Des Moines Development News

[SRG]

In this thread, I express my love for the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The city with the gold dome...

First off, I would like to introduce you to Des Moines, Iowa, by saying that it has little over 522,000 people in it's metro, as defined by the US Census Bureau in 2005. There are more than 600,000 people, however, living within a 60-mile radius...

Des Moines is a thriving little community with a lot of cool development going on. But, more importantly, they have a lot of the inner city that hasn't been gentrified yet, so this city will continue to be one of the most developing little communities. I don't think any community is quite on par with Des Moines in terms of "downtown growth per capita", a wholly unscientific statistic brought to you by me...

And now for the skyline, as viewed from McCrae Park. These are all provided by the Des Moines forum, at www.absolutedsm.com, which is a really great urban site.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/skyline2005_1.jpg

The view from Indianola Avenue

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/july04desmoinesskylineindianolaave.jpg

But, what I like best about this community, is it's historic, gritty, urban, and wonderful old areas...

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Sherman%20Hill/Woodland%20Avenue%20Brickstones2.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Sherman%20Hill/1711%20Woodland.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Sherman%20Hill/Delester%20Apartments-811%2016th%20Street.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Sherman%20Hill/822%2016th%20Street.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Sherman%20Hill/850%2017th%20Street.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Sherman%20Hill/Lexington%20Apartments.jpg

West Grand Boulevard, in Des Moines, is probably the hottest scene in town right now.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Grand%20Avenue%20West/cortez%20apartments%20copy.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Grand%20Avenue%20West/summit%20house%20copy.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Grand%20Avenue%20West/barbican%202%20copy.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Grand%20Avenue%20West/art%20center%203%20copy.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Grand%20Avenue%20West/terrace%20hill%20copy.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Grand%20Avenue%20West/stone%20mansion%20copy.jpg

Highland Park is a really trendy neighborhood in North Des Moines.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Highland%20Park/entry%20gateway.JPG

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Highland%20Park/along%20euclid.JPG

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Highland%20Park/1000%20friends.JPG

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Highland%20Park/vine%20house%20again.JPG

Valley Junction is another trendy historic area surrounded by West Des Moines, an independant city, on the west side of the metro.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Valley%20Junction/down%205th%20Street.JPG

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Valley%20Junction/5th%20Street%20Sidewalk.JPG

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Valley%20Junction/theatrical%20shop.JPG

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Valley%20Junction/walkway.JPG

Suburbia, if you must...

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/City%20Gallery%20Main/West%20Des%20Moines%20Gallery/JCTC%20Area/JCTC/PierN.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/City%20Gallery%20Main/West%20Des%20Moines%20Gallery/JCTC%20Area/JCTC/CentruryTh.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/City%20Gallery%20Main/West%20Des%20Moines%20Gallery/JCTC%20Area/JCTC/BoardwalkS.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/City%20Gallery%20Main/West%20Des%20Moines%20Gallery/JCTC%20Area/JCTC/JCVillageeast.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/City%20Gallery%20Main/West%20Des%20Moines%20Gallery/JCTC%20Area/JCTC/Costcojctc.jpg

Enough of that. There's a lot of downtown development, too.

Davis Brown Tower
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/10th_Street_Tower/10th%20Street%20Tower%203.jpg

Allied Insurance
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Allied-Nationwide_Insurance_HQ/allied1_September2006.jpg

White Line Lofts
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/White%20Line%20Lofts%20Renovation/whiteline1.jpg

East Village Square Apartments
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/East%20Village%20Square/eastvillagesquarenight_new.jpg

Court Avenue Village
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/301_E._Court_Avenue/301%20Court1.jpg

Records and Property Office
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Records_Property_Building_Conversion/iowapublicsafety1_nov06.jpg

West Capitol Terrace
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/West_Capitol_Terrace/West%20Capitol%20Terrace.jpg

The Spaghetti Works
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Spaghetti%20Works%20Renovation/courtaveapts1.jpg

Court Center
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Nacho_Mamma's_Renovation/courtcenter1.jpg

111 City Lofts
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/111%20City%20Lofts%20Condo%20Conversion/eds%20building.jpg

Court Avenue housing development?
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Court_Avenue_Bookey_Hubbell/4th&court1.jpg

Alchemilla Townhomes
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Alchemilla%20Townhomes/Alchemilla.jpg

Algonquin & Allegre Condos
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Algonquin_Alegre_Condos/algonquin1_aug06.jpg

Student housing at Drake University
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Drake_Student_Housing/drake%20housing.jpg

The downtown list goes on and on...
http://www.absolutedsm.com/downtown_central_proj_page.htm

The west side of the metro also has a lot of cool projects...
http://www.absolutedsm.com/west_northwest_proj_page.htm

Again, the Des Moines MSA only has 522,000 people in it. :)

[Suburbanite]

I visited Madison County, IA just about six months ago to see the famous bridges and I was really surprised that Madison County is in the Des Moines metro area. I always thought that it was out in the middle of nowhere somewhere not next to a big city. Even more astounding was the fact that the county has almost no sprawl whatsoever despite being a suburban county.

BTW, anyone visiting Iowa must see Madison County. It is easily one of the most beautiful areas in the midwest.

[NaptownBoy]

Great pics!

[SRG]

I visited Madison County, IA just about six months ago to see the famous bridges and I was really surprised that Madison County is in the Des Moines metro area. I always thought that it was out in the middle of nowhere somewhere not next to a big city. Even more astounding was the fact that the county has almost no sprawl whatsoever despite being a suburban county.

BTW, anyone visiting Iowa must see Madison County. It is easily one of the most beautiful areas in the midwest.

So explain to us urbanites how something can be suburban without being sprawly. :)

In actuality, the rowhouses and bungalows we live in were suburban when they were built.

[milwaukeeunseen]

I think it's time for a road trip. Des Moines and Omaha are two of the most interesting yet overlooked cities right now.

[Ingersoll1978]

There are more projects that are coming downtown. Allied Insurance will be unveiling their 3rd expansion...Wellmark is going to build another 500,000 sq foot building...and I've heard of yet another large project that will be announced. Des Moines is definately on a roll.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/2006septdsmskylinea.jpg
Newest addition to the Wells Fargo Financial Headquarters (opens officially this month):
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/2006septdsmwellsfargoa.jpg

Some other pics taken this summer:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesl.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesg.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/31may2006/31may2006desmoinesa.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesa.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesd.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/misc/06jun27meredithgroundsc.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/misc/06jun27meredithgroundsb.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesf.jpg

[rider_of_rohan]

Thanks for the pictures. Looking good down there in Iowa :)

[FMR-STL]

WOW! Those look like KCGridlock photos, except a little more down to earth.
Nice job. Wish you guys could tour together... but that would be too good.
Beautiful city! :okay:

[exit_320]

I think it's time for a road trip. Des Moines and Omaha are two of the most interesting yet overlooked cities right now.

