Village of Ponderosa

[Ingersoll1978]

Development possible for W.D.M. golf course

City officials know the Ponderosa may be sold and expect to meet soon with prospective buyers.

By TOM SUK
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
November 13, 2004

The Ponderosa Golf Course, an inexpensive oasis for golfers in the middle of West Des Moines' building boom, is being targeted for development.

The 65-acre, nine-hole course lies between two $100 million projects now being built - West Glen and the Galleria. Nearby is the $200 million Jordan Creek Town Center and the $250 million Wells Fargo Home Mortgage office complex.

"It is very strategically situated. It is a very nice piece of land," said Clyde Evans, West Des Moines development director.

Evans said city officials have not been formally notified of a sale but know that the property may change ownership. The prospective buyers are expected to meet soon with city officials, he said. "I think they are still in the process of determining what they want to do" with the land, Evans said Friday.

Attorney Kenneth L. Butters, a spokesman for Ponderosa's owners, said it was too early to discuss plans for the course. "The people involved are now beginning discussions with the city on what can be done with that property. It may involve rezoning," Butters said. "It will be a several-month process" before a sale, if any, is finalized.

Paul Latta of West Des Moines is the director of the golf course, according to state incorporation papers. Sally Latta is listed as president, secretary and treasurer of the corporation.

Neighbors contacted
Michael R. Blaser, whose back yard abuts the course on Coachlight Court, said Ladco Development Inc. of West Des Moines has contacted him and his neighbors to discuss the Ponderosa property.

No one was available at Ladco to comment, a receptionist said Friday.

The golf course is bordered on the north and northeast by several homes with assessed values of $300,000 to $425,000. Evans said city officials will take careful note of the existing nature of the area.

"We most definitely will require a transition area between the existing housing and whatever they plan to do in the south portion of the property," Evans said. "We see mostly single-family homes to the north and east of the property basically to interface with the existing single-family homes."

Blaser said it was no shock that the area would lose its bucolic setting.

"Our anticipation was that it was not always going to be a nine-hole golf course" after the massive Jordan Creek mall project was announced, he said.

The golf course is zoned as agriculture/open space property. To open the land for development, the city would have to approve an amendment to the land-use plan, which requires public hearings before the West Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission and City Council, Evans said.

High-value land
According to the Polk County assessors office, the assessed value of the golf course in 2003 was $668,000, which includes $442,000 for the clubhouse and other buildings.

Blaser, an attorney involved in some land sales in the area, said single-family home lots are selling for $35,000 to $40,000 an acre. Commercial property has been selling for $7 to $8 a square foot, Blaser said, or about $305,000 to almost $350,000 an acre.

Ponderosa is known as a low-priced alternative for golfers. Greens fees are $12.25 for nine holes or $17.50 for 18.

A phone message at the course indicated it was closed for the season.

It may not reopen. Evans said he believes developers "will probably want to start their project this spring."

[DMRyan]

Given the location of the golf course, this makes since. It's smack in the middle of ground zero for most of the growth going on in West Des Moines. There's enough golf courses in the metro anyway. Losing an older, smaller course like this shouldn't be a big deal.

[NewHtsDSM]

I am kind of bummed about the whole thing, it was a nice little course to do a quick 9 holes. I knew it would happen someday, the course is surrounded by development.

I'm sure the people along the 3rd fairway are pleased. Their houses got pummeled with balls every day (2 of them were mine!).

[dogbo]

Have they started developing this yet? I don't get down that way much anymore and was wondering if my favorite hackfest golf course was any longer.

[mistertwister]

It has been closed since May. No news as to possible developement plans. I noticed an item discussing developement for the Ponderosa on a Planning and Zoning commission agenda, but the minutes haven't been posted for that meeting yet.

[mistertwister]

The latest P&Z minutes discusses the rezoning for the Ponderosa golf course. Include is single family homes, medium density (townhomes), high density (apartments), office and commercial space. All being developed by LADCO.

