As the real estate market continues to heat up in Iowa City and the Corridor, agents at Urban Acres real estate spent the past week orchestrating a move of their own into a new, 9,500 square foot headquarters at 250 Holiday Road in Coralville.
“We’re all accustomed to helping our clients move or advising them on how to move, but this time it was all of us carrying the boxes,” said Ernie Galer, Urban Acres managing broker. “It was a great team building exercise, and now we’re excited to have this larger facility to better serve our clients in the new year and for decades to come.”
Two years ago, Urban Acres real estate entered the market as a new, member-owned real estate agency in the Corridor, originally located at 1519 S. Gilbert St. in Iowa City. At inception, more than 35 Iowa City-based agents came together to launch the company. Today, that number has grown to 51, prompting the need for a larger space.
Urban Acres Agent Mike Bails, who helped project manage the $3 million buildout, said the move is a reflection of the way the community and businesses have embraced the new company. “The success of our clients, and being named Best of the Area in 2016 and 2017, are all a great source of pride for all of us,” he said.
The new Urban Acres building is located in what is called the Bridgewater Subdivision, just west of the Hampton Inn and 1201 Tap located north of I-80. Urban Acres Agent Mitch Price said the central location will allow agents to serve clients in every neighborhood of Iowa City as well as in Coralville, North Liberty, Cedar Rapids, Mt. Vernon/Lisbon, Solon, Riverside, Wellman, West Branch, West Liberty, Swisher/Ely, Tiffin, Oxford, Kalona, Washington, Wellman, and the Amana Colonies.
“And, as we begin to expand our services into the Cedar Rapids market, having easy access to I-80 and I-380 is even more important,” said Agent Phil O’Brien. “This building will offer convenience for our agents and our clients.”
Agent Natasha Wendt said the new building will also help Urban Acres take the next steps in fulfilling its mission to “do something different.” “Our company is 100 percent locally owned. Most of us have grown up in the area, or have lived most of our lives here, and we are proud that we can reinvest in the community in this way.” She added that another point of pride is that Urban Acres did not ask for or receive any state or local financial incentives to build the new headquarters.
During the process, Urban Acres also utilized many local subcontractors, including General Contractor Grand Rail Development, Select Structural Engineering Architects, Draftsman Steve Bock, Beisser Lumber, Hawkeye Weld, Lite Window and Door, Liberty Door, Advance Builders Corp, Marv’s Glass, Allied Building Products, Red Rock Siding, Concrete Central, ASG Construction, Summit Fire, Freeman Lock, CD Insulation, Acoustic By Washburn, Cusic Masonry, King’s Material, Kelly Heating, Mulford Plumbing, VIPS, Steve’s Electric, Bower Drywall, McConnell Construction, Cedar Rapids Millwork, Jackson Painting, Granite Custom, Budget Blinds, Brick House Ops, Slager Appliance, Randy’s Flooring, Hawkeye Excavating, MMS, Maxwell, DeLong, Smith Massman, Turf N’ Landscape, Larry’s Parking Lot Striping, Phelan’s Interiors, Reference Audio, and Streb.
Agent Cathy Pugh said the two year journey from the Urban Acres real estate launch to the opening of the new building has paralleled the extraordinary growth within the Corridor. “We are excited to be in the position to serve the needs of residential and commercial clients, and to be part of the ongoing story of economic expansion in the area,” she said.
On January 19, Urban Acres will host a ribbon cutting at 4 pm and the grand opening event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