Agreed.. never thought I would have an excuse to go to Iowa but now I do. I know what I am doing next summer now!

[jpIllInoIs]

Now I am not a des moineser, so don't accuse me of rooting for the hometown. It is time to get a Des Moines thread stickied. I know this has come up before. I can only see that the DesMoiners don't post as much on this and ssp. They spend most of their time in absolutedesmoines.com.

After lurking thru other midwest cities, it is clear that those threads are propped up by the same half dozen or so posters. It is also painfully clear that some other cities have very little new development going on. Most of the posts are reprints of newspaper articles that report every painstaking step toward some stripmall or minimall.

I am not trying to start a controversy, but I challenge one of the mods to itemize why desmoines is less interesting than green bay, toledo or wausau.

I mean this as an intellectual question not one of boosterism and boasting and put downs. :speech:

[WinnipegPatriot]

Charming city and great pics!

[i_am_hydrogen]

Now I am not a des moineser, so don't accuse me of rooting for the hometown. It is time to get a Des Moines thread stickied. I know this has come up before. I can only see that the DesMoiners don't post as much on this and ssp. They spend most of their time in absolutedesmoines.com.

After lurking thru other midwest cities, it is clear that those threads are propped up by the same half dozen or so posters. It is also painfully clear that some other cities have very little new development going on. Most of the posts are reprints of newspaper articles that report every painstaking step toward some stripmall or minimall.

I am not trying to start a controversy, but I challenge one of the mods to itemize why desmoines is less interesting than green bay, toledo or wausau.

I mean this as an intellectual question not one of boosterism and boasting and put downs. :speech:

The phrase "propped up" makes these posters sound almost malevolent and deceptive, as if they are frantically scrambling around to post articles and other information in order to lend a false appearance of vitality to their respective development threads. I'm definitely not that cynical. I think people are just excited to talk about development.

As for stickying a thread, there's protocol involved. And that protocol doesn't boil down to how large or interesting is the city. A development thread is typically not afforded sticky status ex nihilo, rather it must demostrate a sufficient level of activity as a condition precedent. Although I'm confident a Des Moines thread could make such a showing, I need see how it progresses before doing so. Consequently, I'll rename this thread "Des Moines Development News 1" and monitor it for a few weeks to a month as I did the Wausau thread.

[FMR-STL]

Another WOW! I finally let all the pictures download... Welcome to
the metro Midwest! Them "Mansions" are cool! Downtown looks nice
also...!

[Chicagoago]

Des Moines has PLENTY of development going on. It should be able to handle a stickey. At 65,000 workers, downtown Des Moines has one of the highest per capita of downtown employees within its metro of any city in North America. This is mostly due to the fact it is the 3rd largest insurance center after London, England and Hartford, Conn. The downtown is home to 65 home offices of insurance companies, and has helped to produce $1,600,000,000 in investment downtown during the past 5 years.

Recently Completed:
* A 117,000 sq. foot central library
* Is embarking on "green roofs" around downtown starting with the new library.
* A 17,000 seat arena
* New 250,000 sq foot exposition hall
* 110,000 sq. foot science center
* New IMAX theatre
* Performing arts center
* Higher education center along with a downtown elementery school
* Art museum branch
* Asian gardens surrounding a new Chinese American cultural center
* 5.7 miles of riverwalk/trails downtown containing fountains, multiple plazas, gardens, and an ice scating rink.
* 125,000 sq. foot State of Iowa Judicial Center with granite exterior and copper dome.
* Over 1,300 residential units recently completed in the downtown core.
* Over 1,450 residential units are in the design stage.
* Over 450,000 sq. feet of commerical space in one planned development alone.
* New gaming center containing over 100 of the most popular virtual reality and interactive games, along with restaurant, lounge, and bar.
* AAA league ballpark reconstruction downtown along the river.
* 2,000,000 square feet of new Office space either recently completed or under construction. Almost all of this comes from 3 large projects by major insurance companies who are increasing the employment downtown by many thousands.

All of this is drawn together by a 3 mile long skywalk system connecting 27 blocks throughout the downtown area. Transportation wise, the city is fully reconstructing and widening its freeway which passes through downtown, and has/is completing bypasses along the western and now southern sides of downtown, complete with new spans across the rivers.

Also has the largest gold dome in North America:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/desmoines5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/desmoines5-1.jpg

City population 200,000, metro population is over 500,000

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/desmoines-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/desmoines1-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/desmoines3-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/desmoines6-1.jpg

The downtown recovered very quickly after the floods of 1993, which flooded and cut off massive portions of the city, and shut down the downtown area for over 2 weeks when 250,000 people in the city and surrounding area lost all water because of the flooding.

[SRG]

I think it might be overkill on the development news threads, but considering that I heart Des Moines, I'm glad that I be the one that started the Des Moines thread should it get one. It deserves one I shall say.

Hopefully Ingersoll and DSMRyan and the gang will keep us updated here.

[Ingersoll1978]

LOL...Didn't we have a stickied development news thread at one point?

[jpIllInoIs]

^ It is up to the Desmoiners to keep the thread active. Most of us not in DesMoines are likely to just lurk. But it is a bigger playground than the absolutedsm thread. Youre likely to get some feedback that is not always positive. But most people are pleasantly surprised at the DSM developments.
:poke:

[DMRyan]

I don't know where the assumption started that we Des Moines people can't take a little heat, so we stepped out of the skyscrapercity kitchen. This certainly isn't the case, it's just that yes, we do have our own forum. Notice how the cities with their own forums rarely have many posts here? It goes beyond Des Moines, and stretches to KC and Omaha too. I've been doing these city development/skyscraper forums since they started back in 1998 and I've certainly built up a thick enough skin to tolerate a little criticism from time to time, and do realize that my city is far from perfect.

I don't care if this thread gets stickied or not, but Ingersoll and I will make sure that that larger developments get covered, and that the listing of projects underway is kept up to date. I doubt we'll continuiously be posted newspaper articles or small development blurbs on this thread though. Anybody else lurking from Des Moines is more than welcome to do so.