[DMRyan]

Let's hope they can slightly break the mold with a good mix of the uses you mentioned. It would be the best thing since Chucky Cheese's Pizza opened up if they could make this our first tried and true new urbanist community.

[mistertwister]

Site plan for Poderosa. Thanks city planner!

Things seem to be moving at a pretty brisk place on this developement. Most of the trees have been removed......BOO!!!!! ( but understandable) and a lot of earth moving equipment has moved in. The neighborhood to the north is going to be happy this summer!

[dmluvr]

oh no the trees!!! I love trees!! is it safe for me to assume that trees will be planted??

.........well, I got to say, this is looking pretty damn hot. Seriously, IMO, this very well could up the ante on West Glen. That retail/biz district looks really pedistirian friendly with the pond, and turn abouts. Yeah---damn, this looks good!!!

I hate to say(and I do)this even gives the riverpoint west downtown project a run for it's money. (it terms of set up, lay out and design)
Granted, it's early and only based off of the renderings provided for us(to whom I would like to thank the city of wdsm, mister and rest of those who posted these!!!!)

Definitally a sharp looking project!!!! Way to raise the bar baby!!!

[dmluvr]

Also---mister, or cityplanner, or whomever might know!!

Any potential word on when the biz district will start? And any word on potential tennants or has that part of the process even begun??

[Ingersoll1978]

Luvr-those little green speckles...are...TREES! LOL

This is probably my favorite development out there. I can't wait to see the end results.

[dmluvr]

Luvr-those little green speckles...are...TREES! LOL

I figures as such, but you know the adage about "ass u me ing"
LOL!!!

This is probably my favorite development out there. I can't wait to see the end results.

ditto for sure!!

[DMRyan]

That looks like a pretty livable development that should be quite popular. Two or three more very sucessful mixed-use developments and maybe developers will start to think twice about developing the typical mass-built schlock they've been throwing up.

The desireability and land value of this area may be driving a lot of this though. I wouldn't expect developers in Waukee worried about the bottom line to start putting up real brownstones on something that actually resembles a street grid.

I like how all the surface parking for the commercial portion of the development is to the rear of the buildings.

[Ingersoll1978]

The website is up!

http://www.villageofponderosa.com/



Here's a few pictures from the website...check it out! This is going to be an awesome development out there.

Sample of residential units:





Retail/Residential:



Check out the development plan:
http://www.villageofponderosa.com/maste ... -plan.php#

[Des Moineser]

This reminds me of a smaller Riverpoint, and this (and Riverpoint) are the kind of projects that I hope spring up all over the metro. These rid of of the cookie-cutter look of the suburbs and really seems to give the residents a community instead of just a house.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Ha, in a couple years you'll be able to take a whirlwind trip through Europe just by driving down Civic Mills. Many of these conceptual houses seem to have quite a German or English flare to them. Others have that contemporary look that many newer Euro row houses seem to have. After a quick jaunt to the Italian Wal-Mart you may feel like you've traveled all of Europe! ...or at least like you live at Epcot Center?

[Ingersoll1978]

LOL...no kidding Tito. There are a lot of different styles out there. At least it's mostly looking good!

[DMRyan]

This development looks incredible. This will be the biggest thing to hit the West Des Moines residential market in a long time, and what seems like a guaranteed success should defintely be enough to transpire this type of development to other areas. Urbandale and Ankeny already have similar developments in the works.

Now if we in Des Moines could just get something close to this together, even if it weren't downtown. All the cheap suburban schlock being thrown up in SE Des Moines seems disgusting when compared to this. Des Moines is the most urban city in the metro, and I wish our new non-downtown development were able to reflect that.

A big thumbs up to West Des Moines and the developers for bringing us what will truly be an official new urbanist/traditional community to the burbs.

[mistertwister]

I have to give a big thumbs down to the stock photography they used on thier website. They have a nice concept, a nice plan, a nice logo, then they go all Amway on us with the stock photography...Blechhhhh!

