City Life, a World Away
Druid Hill Townhomes just South of Downtown Des Moines
When Ellen and Jim Hubbell purchased a Druid Hill condo at the end of 2007, little did they realize how much they would enjoy living in the south-side development. Of course, they were attracted by its convenient location on Fleur Drive—minutes from downtown, Gray’s Lake, outdoor trails, the East Village, and freeway on-ramps. Another draw was the spacious square footage, with enough room for the avid art collectors to add to and display their collection. But what the Hubbells didn’t know was how much of a plus their neighbors and Druid Hill’s amenities would be. “It’s been a nice surprise living here,” Ellen says.
Those little surprises include a friendly community of all ages, from young professionals to retirees, to impeccably maintained grounds. “We’ve both had big houses, gardens, and children, and we really enjoy our ‘lock and go’ situation,” Ellen says. “It’s very uncomplicated to live here.”
A HIDDEN GEM
Interior Photo of Druid Hill Townhome
Des Moines has numerous plusses—its livability, easy traffic, big yards, trail network—but Druid Hill may be one of the best of them all. The development on the former grounds of the Rollins Mansion began 10 years ago and includes two sections. The older section has 16 townhomes of which only 3 are currently available;
the second, newer portion is made up of eight ranch townhomes but has a different setup than the original. “Those eight units feel cozier—they still have upscale features but ‘live’ differently,” says Barb Logan, a real estate agent with Iowa Realty.
The two phases, created by Bloodgood Designs in fourtownhome-per-building configurations, share some common features: They all have uniform exteriors, walk-outs on the lower levels, two fireplaces (one on the main, one on the lower), a four-season sunroom, an upper deck, and main-floor master bedroom suite. But unlike those in many townhome developments, the rest of the floor plan can be customized. “It’s really nice that owners don’t have to be just like their neighbors,” says Barb.
And few townhome developments can claim to be located on the grounds of a mansion, as Druid Hill is. “The townhomes abut to Rollins Mansion, with terraced gardens and a dramatic view of downtown,” says Sue Hickman, a real estate agent with Iowa Realty. “It’s almost like an English countryside home in the heart of Des Moines.”
THE CENTER OF IT ALL
As the Hubbells have discovered, being in the center of Des Moines may be one of the best benefits of living in Druid Hill. The south side is close to almost everything—the airport, downtown, and eastern and western portions of Des Moines. That means residents are minutes away from the Science Center of Iowa, the Civic Center, and the downtown network of trails. “It’s close to everything, but because it’s tucked away in the rolling hillside and has its own gate, there is a sense of true privacy and security,” says Barb.
In addition, Druid Hill offers some perks that loft dwellers may end up missing. “Some downtown setups don’t have the singlefamily amenities such as garages,” says Sue. “And some suburbanites might not like things like using an elevator to access everything. Druid Hill is halfway between living in a loft and having a separate, single-family home.”
Therein lies its appeal to a range of age groups, from downsizing empty nesters to downtown workers. With large floor plans—3,000 for the second units, 4,000 for the first—the homes also feature the spaciousness that lofts may not include, and several still offer a few years of tax abatement. And, as part of the association membership, Hubbell Management maintains the grounds. “The landscaping is something you won’t find anywhere else in the whole metro area, and residents don’t have to lift a thumb for anything. It’s really a top-notch property management team,” says Barb Logan.
Jim and Ellen Hubbell couldn’t agree more. “They’re very responsive to what’s going on here,” says Ellen. “It’s a comfort knowing all those things are taken care of.”
And the community has welcomed the couple in unexpected ways—a block party, an email connection to ask questions. “Everyone has been very neighborly in a wonderful, friendly way,” says Ellen.
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Tags: druid hill, townhomes