I'll agree, it's interesting to step away from a place for a while, only to pick up what's new construction wise on a thread like this. For that, I will agree to maintain this thread periodically (but no sticky is required IMO).

[NOG]

^Agreed, its tough to get to these national forums with the amount of time I spend in the local forum. I'll be the first to admit the main reason I would check this and SSP out is to find info about Des Moines. Since there has been a local forum my visits to these sites have gone from daily to maybe weekly at best.

The few times I do post on here is usually when I do photo updates for absolutedsm, I will usually repost them on SSC and SSP. Here are some pics from the last one I posted on here from August.
Des Moines from the Equitbale (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=387060&highlight/)

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Features/EquitableTour/equitabletour01.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Features/EquitableTour/equitabletour04.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Features/EquitableTour/equitabletour20.jpg

At 65,000 workers, downtown Des Moines has one of the highest per capita of downtown employees within its metro of any city in North America.Great post, I just wanted to add that the number Chicagoago is using is a little out of date, we currently have 80,000 employees working downtown.

[Ingersoll1978]

I think it is ok to sticky it. That way we know where it is when we do make a post. I really do think cities with local forums have a dramatically less presence on national forums. I love getting outstate opinions (and don't mind the heat)!

Here is an article from yesterday about yet another development that is beginning to take shape (and the first development really related to the construction of the Riverwalk) in Downtown Des Moines. The area east of the Des Moines River near the capitol have height restrictions. It seems most new developments are building up the maximum heights. I'm excited to see the plans as they unfold!

East Village ramp ideas discussed

Several designs are possible, involving some mix of parking, retail, commercial and residential space.

By TODD ERZEN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

December 12, 2006

Plans are beginning to take shape for a parking ramp with retail, office and residential features at what is now a surface parking lot across from Des Moines City Hall.

The designs are part of a larger effort begun this summer to develop a comprehensive parking plan for the East Village. Four specific models were discussed for the possible ramp at a public meeting Dec. 5.

Among the requirements for the ramp is that it be able to accommodate 600 cars, with about 150 of those stalls needed because of lease obligations the city has with Embassy Suites. The hotel is located across East Locust Street to the south of City Hall and the existing lot, which holds upward of 350 cars.

Providing space for housing is viewed as a key component for the ramp site because it would allow for the possibility of building a mixed-use structure up to 75 feet tall. Without housing space, the ramp would be limited by city code to 55 feet, which could necessitate underground parking and significantly increase the cost of construction.

The largest of the design options would cost roughly $30 million and include six levels of parking and up to 200,000 square feet of mixed-use space. That plan would set the ramp from east to west down the middle of the property and have two free-standing, mixed-use buildings on Grand Avenue and Locust Street on either side. Retail would take up the ground floor to help draw foot traffic to the East Village. Office space and residential units would be on top.

One of the benefits of that plan is that the ramp and the mixed-use space could be built separately. The contribution and cooperation of private investors would be of particular importance to pull off the project in a way that would meet the vision being established for the entire East Village, said Rod Nelson, a partner with Brooks Borg Skiles Architecture Engineering LLP and the project manager for the East Village's comprehensive parking plan.

"There is a feeling that it is pretty important for the pedestrian feel (of the East Village) to bring retail right out to the edge of the street," Nelson said.

A similar plan would connect the mixed-use portion of the building to the ramp, which would rise only four stories but spread to the street on the top two levels above street-level retail. A full block of office space would be located above the parking and retail space, with residential above that.

The other two plans further tweak things by setting the building back from the street to allow for small public green spaces on the west and south sides of the mixed-use ramp. The entire structure would be smaller and further set back the higher up it was built. Retail would continue to dominate on Locust Street but would be limited to the northwest corner of Grand Avenue and Robert D. Ray Drive in front of City Hall and diagonally across from the Brenton Skating Plaza.

Nelson hopes to meet in work session with City Council members soon to get their opinions of the designs. If one can be agreed upon, construction could begin on the project in mid-2007.

Reporter Todd Erzen can be reached at (515) 284-8527 or terzen@dmreg.com

[jmancuso]

first of all, is this thread a photo thread or a development news thread? second, yeah, if there's enough activity here, it will be stickied

[SRG]

I think it is ok to sticky it. That way we know where it is when we do make a post. I really do think cities with local forums have a dramatically less presence on national forums.

We have many local forums... the most active ones are Okc Talk, Tulsa Now, and the new one that's really active (and mine), Oklahoma Metropolii. OkMet alone puts up 4,000 posts a month... it's brand new and has just over 12,000 posts. Okc Talk and Tulsa Now both have around 60,000 posts, but have been around for years.

And yet we manage to have one of the biggest development news threads, not just for OKC, but Tulsa has a pretty busy one too. And we've maintained a pretty well-established presence on SSC as well. We are hardly active on SSP, however. The Craptain ran me away from SSP, and he ran a lot of the other Okies off as well.

[jpIllInoIs]

Does DesMoines and Iowa support the Midwest High Speed Rail Initiative?
Has the State, County & City govts made any proclimation of support?

I look thru the threads and see no mention of it. i know it is a long way off, but people need to prioritze it now if it is to happen.

This topic comes up often in the Wisc, St.Louis, Minn and Indy threads.
The state Govts of Mich, Wisc, Minn, IL have all budgeted substantial funds to kick start the programs. Where does Iowa stand on this issue?


http://www.midwesthsr.org/promote_Strong.htm

[DMRyan]

A new 14 story office building is proposed for the Western Gateway Park redevelopment on the edge of downtown Des Moines. This will likely be the first of several midrises that will edge the park in the coming years.

http://www.pbase.com/image/72208902.jpg

And a diagram of development from the DSM Register
http://www.pbase.com/image/72209766.jpg

Des Moines developer blueprints $50 million project

By DONNELLE ELLER
Register Business Writer

Dave Walters says the $50 million, 14-story office project he plans to build in downtown Des Moines will be one of his company's biggest.

"I've not built anything of this magnitude," said Walters, 58. "But it's just another project, with a lot more numbers."

It's stacking up to be a year of very big numbers for Walters, who got his construction start in Des Moines 25 years ago as a cement finisher. In the next year, Walters' plans include:

Commercial: The downtown office building will have nearly 200,000 square feet of space and nearly 1,000 parking spaces at the former Ostrem car dealership at 15th and Locust streets.

