Small-Town Charm

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Spilling across Cumming Avenue (Highway G14) and bisected by the Great Western Trail, Middlebrook is Iowa’s first agrihood, a network of walkable neighborhoods centered on a working farm and community gardens. “The idea of how small rural towns operated a century ago resonates with all of us as Midwesterners,” said Kalen Ludwig, director of sales and marketing with Diligent Development. “Middlebrook is not reinventing the wheel, rather looking at what worked in the past and mixing those key elements with today’s building practices — a timeless aesthetic with modern amenities.”

As an authentic addition to Cumming, Middlebrook’s village core will be a stretch of commercial and mixed-use buildings along Cumming Avenue, augmenting the existing context of the quintessential small town. Planned for completion in late 2025, the pedestrian-oriented streetscape will include 26 one-, two-, and three-bedroom lofts over commercial and retail spaces, and amenities like the town farm and an event lawn for gatherings such as community movie nights.

Walkability is a cornerstone of not only every neighborhood within Middlebrook but also of the development as a whole. Those community movie nights on the event lawn? Residents will be just a few minutes’ walk to the village core, no matter which Middlebrook area they call home. Also central to the ethos of the development is a set of architectural standards that, Ludwig says, “encourages a sense of community. Things like tree-lined streets and front porches so you see your neighbors when you go on a walk.” The homes themselves express character and uniqueness. “When you go to Pella, you see cute houses, each individualized,” Ludwig said. “Similarly, our homes will be vernacular farmhouse, Tudor, Waveland craftsman, Beaverdale brick and other classical styles.” No matter the style, the builds will echo site plans of old. “We care about the garage placement,” Ludwig said of the neighborhood’s guidelines that encourage front-porch living and front-yard playing, with garages set back or designed as side- or rear-load. “We also require landscaping to make a big difference in the feeling of a newly built neighborhood.”

“Middlebrook is not reinventing the wheel, rather looking at what worked in the past and mixing those key elements with today’s building practices — a timeless aesthetic with modern amenities.”

A variety of home styles — agricultural estates, suburban townhomes, cottages and more — bring vibrancy, livelihood and lifestyle opportunities to the Middlebrook community. Great Western Crossing is the first neighborhood, already well underway. Buyers can choose among quarter-acre lots for custom builds or single-family homes in various states of completion. Great Western Crossing also offers villas — zero-entry, single-level, stand-alone homes geared toward empty nesters — as well as one- and two-story townhomes.

Looking ahead, additional neighborhoods and housing options will be built in 2025 and beyond. Closer to the village core and bike trail, smaller one- and two-story cottages (approximately 1,100 square feet on slab) offer a lower price point option. Also, near the town center, brownstones (with 10-foot front setbacks) feel like city living in the charming setting. On the other end of the spectrum, high-end estate lots with 1 to 2 acres cater to the family who wants a homestead feel. Senior living is also on the vision board. “We hope to bring in the option of a 55-plus age-restricted neighborhood,” Ludwig said. “We want to provide housing for every life stage.”

The concept of “aging in place” — not necessarily in the same house, but in the same community — is an important underpinning of Middlebrook values. “People don’t want to leave their neighborhood and the folks who have your key and have known for years. There’s not always an opportunity to size up or down, so we offer typologies for various life stages so folks can stay in their community long-term.” And in this charming countryside hamlet where rural charm and modern living merge, who wouldn’t want to stay as long as possible?

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