Suburbia catches up to historic Iowa barn, again
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Robert Wilkening stands on the edge of his property, near where a new Urbandale road will end. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Robert Wilkening paid thousands to move a historic barn out of developers' path about 25 years ago. Now, he says, suburban growth is threatening it again.
Why it matters: The case highlights the tension between preserving future street connections and protecting older structures in the path of metro expansion.
Catch up quick: The barn was built about a century ago near Hickman and Alice's roads, in what is now a high-traffic retail and business area.
- Wilkening relocated it to his 45-acre property, about 5 miles away, in the 26000 block of V. Avenue, in an unincorporated area that's now on the edge of Waukee and Urbandale.
Friction point: The plat of Bentley Ridge West, an Urbandale development, includes plans for a dead end near his property line that could eventually connect to future developments.
- Wilkening says an extension to the road would run through his barn and wants it shifted about 100 feet east to allow future access without jeopardizing the structure.
Reality check: There are no pending eminent domain actions or requirements that would necessitate relocating or demolishing the barn.
Yes, but: Wilkening, 78, says redirecting the road before final approval would help protect the barn when he or his family someday sells the property.
State of play: Bentley Ridge area rezoning was approved in 2021, and the preliminary plat nearest to Wilkening's property was approved in October 2025.
- Because the preliminary plat is already approved, the final plat stage generally focuses on whether the project conforms to that plan and to city requirements, Urbandale spokesperson Derek Zarn tells Axios.
- The dead-end street is required to preserve future connectivity of streets and utilities, Zarn says.
What they're saying: Jared Johnson of Accurate Development, the company developing Bentley Ridge West, tells Axios that the road is ideally positioned for future growth and long-term master planning within the city.
- "It's more feasible for Mr. Wilkening to move the barn like he did previously," Johnson said in response to the question of whether shifting the road is feasible.
The other side: Wilkening says his "only hope" is that elected officials intervene before the final plat is approved.
- "I'm grasping at straws," Wilkening said.
What's next: Accurate must still complete the final plat process and satisfy the city's engineering, subdivision, utility and public-improvement requirements before the final plat is approved, Zarn said.