Featured Communities

Iowa City

Downtown Iowa City

It has been long established that location plays a pivotal role in daily routines. The Pedestrian Mall area has become a center of the areas arts and culture and downtown has become a stimulating landscape of Iowa City’s amenities. Residential condominiums offer urban living influenced by the vitality of their environment.

‍Location: At the center of Iowa City, Old Capitol and the Pedestrian Mall

‍Origin: Iowa City was the second capital of the Iowa Territory, and it was also the first capital city of the State of Iowa. While Iowa City was selected as the territorial capital in 1839, it did not officially become the capital city until 1841; after construction on the capitol building had begun. Old Capitol is a National Historic Landmark, and it is a tourist attraction in the center of the campus of the University of Iowa, as well as an integral part of the university.

‍Schools: Mann Elementary, Longfellow Elementary, Southeast Junior High School, City High School

Iowa City

Historic North

Few neighborhoods preserve Iowa City's origins better than the Historic Northside neighborhoods of Iowa City. From Original Town to Goosetown and the brick-paved streets such as Brown Street, its heritage is authentic vintage architecture and its community pride in preservation. Homes in close proximity to one another and with front porches and mature trees are within ideal walking distances from hardware stores, restaurants, schools, parks, and downtown Iowa City. In recent decades, a number of historic movements began to preserve many of the homes, preferring single-family use over rentals, and returning older homes to their original charm.
‍Location: South of I-80, east of the Iowa River, and north of Market Street
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‍Origin: In the winter of 1839 the city had been selected as the territorial capital. By June of 1839, the town had been platted and surveyed from Brown St. in the north to Burlington St. in the south, and from the Iowa River eastward to Governor St.

‍Schools: Mann & Shimek Elementary, Southeast Junior High, City High School

Iowa City

Manville Heights

Renowned for its close proximity to downtown Iowa City, the University of Iowa campus, U of I Hospitals and Clinics and health colleges, law college, and arts and sports facilities, Manville Heights is a mature and highly sought neighborhood with diverse architecture from the prevalent early-twentieth-century homes to remodeled modern interpretations. For decades, faculty, artists, physicians, and other professionals have made their homes in one of Iowa City’s proudest neighborhoods.

‍Location: West of downtown Iowa City just across the Iowa River, Manville Heights is located in the transition along the river between Iowa City and Coralville

‍Origin: Once lined with fishing cabins along the river, Manville Heights became a favorite for faculty, health professionals and University staff as the UI campus extended west of the Iowa River

‍Schools: Lincoln Elementary, Southeast Junior High, City High School

Iowa City

Peninsula Neighborhood

An attractive neighborhood modeled after the historic neighborhoods of America’’s late 19th and early 20th century towns, the Peninsula Neighborhood was planned by the city of Iowa City with cooperation and input into its design by local residents. Based on planning principles of the spreading New Urbanism movement first popular on the East and West Coasts in such notable neighborhoods as "Celebration" and "Seaside," it is a pedestrian-friendly community with parks and common areas. Its location near a dog park has also made it a favorite for dog owners. The neighborhood features parks, playgrounds, trails, upcoming shops/eateries, and a community setting. Being on the Downtown/Manville Heights bus route as well as having convenient access to interstate highways have made the neighborhood popular with commuting families, graduate students, faculty, health and legal professionals and university staff. Low maintenance options including snow removal and lawn care have made the neighborhood ideal for busy families.

‍Location: South on Dubuque off I-80, right on Foster Road, follow to the Peninsula Neighborhood

‍Origin: The Peninsula Neighborhood began with a courageous vision of a neighborhood modeled after the historic neighborhoods of the upper MidWest. Officials from the City of Iowa City wanted to create an alternative to the typical, sprawling or cookie-cutter development so common throughout the country. They wanted a different kind of neighborhood, one that would be a destination, cherished by its owners for generations.

‍Schools: Lincoln Elementary, Southeast Junior High, City High School

University Heights (Iowa City)

University Heights

A town within a city, University Heights is surrounded by the Iowa City metropolitan area. Once farmland, it was incorporated in 1935 after citizens foresaw future growth west of the river and wanted to maintain a traditional small-town ambiance. The town’s proximity to the health and athletics complexes makes it a very popular area with charming homes built from the early 1900s until today. A new luxury residential and commercial development, One University Place, will feature a proposed restaurant, coffee/barista, exercise and other potential business with luxury condominiums designed by award-winning architects, Neumann Monson. With fewer than 500 households, it has a personality of its own, and an independent spirit within blocks of larger city amenities.

Location: West of the Iowa River, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Kinnick Stadium and literally surrounded by Iowa City

‍Origin: At the turn of the 20th century, the area of present day University Heights was known as West Lucas Township and consisted of several small farms and properties. At that time, the University of Iowa and Iowa City at large had not yet expanded westward past the Iowa River. In the early 1920s, brothers Lee and George Koser began purchasing and developing the land that became the city of University Heights, anticipating the westward expansion of the University and the city. With the construction of the University's General Hospital in 1928 and Kinnick Stadium in 1929, those predictions came true. By 1933, the City of Iowa City began annexing land on the west side of the river and in 1935, the city of University Heights was incorporated. By the 1960s, most of the remaining lots west of Sunset St. were developed and the land surrounding University Heights had been annexed by Iowa City, limiting future growth.

