Town Center Developer Announced

Envision your ideal town center. There may be a gathering place for outdoor activities and socializing. Retail shops, businesses, and cafes could surround the tree-lined center, and everywhere shoppers and visitors might mill about, relax, grab a snack, or stop by to browse. It is likely a place full of vitality, casual activity, and natural beauty.

Your imagined town center may soon become reality—right in the heart of Ankeny. Although it's still in the early stages of development, planners are incorporating this blend of relaxation and convenience into the Town Center at Prairie Trail. Shops, dining, green space, spots for community activities—all are under consideration as part of a vibrant town center area designed to complement Ankeny's already bustling commercial shopping and park districts.

A new partner in the development of Prairie Trail, Capital Growth Madison Marquette (CGMM), based in Minneapolis, will develop the retail portion to include the
Town Center. The company plans to create a lifestyle center, serving as thecommunity's commercial core. Fashion anchors, restaurants, regional and national merchants, a central park, amphitheatre, and abundant parking are all components of the plan.

Picture the future. You'll walk around a bit and enjoy the outdoors. Grab a cup of coffee during a lunch break and spend a few minutes on a park bench. Take a leisurely walk
from home across the commons to pick up a birthday gift.

Bring the kids to listen to music or buy a hot dog from a kiosk.

The traditional small-town style of business and residential structures at Prairie Trail fits Ankeny's neighborly nature perfectly. It represents Iowa at its best. That's why a town center is a
great addition—a  place for residents and workers to connect with the environment and spend time with others who live or work nearby.

Retail Developer Has Iowa Ties
For Dick Ward, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Investments for Capital Growth Madison Marquette (CGMM), partnering with DRA Properties on the Prairie Trail retail development marks a return to the company's roots. "Almost every member of the CGMM team has a strong connection with Iowa and understands its people and communities," he says.

Ward is a native of Council Bluffs, and CGMM President and Chief Operating Officer John Nagle is originally from Cedar Rapids. "Several of us built our careers in this industry while working at General Growth Properties, which was founded in Des Moines and has become one of the nation's largest developers of regional shopping centers," Ward says.

CGMM will develop the retail portion of Prairie Trail, including the Town Center and Plaza Shoppes, the retail area at the southern entrance to the community.

"We believe CGMM is an excellent match for this project," says DRA owner Dennis Albaugh. "The company has everything we were looking for—outstanding expertise and a strong track record in the industry, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an understanding and appreciation for Iowans and their way of life. We're going to make a great team."

CGMM is a part of Capital Growth Properties, Inc. (CGP), a private real estate investment company with offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Birmingham, Alabama. For retail leasing information, call Dick Ward at 515-333-1180.