 2023 milestones.
Milestone
milestone
Renovation completed
Val Air Ballroom renovation →The city project profile records completion of the ballroom renovation.
Milestone
Milestone
milestone
Development completed
The Cunningham →Mixed-use apartments and street-level commercial space at Jordan Creek Parkway.
Milestone
milestone
Phase I completed
Southbranch Business Park →The first phase is complete, according to the city development listing.
Milestone
milestone
Building refurbishment completed
Arcadia Building renovation →Office renovation with upgraded shared amenities and outdoor space.
Milestone
milestone
Mixed-use building completed
595 Tower →Five-story mixed-use building combining condominiums, office space and a restaurant. The development includes Prime and Providence and CBRE offices.
Milestone
approval
Site plan approved
Picket Fence Community →Council approved a plan for 236 multifamily dwellings.
Milestone
opening
First classes at the new campus
Des Moines University campus →DMU’s official retrospective identifies the first students and classes at its new West Des Moines campus.
Dates & coverage
Reported dates are labeled separately from event dates. These are sourced milestones, not a claim that every event is new since your last visit. Future targets remain on project pages and are excluded from this history.