Adding to Ames: Exciting New Developments Are Shaping the Region
From expansive residential neighborhoods to high-profile commercial districts, dynamic new developments continue to take shape across the Greater Ames region, providing premier amenities for residents and visitors alike.
The addition of each new structure beautifully showcases the region’s strong, growing economy and highlights the aggressive push by several municipalities to meet the unique needs and wants of those who choose to live there.
New Housing: Mixed-Use Master Communities and European Charm
In Huxley, construction has begun on a $120 million, 120-acre mixed-use development off U.S. Highway 69 called Anthem. It is named after the existing main road, Anthem Drive, that accesses the property.
The project will include a 55-townhome neighborhood called Anthem 55, senior living units, an apartment complex called The Republic, and a retail center and restaurants. The property will also have space for light industrial tenants, and plans include a sports complex, hotel, store, event center and pool.
Construction on Anthem began in late 2025, and development on the first 45 apartments began in the spring of 2026. Groundbreaking for the senior living units will take place in the summer of 2026.
Additional diverse housing options are being introduced across other sectors of the region as well. High-demand residential developments transforming the local market include:
- Ansley Ames
- Scenic Valley
- Sunset Ridge North
- The Bluffs at Dankbar Farms
- Townhomes at Creekside in Ames
- Upland Trail in Gilbert
One standout project, Ansley Ames, will bring distinct English village-style charm to the market. The layout boasts a delightful mix of single-family homes, townhomes, cozy cottages, community gathering spaces and storefronts for local businesses. The neighborhood layout is designed with old-school European urban planning concepts, featuring hidden backyard garages, private gardens and winding pedestrian pathways that completely immerse residents in a native prairie landscape.
HQ For Nonprofits: A Collaborative Campus on Lincoln Way
After longtime Ames business JAX Outdoor Gear closed in 2025, three nonprofits – Friendship Ark, Overflow Thrift Store and The Arc of Story County – chose to use the vacated space.
“This is an ideal collaborative space where the three of us can serve people of all abilities in our community,” says Tricia Crain, executive director at The Arc of Story County, which works to enrich the lives of those with disabilities. “Overflow Thrift moved into the building in late 2025, and Friendship and The Arc are scheduled for mid-2026.”
Along with transforming the former JAX building for the three nonprofits, the building is being upgraded to include extra office space for other nonprofits. Additionally, a gymnasium is planned for Special Olympics athletes.
Overflow Thrift Store sells gently used donated goods, such as clothing and furniture, at low prices, and Friendship Ark provides a variety of vital services to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
“The three charities in one building will allow us to care for many people in need,” Crain says. “This is an exciting endeavor for the Ames region.”
Commercial Construction: The Transformative LINC Project
The region is matching its residential growth with major additions to its retail and public hospitality sectors. In December 2025, a massive Furniture Mart storefront officially opened to consumers in Ames, while an even larger commercial project kicked off along a critical stretch of Lincoln Way between Clark and Kellogg avenues.
The $150 million LINC project sits immediately adjacent to Ames’ historic downtown district. This massive urban infill development will offer a high-density mix of main-street retail storefronts, trendy restaurants and multi-family luxury apartments.
Plans are also moving rapidly forward on the highly anticipated Ames Event Center, which will serve as the premier anchor of the LINC development. A pedestrian bridge will span the corridor, allowing visitors to stroll seamlessly between the LINC plaza and the historic downtown grid. Infrastructure work for the Ames Event Center is expected to begin in 2026, with the facility officially opening its doors in 2028.
“We often attract groups and events to Ames, but we’ve always had challenges having enough downtown area facilities to welcome numerous guests,” says Kevin Bourke, President and CEO of Discover Ames. “Having an event center will be an attractive addition for the LINC development, and the pedestrian bridge will bring LINC visitors into downtown to the many Main Street sites.”
The state-of-the-art Ames Event Center will feature a massive, flexible ballroom space capable of hosting banquets for up to 1,000 people. To satisfy overnight corporate and tourism needs, a full-service, 200-room upscale hotel will be built directly adjacent to the center.
“People visiting the center and hotel will be able to come across the bridge and enjoy all the walkability and great downtown shops and restaurants,” Bourke says. “This will be a great project.”
Get to Know the Ames Region
Want to learn more about living and working in Ames, IA? Check out the latest edition of Livability Ames, Iowa, and The Greater Boone, Hamilton & Story County Region.