[Young DSM Social Club]

Fantastic project. So saddened it's in WDSM vs. DSM. Unfortunately, when you set the bar so low for new suburbanish development like DSM has (sorry DMRyan!), what can you expect? Until DSM raises it's self-esteem and demands high quality development (and if not just holds onto it's undeveloped land), we'll continue to see Regency homes sprouting the SE side. Such development is on par with Waukee, in my opinion, but why is that anything to celebrate?

[kissjrj]

Some of us like living in Waukee. The one's that wouldn't like it, choose elsewhere to live. But, only a snobby elitist bitches about other peoples' choices as if it affects them personally. Where I choose to live shouldn't diminish your level of enthusiasm for the world-at-large. If Waukee is not your cup of tea, then let me raise a glass of wine and toast the city you have chosen--but, don't trash Waukee publicly as if we are not reading these posts.

JS

[Young DSM Social Club]

No need to spaz out. I have friends in Waukee. I think they'd probably agree there isn't any unique housing developments out there any different than any other suburb in the USA. If there are, please share them.

West Glen and Ponderosa are two very exciting projects in the suburbs. Any comments that I make that they be in DSM is just that --- that DSM needs to raise the bar in the developments they allow just like WDSM has.

[kissjrj]

Then Waukee is just fine being like many other suburbs around the USA.
Why unique? Unique in what way? Homes are utilitarianism at work, not pieces of artwork to please the people driving by. Unique is not something most people look for when purchasing a home. Others here on this board critize the lack of imagination in suburbs as if that is the goal...and then wonder why their vision is never met. Suburbia looks the same because we share the same culture. Change the culture, then you can play Michelangelo. All this garbage about mixed use and new urbanism such as West Glen is amusing to me. People are still driving around from Jimmy John's to get to Target. If the concept of walking from shop to shop and thru the neighborhood was valid, then why the drive-thru's at Caribou Coffee and Custard's?...our culture will not walk. My point being: what gets built, sold, resold is dictated by its uselfulness. So if thousands of new homes are selling in Waukee...who cares if they look the same?

This post is to generate conversation not angst.
JS

[Brady]

My point being: what gets built, sold, resold is dictated by its uselfulness. So if thousands of new homes are selling in Waukee...who cares if they look the same?

This post is to generate conversation not angst.
JS

kissjrj, while I disagree with your viewpoint I can totally understand where you are coming from. for the most part the public probably is not extremely interested in uniqueness or cutting-edge new concepts when looking for a place to live. a lot of people like the "cookie-cutter" suburban developments that "all look the same." some people however find developments like these uninspiring, thoughtless, and to a certain extent...unnattractive. I personally fall in the middle of these 2 categories. of course it is not your job as a homeonwer to inspire me, but wouldn't it be awesome if i was?
when individuals on this board put down the typical suburban housing developments of waukee they aren't putting down the homeowners, but perhaps the developers, designers, and the city who had a say in them. yes these homes are comfortable and generally nice to live in, some might find them so much more attractive if they were designed differently to give these new neighborhoods a sense of character and integrity. Imagine if all residential areas were typical suburban housing developments - then every single city in america would look exactly the same and that, IMO, would be not fun and very uninspiring.

[dmluvr]

brady--damn, well said brother!

my thing is with cookie cutter developments is that it looks sooooo comunicsitic. It does. It's almost creepy. My brother lives in the stepford wives neighborhood. (right by JCTC) These neighborhoods and I get the impression(yes yes, I could dead wrong) that these people are merely 8-5, 2.2 kids robots who have lost their humanism. To each their own, by all accounts, and while I intensley and fiercly disagree with you kssrj, it's your home and your life, whatever floats your boat.

I currently live in Grimes(ahem, the youngest city in the metro wink wink) and the same could be said here---(in the luva's defense, I had virtually no control to move here and I can't wait to get back in the city!!)

However, a person's home is very much a represenation of their personality and such---whehter you think it or not.

no doubt west glen and the ponderosa are raising the bar, and I would agree---it would be nice to see this sort of action on the city's SE side.

