Fresh on the heels of the June ribbon cutting for CIVCO’s new 96,000 squarefoot Coralville headquarters, (a $15 million investment that unites corporate and manufacturing functions under one roof,) the Greater Iowa City area is signaling serious momentum. Below, explore a curated list of proposed development projects where we’re actively supporting infrastructure, zoning, and financing strategies to expand housing, business, and innovation space in ways that are both equitable and future-focused.
ACT Campus: Iceberg Development Group has purchased the 400-acre former ACT campus in Iowa City and plans to redevelop it with residential and commercial spaces, including a new income-restricted senior housing complex called “The Iris” which will provide 44 units for those 55+ with limited incomes thanks to $1.3 million in federal tax credits. The project is being led by The Housing Fellowship (which operates over 200 affordable units locally) and is its first senior-only, income-restricted community, with further affordable housing plans expected at the site.
Pearson Campus: Geifman Group out of the Quad Cities has purchased the former Pearson Campus at 2510 N Dodge Street in Iowa City and plans a substantial revitalization featuring modern exterior upgrades, new warehouse and retail space, and a contemporary design that enhances the visibility from I-80. The project already has major tenants lined up, including Iowa United Volleyball, and is being designed in partnership with Shive-Hattery, underscoring growing confidence in the North Dodge corridor’s economic potential.
Homemakers Furniture is expanding into Tiffin with construction starting this year on a new 200,000-square-foot showroom and warehouse expected to open by 2028. The project is projected to bring at least 200 new jobs to the region, marking Homemakers’ first location beyond its Urbandale flagship.
Urban Central District: North Liberty’s City Council has approved a $100 million Urban Central District redevelopment, transforming 20 acres around Cherry Street into a vibrant mixed-use hub featuring approximately 65,000 square feet of commercial space and at least 350 residential units comprising studios to 3-bedroom apartments, anchored by retail, office, banking, medical services, and more. To make the project feasible, the council also green-lit a $20 million upfront incentive, addressing significant initial preparation costs like flood mitigation, demolition, elevation changed, and railroad infrastructure.
North Liberty Sports Complex: North Liberty’s city council has approved a multimillion-dollar sports complex led by former Hawkeye Kenyon Murray, located across from Liberty High School, featuring four basketball courts, specialized training facilities, physical therapy space, and mental-wellbeing resources for athletes statewide. The project, planned to break ground in September 2025 and built with support from a $1.3 million TIF investment and a capital fundraising campaign, will draw visitors, boost local economic activity, and foster community wellbeing.
Iowa River Power: A University of Iowa alumnus-led development group purchased the shuttered Iowa River Power Restaurant building in Coralville and began historic renovations including restoring original glass features, with plans to reopen a restaurant by fall 2026 under an updated concept and new management. The Coralville City Council has approved tax incentives to support the project, ensuring the building’s historic character is preserved while welcoming a revitalized dining destination.
Gather Iowa: Coralville city officials and Shive–Hattery presented updates on the development in the southeast commercial district highlighting plans for retail, restaurants, 280 multifamily units (including affordable housing), a 105 room hotel, improved pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, and infrastructural upgrades like elevation work in the floodplain. The project aligns with Coralville’s 2014 community plan and Strategic Investment District framework to transform underutilized land into a vibrant gateway to the University of Iowa.
21 S Linn Street: Iowa City has selected Grand Rail Development to build a roughly six-story mixed-use building on the vacant lot featuring ground-floor entertainment or retail space, 20 residential units (including four affordable units managed by The Housing Fellowship), and three floors of market-rate office space with an estimated $40 million investment. The project advances following the withdrawal of a competing 12-story proposal due to financing and tax-credit uncertainties and will now move into negotiations on final design and terms.
Medical Innovation Lab: The (MILL) is a collaborative space designed to bring together inventors, industry leaders, and university startups to address unmet needs in healthcare. Scheduled for completion in February 2026, the MILL is repurposing the third floor of the former pharmacy building into a 17,000 square foot innovation hub within walking distance of the University of Iowa’s healthcare campus. It will house key programs including IOWA MADE, Nurse Innovators, Innovation Leadership Fellows, Protostudios, and inventor makerspace creating a centralized ecosystem for medical innovation.
These projects represent a trend in collaboration amongst the development community, municipalities, alumni, and housing partnerships. For more information on these projects and others, subscribe to our newsletters.