He plans a high-end restaurant in the first floor, 12 floors of office space and penthouse offices on the 14th floor. The parking ramp next door will have seven floors, two of which will be underground.

Ethanol: Earlier this month, Walters and his partners in Vision Fuels won the rights to build a $175 million ethanol plant in a southeast Des Moines industrial park. Walters declined to discuss his ethanol plans.

In a public document the city required, Vision Fuels said it was raising capital for the project. Industry insiders also say Vision Fuels is planning to build ethanol plants in Boone and Liscomb.

Headquarters: Walters plans to build an $8.2 million headquarters in West Des Moines near Jordan Creek mall, where his high-end homes, condominiums and commercial centers dot the landscape. Construction on the 42,000-square-foot, four-story building in West Des Moines is expected to begin in April.

It wasn't by design that all the projects came online at the same time, said Walters, who also recently moved his family into a new home after a fire razed his nearly $2 million house two years ago.

He put the downtown project on hold as long as possible. Even though it will be 2008 before construction will begin, a project that large needs months of planning, Walters said, adding that he's long liked the location for a project.

The city's $30 million investment in a western Gateway park helps. "doesn't hurt. I like the beauty of it."

The area is attracting significant investment. Walters' project is next to Mitchell Transmission, which Hubbell Realty has purchased and plans to redevelop, and a couple blocks away are two buildings that developer Jack Hatch plans to use to anchor a $50 million condominium project.

Walters said he has three tenants interested in space, but he declined to name them. He's confident demand will be strong for the space. Right now, nearly 95 percent of the best space downtown is occupied, experts say.

But the market will likely change in the next three years with Wellmark Blue/Cross Blue Shield planning to empty 550,000 square feet of downtown Des Moines office space. The health care insurer expects to build a 500,000-square-foot headquarters by 2010 but has yet to name the location.

"There's a real need for the space, especially in the western Gateway," Walters said, noting that the company's investment is about double what the city requires in the area. "A lot of firms want to stay downtown with the right space."

Walters said he didn't intentionally avoid development in Iowa's capital city. It's just that there's been so much work in area suburbs, where he's built town houses, condominiums and office and retail centers.

"I've never wanted for work," Walters said. "I've been blessed."

Walters said the company's commercial focus comes at a good time.

He said his company has slowed home-building to only custom construction. The market has too much inventory - slower sales exacerbated by several warm winters that have allowed continued home building, he said.

"In this industry, you can't go without some hard times. You don't know exactly when they're coming, but you just hope to keep working through them."

He said about two-thirds of the commercial space he's developed near Jordan Creek mall is leased.

Walters said he follows his heart when it comes to projects. "I'm hard to stop when I follow my passion."

[jpIllInoIs]

^DSM downtown keeps spreading west. Is that gong to be the the HQ for the etahanol company or is it speculative office space?

[Ingersoll1978]

^DSM downtown keeps spreading west. Is that gong to be the the HQ for the etahanol company or is it speculative office space?

I believe it is speculative space. Class A office space has a 5% vacancy rate in Downtown Des Moines.

[DMRyan]

This is the 3rd midrise under construction or proposed for downtown Des Moines.

Here's the current lineup, hopefully more on the way with possible corporate expansions and a new convention hotel that have been hinted towards.

Davis Brown Tower, 13 stories--Under Construction
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/10th_Street_Tower/davis%20brown%20tower.jpg

Westgate Condominiums, 10 stories--proposed for construction in 2009
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Westgate_Condominiums/westgate1.jpg

Walters Office Development, 14 stories--proposed for construction in 2008
http://www.pbase.com/image/72208902.jpg

[Ingersoll1978]

This whole area is changing quite fast.

Here's a map I created showing development in the Gateway West area:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/gatewaywestmap.jpg

The new Central Library at night:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesc.jpg

Western Gateway Park (showing the higher learning center and the Arlington-Hallet Apartments):
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Gateway_West_Park/Gateway%20Park6_may2006.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Gateway_West_Park/Gateway%20Park4_may2006.jpg

Another photo many of you have seen:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesd.jpg

[i_am_hydrogen]

Up ye go.

[jpIllInoIs]

^ I love that map of the Western Gateway Park Dev. Congrats on the sticky.

[exit_320]

Does Des Moines have a god-awful large amount of surface parking? I was looking at some satellite pics of the city and noticed a lot of surface lots south of the cbd. Wasn't sure how old the image is.

Oh and on a side note, I just realized I flew over Des Moines on my way back from Denver in June, its beautiful from an airplane :) (I didn't really noticed the surface lot situation on my fly over)

[DMRyan]

Urban renewal hit Des Moines pretty hard too. Here's an aerial that shows quite a few surface lots on the south end of downtown near the viaduct bridges. This aerial is a few years old, so some of the lots have slowly filled. The grassy stuff in the left center of the photo is where Allied Insurance is building, and is the location of the Gateway West redevelopment project mentioned above.

The large, cleared are to the south of downtown is a reclaimed brownfields site currently undergoing environmental remediation for a large mixed use development that will contain 700 brownstone type townhomes, when completed.

The real issue with urban renewal/surface lots is north of downtown though, near the Iowa Events Center. This area is a wasteland of parking lots, and small 1960's office buildings not built to last. There really are no firm plans to even do anything to redevelop this area yet.

http://www.pbase.com/image/54957939.jpg

[ClarkWGriswald]

Woohoo, DSM sticky! Sweet map Ing!

[Chicagoago]

Here are a few pictures of the new bridges going up along Des Moines' main freeway - interstate 235. The entire freeway is being rebuilt and widened along it's entire path. The traffic counts 6 years ago were roughly 125,000 vehicles a day along it's main path. The other route around the city is the I-80/35 north bypass which has already been widened and is now between 6 and 8 lanes wide. The traffic counts on that portion 6 years ago were 65,000, but has certainly gone up now that the massive construction project has ended. The other recent construction project is the highway 5/65 freeway bypass of Des Moines on the south and east sides of the city. The two outer bypasses now form a belway around Des Moines with Interstate 235 cutting through the middle of them, and serving downtown and most of the city.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge9.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge2.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge4.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/bridge8.jpg

[milwaukeeunseen]

I absolutely love what's going on in Des Moines right now. Some of those photos of the gateway park area should be put up on guess the city ...

[ragerunner1]

I love Des Moines. It really is a gem. Keep the pics and posts coming, this city functions on a level that many cities twice its size can't compete with.

