West Side Land Use Projections

West Des Moines, Iowa

Much of the growth occurring in the Des Moines metro area was taking place in the suburbs, so Development Strategies was commissioned by the city of West Des Moines to project regional market demand for office, industrial, retail, and residential uses over the period of 2000 to 2020, and to indicate how much of this growth could be captured and absorbed in the city.

Using scenario-based projection techniques, DS found that the Des Moines region had the capacity for a new regional shopping center.  West Des Moines was the most logical location for such a retail concentration, given suburban population growth rates, expanding buying power in the western part of the region, available land, and interstate highway access.  In turn, development of what eventually became Jordan Creek Town Center would be expected to attract demand for higher density housing as well as office-base businesses and employment, all of which continues to take place.