New York financial technology company SmartAsset released the rankings from its second annual Healthiest Housing Markets Study. Altoona made the list at number 4 in Iowa, up from their rank of 21 in 2015. The study measures market health by the average number of years residents spend in homes, home values, ease of sale, and the costs associated with ownership.
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December 2015 Building Permits Report
In December, the City of Altoona issued 10 commercial and 8 residential building permits representing over 66,000 SF of new/improved space and nearly $7 million invested. Continue reading…
Altoona Site Poised to be Heart of America’s ‘Biggest Development Ever’
As a child, Mike Whalen tinkered with a Lionel train set. Now he plays with hotels, restaurants and giant retail complexes.
“This is the ultimate train set out here,” Whalen said, standing at the future site of Prairie Crossing, a 230-acre planned retail, commercial and residential development in Altoona.
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Families & Developers Choose Altoona for Growth
With Altoona leading the movement, the Des Moines metropolitan area is growing at an unprecedented rate: nearly twice that of the national average. Altoona has already experienced an 8% population increase since 2010, and is continuing to rise. By 2019, the city’s population is expected to reach more than 17,000—a 17% increase since 2010. Continue reading…
Jethroni Pepperoni to Replace Pizza Hut on Adventureland Drive
The owner of Jethro’s in Altoona recently announced Jethroni Pepperoni, a new restaurant that will feature Italian food and pizza. Construction is underway in the old Pizza Hut Altoona at 3221 Adventureland Drive, which closed this month.
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Enabling Garden Opens Children’s Area With Assistance From Facebook
Tucked away near the Altoona Hy-Vee and just off the Vern Willey II Bike Trail, the Enabling Garden is a two-plus acre oasis built and maintained by an ambitious group of volunteers. Located at 1050 1st Avenue South in Altoona, the mission of the Enabling Garden is to demonstrate ways that gardens can be developed and adapted to accommodate people of all ages and abilities where they experience the beauty of nature and the joy of gardening. Continue reading…
Facebook Data Center Awards Grants to Local Non-Profit Organizations
Earlier this year, the Facebook Altoona Data Center wrapped up a successful Community Action Grant Program. As a result of this program, the Data Center awarded grants totaling $103,000 to 25 local non-profit organizations that implemented programs and projects that put the power of technology to use for community benefit, connecting people online or off, improving education, and promoting local economic development. Continue reading…
Cutting-Edge Theater Complex is ‘Take-One’ in Entertainment Development Plan
Iowa’s entertainment epicenter is adding a luxury 10-screen movie theater with cutting-edge technology and attractive design. Continue reading…
Altoona chosen for premier ‘Shoppes’
Premier real-estate developer New England Development is bringing an open-air center—showcasing the nation’s finest retailers—to Altoona. As Iowa’s rising star, Altoona is the hottest choice for major developers shopping the greater Des Moines area.
The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing is a 148-acre development that will feature a powerhouse combination of shopping and dining, with potential for residential additions. The all-around entertainment experience is the latest development in Altoona’s trend of attracting big moves. And it’s yet another reason that Altoona is happening now. Continue reading…
Facebook opens third cutting-edge Altoona facility
There’s yet another reason to ‘like’ Altoona, now that Facebook has opened its third data center in our city. With state-of-the-art systems and revolutionary design, this center’s the biggest and best of the three, adding to Altoona’s growing profile of forward-thinking companies. The software giant’s big move is the latest example of how Altoona’s building what’s next. Our business community is growing, and it’s happening now. Continue reading…