[Ingersoll1978]

It's amazing how much I-235 has changed. It's such a huge improvement. I love how they've incorporated the arches throughout the project, including bridges and overhead trustle signs.

Here are some pics of I-235 before construction:

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/EB19thStMar02.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/EB42ndDMMar02.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/WBRHSPedBrMar02.jpg
Old Pedestrian Bridge:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/SPedBridgeRooseveltMar02.jpg

New I-235 (still under construction...ends late 2007):
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/2006aug06i235s.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/2006aug06i235k.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/2006aug06i235q.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/2006aug06i235j.jpg
New Pedestrian Bridges:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/2006aug06i235k.jpg
Extensive landscaping:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/I-235/2006aug06i235r.jpg

[rider_of_rohan]

Wow gang, Des Moines is really booming down there. Pictures look great. Hope to get down there soon.

[ragerunner1]

I would love to see more pics like the ones in the last thread. It great to see pics that are different and Des Moines is really turning into a great city.

[TheMaestro]

Looking solid for a small city.

[kcmetro]

Des Moines is a great looking city!! Looks very clean, kinda like a small MPLS. How wide are they making that highway that runs through downtown? The interchange above looked nice.

[Ingersoll1978]

Des Moines is a great looking city!! Looks very clean, kinda like a small MPLS. How wide are they making that highway that runs through downtown? The interchange above looked nice.

Interstate i-235 will be 3 thru lanes for the entire 14 miles...It will be 4 lanes from 63rd St. to Downtown (plus axillary lanes). One more year of construction...and then landscaping for the next couple of years.

[DMRyan]

A couple of updates on some projects recently.

There are two new suburban hospitals planned for West Des Moines, which unfortunately will require the closing of two smaller, older hospitals in downtown Des Moines. Luckily, both of the hospitals proposed for closing have uses tenatively identified for them so they shouldn't sit vacant for long. The new hospitals and a large clinic expansion are $220 million worth of additions to what has been billed as West Des Moines' "Medical Mile".

Mercy Hospital West
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Mercy_West_Campus/Mercy_West2_2007.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Mercy_West_Campus/Mercy_West3_2007.jpg

Methodist Hospital West
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Myers_Hospital/Myers_Hospital_2007.jpg

Iowa Clinic Expansion
http://www.pbase.com/image/72994959.jpg

Construction at some of the local colleges is ramping up. Drake University is adding 500+ units of student housing in three buildings, which will have mixed retail along the base of the building. A pretty large development for this campus. The much smaller Grandview College is expanding some education buildings as well.

Drake University Student Housing
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Drake_Student_Housing/drake%20housing.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Drake_Student_Housing/drake%20housing2.jpg

Grandview College Expansion
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Grandview_College_Expansion/Grandview_EdCenter1.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Grandview_College_Expansion/Grandview_EdCenter2.jpg


Downtown News:

The Mitchell Transmission Building in the Gateway West Redevelopment Area is slated for conversion to 60 condos, with downtown retail space.
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Mitchell_Building_Renovation/mitchell_transmission_september2006.jpg

Finally, the downtown YMCA is rumored to have a project slated on this key downtown riverwalk location. Early rumors are that the building will be a condo development, but nothing has been finalized.
http://www.pbase.com/image/37659656.jpg


Also, we should be finding out about a potential 450 room convention hotel for the Iowa Events Center sometime in March.

[jpIllInoIs]

^ That YMCA looks like it is on PRIME property. Should be a successful conversion. What will happen with the current Y clients?

[DMRyan]

It's very early in the process, but a little bit of news has come out of the RFP for a convention hotel next to the Iowa Events Center. The best (tallest) proposal is for an 18-20 story building. There will be much more news about this in the future, as the City and County get closer to choosing a developer.

Three developers submit hotel proposals to Polk
By JEFF ECKHOFF
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

January 30, 2007

Polk County's call for developers willing to build a first-class hotel near the Iowa Events Center has drawn three responses.

The developers - from Dallas, Texas; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Minneapolis - were the only ones who met Monday's deadline for submitting qualifications to the county.

Polk officials are scheduled to spend the next few weeks evaluating paperwork to see whether any or all of the contestants will be asked to submit more detailed proposals. A developer could be picked as early as March.

The numbers of hotel rooms in the plans range from 200 to 450. Two of the developers propose to build their projects on a parking lot north and slightly west of Veterans Memorial Auditorium, while the third company would put its hotel farther east. None would raze the auditorium.

The developers are:

Garfield Traub Development, a Texas company that has proposed a 400-room Sheraton hotel, 18 to 20 stories tall, along Third Street north of Crocker Street. The hotel would contain approximately 25,000 square feet of meeting space, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom and a restaurant that would seat up to 110 people.

A 600-car parking garage also would be built on the south side of Crocker.

To finance the hotel, Garfield Traub proposes a public-private partnership that could include county bonds to pay for construction. "The bonds usually are supported by hotel occupancy and real estate taxes attributed to the new hotel, (which) typically eliminates the need for a public referendum to approve the structure," according to documents submitted Monday.

Garfield Traub plans to include former Polk Supervisor Richard "Red" Brannan as a partner in the deal. Construction would include Des Moines-based Weitz Co.

Regency Inns Management, a South Dakota company now working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on development of the Honey Creek Resort State Park. Regency is proposing a 200-room hotel, with a possible 200-room addition.

Documents say the company's 40-year track record includes development of the ClubHouse Hotel & Suites in Sioux Falls and work on development and management of the Lewis & Clark Resort in Yankton, S.D. The company also owns the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center in Plymouth, Minn.

Mortenson, a Minnesota developer that proposes to partner with Walsh Bishop architects and Hilton Hotels.

Mortenson, which recently completed a $54 million convention center in Coralville, suggests that Polk County's goal of a 450-room hotel "may only be achievable through county or public ownership."

[shane453]

A 400 room hotel next door would make the events center a lot more attractive to events. But I disagree with the article saying the only way DSM could get it is with government subsidy or ownership.. It's next to a convention center, should be a really nice location for a private hotel.

The YMCA building definitely looks like it would be perfect for residential with the river so close.

[Ingersoll1978]

Allied Insurance (Nationwide) released the rendering of their new office building in Gateway West.

Some Info:
There will be a skywalk lobby from Gateway West through this building.

The NW corner of this building is slated to have 8,700 sq ft of retail/future growth space on the first floor (whew! what a relief!).

