Woodland Heights, located near Downtown Des Moines, is an urban neighborhood with a great central location. The Woodland Heights neighborhood, which is centrally located in Des Moines, was created in the early 1900s. Woodland Heights was simply known as Woodlands until the late 1880s, owing to its natural beauty as a wooded, semi-rural neighborhood. The city of Des Moines’ 2020 Community Character Plan mentions the neighborhood’s distinct heritage, stating that traditional communities are worth preserving and that efforts to preserve community character are critical to the community’s viability. The Percival-Porter Company, which developed Woodland Place -the neighborhood’s biggest section, partitioned it into 138 units in 1907, called it Woodland Place. These plots, which sold for $300-$600 each, laid the groundwork for Woodland Heights’ quick expansion and transition into a more urban setting.

Other peculiarities add to the historic character of the area. The housing stock comprises mostly Craftsman and Prairie homes, with a few distinctive American Four Square architectural-style residences thrown in for good measure. These historically significant residences are now a distinguishing feature of Woodland Heights’ architectural environment. Also, many of the dwellings in the area are bungalows, which are recognized for their affordability and efficiency. Woodland Heights, on the other hand, features a number of duplexes and commercial apartment complexes, including the Scottish Rite, which offers both rental and senior living.  Woodland Heights is a walking neighborhood. Nearby are schools, churches, and medical institutions. A few streets from Woodland Heights’ southern border, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Blank Children’s Hospital, and Lutheran Hospital share a downtown campus. Broadlawns Medical Center and Mercy Hospital are also nearby. A short distance away is the Des Moines Public Library’s main facility on Grand Avenue.  Residents of Woodland Heights may simply take the bus, walk, or ride their bicycle to Drake University, which is less than a mile away. Des Moines Water Works Park, Gray’s Lake, and Western Gateway Park, which is home to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, are all within walking distance of the area. Residents enjoy easy access to dozens of restaurants and specialized retailers in the area along Ingersoll Avenue, in addition to the abundance of attractions in Downtown Des Moines. The Woodland Heights neighborhood overlooks the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, as well as having plenty of picturesque flora. Some of its residents have residences with views of the downtown river. The Woodland Heights area in Des Moines is graced by the calm beauty of three cemeteries. Many strong oaks and lush maples, as well as other mature trees, shade the community’s houses and pathways. The Woodland Heights neighborhood has been around for more than a century, and it is still known for the same ideals that Percival and Porter advertised in their 1907 sales brochure: convenience, services, and schools, proximity to local businesses and transit, and the natural woodland beauty of the area.

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