‍Schools: Horn Elementary and Borlaug Elementary, Northwest Junior High, West High School

Iowa City

West Side Neighborhoods

Typically with larger lots, the west-side neighborhoods are within easy commuting distance of downtown. Neighborhoods off Mormon Trek Boulevard and Rohret Road have been popular with faculty, staff, and graduate students, especially those in medical, dental, law and athletics programs. The west side neighborhoods such as Galway Hills, Country Club Estates, Walnut Ridge and Cardinal Ridge are near West High School. Newer homes with ample room for growth have attracted families and individuals to their suburban amenities. The results are community neighborhoods with easy access to schools, malls, the University, Coralville, and downtown Iowa City.

‍Location: West side neighborhoods are located south of I-80 and the Coralville strip and west of Mormon Trek and the Iowa River

‍Origin: West High opened for the 1968-69 school year, constructed in a wide open area to relieve the stress on schools in a growing city. New suburbs began developing around the school, notable during the 1990's to present.

‍Schools: Weber and Borlaug Elementary, Northwest Junior High, West High School

Iowa City

East Side Neighborhoods

The east side of Iowa City has experienced significant growth in the past five years. New neighborhoods have expanded Iowa City’s footprint along Scott Boulevard, where there also are new commercial developments including an east-side favorite restaurant. Neighborhoods such as Arlington/Windsor Ridge, Village Green, and Rochester Ridge offer suburban amenities in a quiet community setting.

‍Location: East side neighborhoods are located south of I-80 and east of 1st Avenue in Iowa City, notably along Scott Boulevard and off east Court Street.

‍Origin: City High School was built in 1937 when the older downtown building was becoming overcrowded as the population of the city increased. The new facility was built “out of town” on the city's east side, and over time the city's suburban expansion reached the school, encircled it, and the expanded well beyond it. Development of neighborhoods further east began in the 1980s to present.

‍Schools: Hoover, Lucas, Lemme, Longfellow, and Lucas Elementaries, Southeast Junior High, City High School

Iowa City

Hickory Hill Area

On the northeast side of Iowa City is a large urban greenspace, Hickory Hill Park. Residents of this natural area are surrounded by woodlands, preserves, fields, hills, and waterways. Communities surrounding the park have a variety of home types available, from large- to medium-sized single-family homes, to townhouses and condominiums.

‍Location: Neighborhoods located along Hickory Hill Park, mainly south and west of Scott Boulevard

‍Origin: Hickory Hill Park began in 1927 with wooded lots and farm fields purchased for expansion of the adjacent Oakland Cemetery. Oakland expanded slowly, leaving much of the land to nature. The area was formally dedicated as a park in 1968 and expanded to 190 acres in the 1980s. Neighborhoods surrounding the park began to develop in the 19080s through the present.

‍Schools: Hoover Elementary, Southeast Junior High, City High School

Coralville

Main Street/Central Coralville

Coralville has invested in revamping its 5th Street (its original “main street”) with shops, offices, and municipal services in well-planned brick buildings, from the new library near an updated city park to New Pioneer Coop grocery store and upscale furniture stores. A new luxury residential and commercial condominium building, Plaza on Fifth, also houses Coralville’s well-equipped Center for the Performing Arts. Near the interstate, Coralville has added a second recent major development called Iowa River Landing. Anchored by the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, neighboring condominiums are near a major new department store, restaurants, a brewery, and the University of Iowa’s large outpatient clinic (with plans for a second building) near the entrance to the development.

‍Location: Neighborhoods are located north of the Coralville strip (Hwy 6) and along 1st Avenue/ Hayden Fry Speedway in Coralville including "original" main street, 5th Avenue and latest attraction, River Landing

‍Origin: Once the location of a number of mills that were powered by the Coralville mill dam along the Iowa River, Coralville was incorporated as a city in 1873. Coralville saw growth following World War II and the construction of Interstate 80 in the 1960s that brought several motels and restaurants. In 1998 a major regional shopping center, Coral Ridge Mall, opened followed by ongoing new developments and City improvement projects. As of 2010, Coralville is one of the top 50 fastest growing cities in Iowa.

‍Schools: Kirkwood, Central, and Van Allen Elementaries, Northwest Junior High, West High School

Coralville

North Coralville

As part of the expansion of the “Corridor” between the Iowa City area and Cedar Rapids, north Coralville has seen tremendous growth in the past two decades. Suburbs such as Pine Hill Estates, Glen Oaks, Ollinger Heights, Auburn East, and Forest Edge have introduced large homes in quiet neighborhoods where pedestrian and bike trails abound. The famed Brown Deer Golf Course offers enviable golfing to area residents with expansive green views from adjacent single-family-home neighborhoods such as Brown Deer Estates, Highland Park, Lakewood Hills, or upscale condominium neighborhoods such as The Valley and Country Club Drive.

‍Location: Neighborhoods are located along Brown Deer Golf Course and north of Interstate 80 in Coralville

‍Origin: Brown Deer Golf Course, built during the 1980s, encouraged growth north of the interstate. The past decade has seen a surge in growth expanding northern Coralville toward North Liberty.

‍Schools: Wickham, Van Allen, and Lincoln Elementaries, North Central and Northwest Junior High School, West High School