New Building:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/396656116_f68ec4ffd1_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/396656114_53228b805c_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/396656108_b754b62cab_o.jpg
Parking Ramp:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/396656119_cea618550d_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/396656120_4f50ae98e2_o.jpg

Overall...I really like it. It's really going to blend in well in this corridor.

[dogbo]

Kitty-corner from the Nationwide parking ramp (yeah...ho, hum, but a necessary evil), this nice little project seems to be going full steam ahead.

Here's the current building:

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/Lovejoy/Lovejoy1.jpg

Rendering after rehab:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/Lovejoy/Lovejoy2.jpg

Not evident in this picture is the fact that the guts of this building is a huge space (since it was an old truck manufacturing factory) that is projected to be converted to a live music venue.

[DMRyan]

This is a long road ahead of it and it's far from a certainty, but County has received several proposals for a new convention hotel. Two of the proposals feature midrise hotels of at least 16 stories.

Here's the story from the DSM Register:

Developers say hotel needs funds from public
Potential developers of an Events Center facility all say help would be needed.

By JEFF ECKHOFF
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

March 2, 2007

One way or another, it could take a lot of public money to build a hotel near the Iowa Events Center.

Three proposals unsealed Thursday by Polk County staffers call for hotels ranging from 300 to 425 rooms - deals that would require up to $65 million in public financing, despite previous statements by county supervisors that they intend to keep the county's wallet closed.

The newly public designs range from a wavy, 18-story Sheraton tower along Third Street north of the Events Center to two proposals for a total of three hotels near an assumed-to-be-remodeled Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

All three potential developers would build some form of parking garage, and all insist they can finish construction in late 2009 or mid-2010.

The proposals include:

- Plans by Texas-based Garfield Traub Development for an 18-story, 400-room tower facing Third Street north of the Events Center. The building would total nearly 300,000 square feet, including roughly 65,000 square feet of convention and meeting space.

The proposed Sheraton hotel would include a 12,000-square-foot ballroom that developers insist "would be the best and largest hotel ballroom in the area and would be a huge key in attracting in-house groups."

According to proposals, "substantial county financial participation will be necessary in order to complete the capitalization of the project."

The proposal requests no specific dollar amount from local governments but includes a budget calling for $65 million in "city/county participation" on a project estimated to cost $105 million.

- Plans by Mortenson, a Minnesota developer, to build a 16-story, 425-room Hilton hotel on the northern edge of Vets. The proposal includes 294,000 square feet of hotel space - a development that will "reposition the Veterans Memorial Hall with the neighborhood through an interior renovation conversion to a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, related break-out rooms and fully equipped kitchen."

Plans call for a $92 million project, with approximately 30 percent of the bill paid for by some form of subsidy from the county.

- Plans by South Dakota-based Regency Inns Management to build two smaller hotels, totaling 300 to 350 rooms, immediately north of Vets for a total of $35.5 million.

Regency's plan would include $7 million in county money to pay for parking and skywalk extensions. However, "our moving forward with the hotels would be contingent upon the Iowa Events Center complex renovations."

Polk County supervisors in December rejected plans for a $35 million, 80,000-square-foot addition to create new ballroom and meeting space in Hy-Vee Hall.

The two-hotel structure would include one designed to be "an upscale boutique suites hotel," while the second would be a more standard 'Hilton' or similar-type project."

Current schedules call for the supervisors, if they decide to go forward, to name a developer by March 23.

[historybuffer]

Kitty-corner from the Nationwide parking ramp (yeah...ho, hum, but a necessary evil), this nice little project seems to be going full steam ahead.

Here's the current building:

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/Lovejoy/Lovejoy1.jpg

Rendering after rehab:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/Lovejoy/Lovejoy2.jpg

Not evident in this picture is the fact that the guts of this building is a huge space (since it was an old truck manufacturing factory) that is projected to be converted to a live music venue.

Very nice, subtle transformation keeping the original character and history of the building intact.

[dogbo]

IMO, 2007 will prove to be a very crucial/important year for downtown Des Moines. There are no less that 11 substantial entertainment (bars/ restaurants/live music/gaming) venues coming online w/in the next few months. Most will be here no later than this April). Des Moines, like many other fine American cities, has faced an onslaught of competition from neighboring suburbs that has gradually moved nightlife/entertainment options further and further from the core. Finally, for those of us who appreciate and understand the value of a healthy downtown, it seems the tide may have finally changed for the better.

Today in a local entertainment focused weekly (www.dmjuice.com, we learned specific details of several very important and exciting projects that will be changing the face of downtown while hopefully causing people to reassess where they chose to spend their entertainment dollar in the Des Moines' metropolitan area.

It is very exciting to see entrepreneurs realizing and investing in the city's core. This is a long time coming for those of us in Des Moines that have lamented the past few years as nightlife continued to move further and further west into the suburbs.

What follows is a list and short summary of what we are going to soon be enjoying here in Des Moines. For those interested in the full story, I also attached a link at the end of my post that contains the full story of each project plus renderings).

From juice.com:

Coming soon to a downtown near you

In the next few months, downtown Des Moines turns another corner.

Four bars, a high-end tapas restaurant and a 900-capacity concert hall all open inside a single Court Avenue building. A few stoplights away, a sushi and noodle bar and a contemporary American restaurant debut inside the remodeled Hotel Kirkwood building. A short walk down the road, InPlay, a bar/restaurant/game room, opens at the foot of the Wells Fargo Arena. In the works are more projects, more bars and restaurants and entertainment hubs.

A few years back, downtown on any given night would be a ghost town, said Tom Zmolek, one of the people transforming the nightlife scene this year.

That started to change when new, original bars like The Lift, Royal Mile and Hessen Haus started popping up. Then came Wells Fargo Arena in 2005. Then, maybe most importantly, came all the new lofts and condos.

Major entertainment ventures like his weren't going to happen until people started living downtown, Zmolek said. People who want to spend their money on food and booze and music and art, and don't want to hop in their cars to do it.

This year, they're going to have plenty they can walk to.


Court Center


For years the three-story brick structure at 216 Court Ave. sat empty, commonly referred to as "The old Nacho Mamma's building."
Soon we will know it as Court Center. The building will house a new Legend's American Grill, A.K. O'Connor's, C.C. Taft and Company (a high-end restaurant), Liars Club (a party bar) and People's (a bar and concert hall).

