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Urbandale authorizes IEDA Catalyst grant application to rehab 7025 Douglas (the "Old Dairy Queen")
Summary
City staff will apply for an IEDA Community Catalyst grant to help rehabilitate the city-owned landmark at 7025 Douglas Avenue, estimated rehab cost $332,000; the grant can supply up to $100,000 to bridge the funding gap and ready the building for occupancy.
Urbandale’s City Council voted April 7 to authorize submission of an IEDA Community Catalyst grant application to help rehabilitate 7025 Douglas Avenue, the city-owned landmark commonly called the Old Dairy Queen.
Economic Development Specialist Ebony Woods told the council the project would be a full building rehabilitation — including exterior cladding, roofing, windows and doors, replacement of deteriorated concrete, improved drainage and walkability, updated HVAC and utility systems, ADA-compliant bathrooms, and installation of a grease trap required for year-round food service. Woods said the city is estimating the work will cost approximately $332,000 and that the Catalyst program can provide up to $100,000 in grant funding.
Why it matters: Staff framed the work as a catalytic, visible downtown reinvestment that fits the city’s adopted downtown master plan and is intended to accelerate private investment and make a small retail space occupancy-ready. Because the city owns the building, staff must show market interest and community support; IEDA suggested letters of support from potential retailers and partners during the pre-application review.
What staff said: Woods described the building as “probably downtown Urbandale’s most recognizable and historic building,” and said the rehabilitation will create pedestrian-friendly improvements and interior upgrades to prepare the structure for tenant fit-out. She told council the city advanced through IEDA’s pre-application process and expects to submit the full application by the April 15 due date. Woods said staff has prepared letters of support to solicit from local partners and will include community and developer endorsements to strengthen the application.
Next steps: Council approved council letter 8545 authorizing the city manager to submit the IEDA application. If the grant is awarded, staff said the city would use existing capital funds together with the grant to complete building envelope and systems work and position the building as occupancy-ready; tenant-specific build-out would follow once a private occupant is identified.
Outcome: Motion to authorize the grant application passed unanimously (no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript).