[kissjrj]

Character and integrity? You guys made my point again...First of all, character and integrity as defined by whom? The guy who didn't buy the house or chose the neighborhood? Second of all, what the hell is this "character" and "integrity" garbage? People worry about: is the neighborhood safe from crime? Is the school system excellent? Are the resale values excalating? Does the home need heavy maintenance? etc., etc., I'm not looking for a mail-order-bride! Some people move more often than they buy a new vehicle. Should I be looking to purchase a car with integrity? Or should I worry about gas mileage? Again, homes are not pieces of art. If that is your bag baby...move to those neighborhoods that float "your" boat. What the hell are you guys doing hanging around West Des Moines and Waukee? And if you say money is the issue, then I say you can be poor anywhere.
PS You are not just mocking the developers, you are mocking the homeowners' choices. And, there are quite a few here that have made comments worthy of Upper West Side Manhattan elitists and most of the time I ignore it. Just like all the double talk concerning Walmart's "demographics". What does this mean? Why not just come out and say it....oh we are so much better than "those" people. I guess lower income people are virtuous politically but, not if you have to be in the same room with them.

JS

[vauxhall]

I think the point of this forum website is the discussion about cities by people who have a high interest and appreciation of what cities have historically been about and how they are evolving - for better or worse. As a former resident of Des Moines, I'm excited to read about the new developments in the urban core. Globally, cities are judged by their level of cosmopolitan appearance and style. Cutting edge architecture and streetscapes, morphing old construction with new, and public spaces that encourage activity and buzz are what cities on the move are about and what is important to the majority of the contributors to this forum. I feel lucky to live in a neighborhood that does not have a single home that is a duplicate of another. I don't own a car. I walk 5 minutes to get to the nucleus of my neighborhood where I can dine, drink, dance, pick up dry-cleaning, go to the bank, or buy a pair of kick-ass jeans. The old, retired couple can sit on a bench next to a punk with blue hair and multiple piercings and not feel as if anything is amiss. I once lived in a cookie-cutter condo in West Des Moines and although I was content, after a few years I realized that a lifestyle like that was lacking many of the things I like. Please don't feel offended Kissjrj, but I and many of the contributors to this forum prefer the vibe and look of cities.

[thegrit]

I hope to buy a home within the next five years, and I'd like to live in West Des Moines. But very few new developments out here inspire me to shell out my thousands. Every time I see new developments, the first impression weighs heavily on my decision to include them in the list or forget them.

So far, these pictures don't make me want to move there. It all still looks very beige and suburban. I don't see what's "cutting edge" about it. But I'm excited to see more accurate artist renderings to get a better idea of this supposedly "unique" look. If anyone sees anything, let me know!

[kissjrj]

No offense taken. Just realize that the heading is Development Outside Downtown. Most of the discussion here is usually about the Suburbs and while your point of what you prefer is valid and you seem to have acted upon it (I commend you), please realize that the residents who have chosen to live in cookie-cutter homes prefer what you despise. And, the people who usually bitch the loudest are the minority who can't get their way. I've lived in Europe (Lisbon Portugal , Newark NJ, Redondo Beach CA, and now Iowa. Each has its own vibe. I say go where your pink is tickled best. But, the condescending mockery of suburbia (which the majority here enjoys) has become a form of social activism by people who think they know best and somehow are "enlightened" by their viewpoints. Bull. I guess if some people have nothing nice to say, they join a community forum and complain.

JS

[DSM celebutante]

I dont see why everyone dislikes it so much is it cutting edge? that is hard to decide with housing. It could be more, but its not a huge dissappointment its giving more then West Glen IMO The 3story townhomes with roof terraces is nice its about damn time DSM gets them but late to the party as usual but still nice to finally have. The Euro themed homes are different (Its far from mini Europe but still a nice twist from the bland regency homes)
I think they should put one of those tourist looking boats on the river or least let ppl use those peddle boats. Maybe someone can explain this excessive need to include office space in these projects I think its makes them a little boring wasting space on a 9-5 Office. I just hope they can get some good chains to go in Ponderosa an not depend soley on local businesses.