Armstrong Development Company

Founded in Cedar Rapids in 1960 to manage the real estate assets of the Armstrong Department store, Armstrong Development is a locally owned and operated real estate development and property management company. We specialize in land development, office buildings, and retail centers and have decades of experience to make finding your perfect workspace easy with over 500,000 square feet of commercial real estate under management.

We have been operating in the Cedar Rapids region for more than fifty years, working in downtown Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion through periods of growth, disruption, and recovery. That length of time in a single region builds something that is hard to replicate — an understanding of how these communities actually function, and what businesses operating within them need to succeed.

Our company was founded as Armstrong-Race Realty Company to manage the real estate assets of Armstrong’s Department Store and the name was officially changed to Armstrong Development Company in 2000 to better reflect our commitment to creating future developments.

Our goal at Armstrong Development is to work together to create and ensure a pleasant, working environment for you and your team, and secure the right location for your business. We manage our own properties to provide tenants with the space that best fits their current and future needs.

Jon Dusek, President and CEO

Jon Dusek earned his place in Midwest Real Estate News’ Hall of Fame long before the devastating floods of 2008, and his work afterwards cemented his spot.

Jon poured Armstrong Development’s resources back into downtown Cedar Rapids after the floods hit. He played an important part in the city’s rejuvenation following the disaster, even though Armstrong Development itself was one of the businesses hardest hit by the floodwaters.

These efforts didn’t go unnoticed. “Jon has had such a strong, positive influence on the development of the Downtown Cedar Rapids community,” said one nominator, “He has proven to be an instrumental proponent of the area’s recovery following the flood of 2008. ”

Jon’s commitment to helping Cedar Rapids rebound after the floods is not unusual for him.

He’s long been involved in the community. Jon has served on the local YMCA Board, and has logged time as president of the Eastern Iowa Economic Council. He’s also sat on the Brenton Bank Board, Job Growth Committee for the Renaissance Group (Downtown District) and the Self Supported Municipal Improvement District Board. He’s found time, too, to serve as president of the National Czech and Slovak Museum in addition to working with the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Armstrong Development, now owned by second and third generation family members, has played a major role as one of the anchor buildings in the downtown revitalization and looks forward to an active future in the Cedar Rapids area.

 

Why Downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa?

Downtown Cedar Rapids has served as the commercial and civic center of eastern Iowa for well over a century. It is where the region’s professional life has traditionally been anchored — law firms, financial institutions, strong local businesses with long-standing traditions, and the organizations that support them.

 

The Change in the Downtown area since the flood.

Although the Downtown area has changed from what it was pre-flood, it is growing into a bigger and better place to do business. Diversity in people and businesses grow up in the midst of destruction. We are having a cultural explosion in the city. People now want to come back to the Downtown Area and be a part of this new atmosphere of growth and perseverance.

 

Why Hiawatha, Iowa?

Hiawatha is a smaller community, but one with consistent growth and a stable base of local businesses. For companies that want proximity to the metro without being at the center of it, Hiawatha has quietly served that role for years.

 

Why Marion, Iowa?

Marion is one of the faster-growing cities in Iowa, a fact driven largely by a workforce that is both skilled and deeply rooted in the community. It is a significant part of Iowa’s Creative Corridor — a stretch of cities that has become one of the more economically active regions in the Midwest. For businesses looking for a reliable, cost-competitive location with room to grow, Marion has earned serious consideration on its own merits.

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