Azalea and Zen Noodle and Sushi Bar

Local super-chef Jeremy Morrow teamed up with fellow restaurateur Mike Hutchison once before when the duo gave us Star Bar. Azalea will feature a bar and lounge area as well as a dining room featuring contemporary American cuisine. At Zen Noodle and Sushi Bar, you'll find contemporary Asian noodle dishes, sushi and "some surprises."

Lovejoy Building

The Nadas frontman Jason Walsmith and his father have visions of turning the downtown home of The Nadas and Authentic Records into an entertainment complex. At the heart of the project is a live music venue with capacity for 1,000 fans.

Shorty's

Another Full Court Press bar will open this spring. Kind of. The downtown owners of bars like the Royal Mile, High Life and Hessen Haus, plan to open a “key club,” the kind of tiny, nondescript bar where access is exclusive and limited to people in the know, used during Prohibition as a hidden spot to drink illegal brew without getting tossed in the slammer.

Fourth Street and Court Avenue and Riverbend Trading Company

One building will bring retail, entertainment and residential space downtown, while the other will give downtown its own grocery store.


inPlay

Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and E. Honda will become residents of downtown Des Moines when inPlay, an arcade/bar/conference center opens March 25 at 615 Third St.

Expect more than 100 video games, ranging from arcade classics to sports games and virtual reality. The venue also has crane games, ski ball, billiards and a 3/4 scale bowling alley. A climbing wall cuts through two stories of the building. The second floor features the more adult-focused games, along with classic arcade games on bigger screens so that all your friends can watch you get your spine ripped out in "Mortal Kombat."
Here's the link for renderings and further details on each project:
http://www.dmjuice.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070307/JUICE/303080002

[DMRyan]

The developer for the convention hotel has been chosen, and their proposal is for a 450 room, 16 story hotel north of Vets Auditorium with a Hilton hotel flag.

Now I know what Indianapolis feels like.

http://who.images.worldnow.com/images/6203227_BG1.jpg

http://www.kcci.com/2007/0309/11213468_240X180.jpg

[k2h]

Thanks for sharing the photos/development info on Des Moines. I have heard many good things and the posts have confirmed it for me.

[haldcottingham]

I was wondering if anyone here could help me find two or more high resolution photos of downtown Des Moines from different points/views. Also, I'd prefer they be night shots. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's my email: capthal99@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance!

[gronier]

I lived in Des Moines as an exchange student for three months in 2005. It's a nice city, very pacific, but I just found it just a little boring, considering I come from a metropolis of over 6.5 million people. Also, I didn't like the absolute lack of public transport.

[Minneapolitan]

Des Moines has to be one of the, if not THE, most cosmo-looking cities of the 5-600,000 people range. It's so cool how Iowan's really see it as the 'big city.' (I should know, I'm Iowan at heart. Born and raised.) This attitude is evident in the state's pride and consequent maintenance & expansion of the city. It blows my mind how Omaha's metro is nearly twice the size... But come to think of it, DSM has to run with the big boys if they wanna keep in the game. They have Minneapolis/St Paul to the north, Omaha to the west, Chicago to the east, and Kansas City & St Louis to the south (with KC being more of an influence than STL, socially). That's some pretty good role models surrounding it, and I believe the people of DSM learn from all their big brother neighbors and apply what they observe. Anyway, I believe that everyone should visit Des Moines at least a couple times in their lives.

[NOG]

This project has a lot of people in Des Moines excited.

Renderings:
http://www.pbase.com/image/77456370.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/77456367.jpg

http://www.businessrecord.com/ArticlesImg/3678.jpg

Project Website:
http://www.opus001.com/

Story from the Des Moines Register:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704200374

Multi-use project for D.M. draws on creative vibe
A downtown area's artistic bent inspires plans for a residential-commercial building
By DONNELLE ELLER
Register Business Writer


April 20, 2007

Des Moines has an East Village. Architect Jeffrey Morgan believes Iowa's capital also could have a Chelsea.

Morgan and three partners plan a $33 million, warehouse-style condominium, office and retail project in the Western Gateway that he expects will attract young, creative professionals and businesses to the south-of-Locust Street business district.

He also expects the Opus_001 project at 15th and Walnut streets will become an "iconic gateway" to the city's western downtown from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

"It's a landmark site, and if done right, it will be a landmark building," said Matt Anderson, who leads the city's planning department. "Architecturally, the proposed building is unique. It has flair."

Morgan said the area already percolates with artist studios and photography, graphic design and architecture businesses as well as publisher Meredith Corp. The district is anchored by the city's $30.5 million Western Gateway Park.

Morgan believes it's developing into an area like the artist-filled Chelsea warehouse district in New York City or south Boston. "This whole area has the beginnings of a creative culture," said Morgan, who has studied economist Richard Florida's concepts on growing business opportunities by attracting artistic workers.

Also, Western Gateway's creative focus will become even more pronounced with John and Mary Pappajohn's donation of $20 million to $30 million in outdoor sculptures headed for the city park.

"It will be a significant art space," Morgan said.

Morgan and partners Karin Sandahl, David Llewelyn II and Steve Finnegan want to build on the district's creative vibe.

The mixed-use project includes 96 condominiums, six live-work studios, and 60,000 square feet of commercial space that includes room for a restaurant and coffee shop and possible fitness center.

The condos - which range in size from 500 to 1,600 square feet - are expected to cost between $117,000 and $456,000. They include a variety of styles - one-story flats and two-story lofts and townhouses, which feature roof terrace.

The project's views include Raccoon River and Gray's Lake. Morgan said the group wanted to make some of the condos affordable to college graduates and young professionals.

Business and residential users will have a large grass space that will sit atop a two-story garage with 113 parking spaces. The spaces will probably sell for $28,000 each.

The site is home to the former Fitch soap plant that will be demolished, and it's across the street from Morgan's studio, the former Fitch shampoo building. Sandahl's family founded the soap and shampoo business.

"I'm thrilled to be developing a building in the same location that my great grandfather did in 1930," Sandahl said.

Morgan said the city's investment in the Western Gateway Park is acting as "a catalyst."

In the past two years, three significant Western Gateway projects have been announced:

- Developer David Walters plans to build a 14-story, $50million commercial project at 15th and Locust streets.

- Across the street, Hubbell Realty plans to redevelop the former Mitchell Transmission building.

- A couple blocks east, Iowa Sen. Jack Hatch plans a $50million condominium project.

