- PCHTF
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Housing Matters Symposium was held April 30, 2026 at the Iowa Events Center. See the linked blog posts below to learn more about announcements we made.
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) has announced the next phase of its Develop the Developer Launchpad, presented by Wells Fargo, a new program to support emerging multifamily developers.
In December, the program graduated its first cohort of developers through a two-week intensive boot camp. The experience provided exposure to a variety of key development skills, the opportunity to build relationships with local leaders, and platform to apply new skills through a group project.
Now, through an extensive application process, three graduates of the boot camp have been selected for an intensive co-development fellowship with local firm DEV Partners while simultaneously working toward their own housing development proposal.
“Develop the Developer Launchpad has become a transformative opportunity for emerging multifamily developers, which was the intention,” said Julian Neely, PCHTF’s director of advancement and community investment. “We are delivering not only educational opportunities but in addition, a unique point of pride for us about this program is the direct opportunity for joint venture development projects with capital attached. This investment is possible thanks to the generosity of our program funders.”
The following individuals have been selected for the program’s inaugural co-development fellowship:
• Jasmine Brooks (Brooks Homes) is a real estate developer and the founder of Brooks Homes, LLC., a residential development company serving the state of Iowa. With over a decade of experience spanning roles as a licensed realtor, property owner, and builder, Jasmine brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to every project she undertakes.
• Elizabeth (Liz) Schelling (HBU Development) is a real estate professional and developer based in Polk City, Iowa. She has over a decade of experience in commercial development, site strategy, financial modeling, and cross-functional leadership. She is the co owner of HBU Development, where she sources, negotiates, and delivers commercial projects across the Midwest, specializing in quick service restaurants and convenience stores.
• Chris Wilson (C3 Equity Partners) is a husband, father, and entrepreneur with wide-ranging experience spanning the restaurant industry, transportation, insurance and business development. Chris is an active real estate investor who approaches opportunities with intention and a long-term mindset. He is passionate about using real estate as a tool for stability, access, and community impact.
As part of the project, the fellows will participate in the development of a 12-unit housing project with local firm DEV Partners in the Drake Neighborhood of Des Moines with an anticipated opening in September 2027.
“We wanted to take them through the entire process from beginning to end, and we hope the relationships developed between the fellows and our community partners stretch far into the future,” said Danny Heggen, CFO of DEV Partners who has helped steward the developer launchpad program since its creation and was selected to lead the co-development opportunity. PCHTF’s investment in the project will include equity investments as loans in the name of each of the fellows supported by Wells Fargo.
A second session of the two-week developer boot camp is planned for September. For ongoing updates about the program and to sign up to stay informed, visit PCHTF.org/DTDL.
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund has released a new report called Housing Sites of Opportunity, that highlights practical ways communities in Polk County could integrate more housing into existing neighborhoods.
Completed in partnership with local planning firm Confluence, the report focuses on Missing Middle Housing, types of housing developments that range from duplexes and cottage courts up to smaller buildings with 20 or fewer units. Such development types used to be common in American cities but have become less so as development increasingly focuses on single family homes or large apartment buildings.
To provide a realistic sense of development opportunities in Polk County, the project team reviewed thousands of local land parcels to identify common site conditions where this housing could fit. After confirming that such locations are widespread across the county, the team created ten land use “typologies” based on identified patterns that represent local development opportunities.
Examples of these scenarios include adding housing to excess open space at faith-based properties or redeveloping underutilized commercial properties for housing. The report provides example development concepts with approximate cost and number of housing units included for each. It does not identify or recommend specific properties for development. It concludes with policy and planning considerations communities can consider to make the recommended housing types easier to build.
“Our goal is to spur conversation about promising ways to prompt housing development in the region, the benefits of missing middle housing and the role it can play in the community’s future. The housing solutions the community needs might be literally right around the corner in local neighborhoods if we think creatively.” said Johnny Alcivar, PCHTF’s director of planning, research and compliance.
The Housing Sites of Opportunity report is made possible by a grant from Wells Fargo in collaboration with Capital Crossroads, a regional effort to catalyze solutions that improve quality of life and support thriving neighborhoods in Central Iowa.
The new report is available now at PCHTF.org/missingmiddle.