Morgan expects to ask the city for $2 million to $3 million to help finance the project. It's expected to open in fall 2009.

Anderson said developers frequently need city assistance to help offset the higher costs of downtown development - from higher land prices to added costs for infrastructure such as parking ramps.

Incentives for mixed-use projects support one of the city's goals of creating a "24/7 downtown," Anderson said.

Reporter Donnelle Eller can be reached at (515) 284-8457 or deller@dmreg.com

Current Building onsite, to be demolished:
http://www.assess.co.polk.ia.us/p/7824/08/232/002/782408232002a.jpg

[DMRyan]

This is another mixed-use downtown project that hasn't been shown on here. It's The Paseo project, located at the footsteps of the capitol in the East Village Neighborhood.

http://www.pbase.com/image/75744983.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/75744986.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/75435802.jpg

New project, old setting planned in downtown D.M.

The developer wants a 1900s East Locust Street aura for the $9.3 million building.

By DONNELLE ELLER
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITER


Developer Jack Hatch is hoping to recapture a piece of the past with his proposed $9.3 million commercial and condominium project in downtown Des Moines' East Village.

"We wanted to recreate and honor the past," said Hatch, who looked to historic buildings in Dubuque and Galena, Ill., for inspiration on the project's design.

Architect Greg Wattier said the design works to capture a "previous place — East Locust Street in the early 1900s."

Hatch plans to begin construction in August, but he first must clear a few hurdles.

Des Moines city officials are hammering out an agreement with Hatch, a Des Moines state lawmaker, to develop the land. Then other developers will have more than a month to meet or beat his proposal.

The land, less than a half-acre, is at East Fourth and Locust streets and was the former location of the Dewey Ford showroom. It's one of two parcels the city sought development proposals for in 2003.

Hatch won the rights to build a $15 million, 115-unit apartment complex on the first parcel. The complex, which opened late last year, is a mix of market-rate rents and subsidized rents for low-income residents.

Finding a developer for the second parcel has been more difficult - bouncing from Knapp Properties and Hatch to Tony DeAngelo, developer of Soho Lofts in the East Village, and back to Hatch.

Hatch will seek $600,000 from the city for the five-story project, called Paseo. He plans to build a nearly-46,000-square-foot structure that will include 39 condos on the third, fourth and fifth floors.

The condos are expected to sell for $180,000 to $240,000 and run from 870 to 1,200 square feet in size.

The second floor will provide parking for the condos. Nine parking spaces will be available on the street, too.

The first floor will have about 8,500 square feet of retail space with plans for a restaurant.

"The East Village just has so much potential," Hatch said. "When you leave the front door, there's shops, restaurants, banks, museums.

"The East Village is a little small town in a big city. There aren't too many places you can say that about."

Sarah Oltrogge, president of the Historic East Village Inc., said the neighborhood group likes the growing interest in developing projects that mix residential, office and retail.

"It's a corner that needs development," she said.

Oltrogge said the group also is happy that the East Village is seeing residential development that appeals to a mix of incomes - from Hatch's East Village Square Apartments to ST Development's East Village Court and Soho Lofts.

"Within the East Village, we have everything from federal subsidized rentals to luxury condos," she said. "We like attracting different kinds of people."

Hatch expects the condo prices to appeal to young professionals and empty nesters.

"We feel pretty good about that price range," he said. "We think we can attract someone who wants to experience a dynamic atmosphere."

[DMRyan]

We're getting the first look at a new county courthouse in Des Moines, which will go for a public vote this winter.

The 456,000 sq. ft., 7 story structure would be built adjacent to the current historical courthouse would be clad in limestone and serve the needs of the justice system in Polk County for the next 40 years.

This rendering is ripped from the television, but better renderings should follow.

http://www.kcci.com/2007/0612/13488895.jpg

The current courthouse could be renovated to house additional county office space.

http://www.absoluteserving.com/images/polk_county_court_house.jpg

[ClarkWGriswald]

I've always liked how the courthouse is right there by Court Ave(coincidence?). There's a lot going on in that area, for sure. Would this be located to the courthouse's south side?

[NOG]

We're getting the first look at a new county courthouse in Des Moines, which will go for a public vote this winter.

The 456,000 sq. ft., 7 story structure would be built adjacent to the current historical courthouse would be clad in limestone and serve the needs of the justice system in Polk County for the next 40 years.

This rendering is ripped from the television, but better renderings should follow.

http://www.kcci.com/2007/0612/13488895.jpg

The current courthouse could be renovated to house additional county office space.

http://www.absoluteserving.com/images/polk_county_court_house.jpg

Here is a link to a high quality video rendering that does it more justice (no pun intended).

From the Des Moines Register:
Video (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/mp3/D276354612.WMV)

[SRG]

A friend of mine just bought a unit in the Mulberry Lofts ... he loves it.

[cwilson758]

Allied Insurance (Nationwide) released the rendering of their new office building in Gateway West.

Some Info:
There will be a skywalk lobby from Gateway West through this building.

The NW corner of this building is slated to have 8,700 sq ft of retail/future growth space on the first floor (whew! what a relief!).

New Building:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/396656116_f68ec4ffd1_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/396656114_53228b805c_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/396656108_b754b62cab_o.jpg
Parking Ramp:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/396656119_cea618550d_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/396656120_4f50ae98e2_o.jpg

Overall...I really like it. It's really going to blend in well in this corridor.

This reminds me of insurance giant, Anthem's corporate "campus" in DT Indy, only this project respects the street much better than the campus in Indy.

[Ingersoll1978]

Another big employment announcement for Downtown Des Moines:

From the Des Moines Business Record:

Principal announces major expansion

Principal Financial Group Inc. announced this morning that it will increase its employment by 1,500 people over the next five years and begin construction of a $100 million expansion, which will add a 1,800-vehicle parking ramp and a child-care center on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Park streets. Eight hundred forty of the new jobs will pay an average wage of $23.45 per hour. Principal expects to begin construction of the child-care center this summer; the parking ramp will be completed by 2009. The Iowa Department of Economic Development announced today that it would award tax benefits worth $2.67 million to Principal.

Principal is one of 14 projects the Economic Development Board and Iowa Department of Economic Development announced it would support today, which will create and retain more than 2,700 jobs and make capital investments of $814 million in the state. Other projects are for Target Corp., Cargill Inc. and Red Star Yeast Company LLC. TPI Composites Inc. was awarded an offer of $2 million provided it builds a manufacturing plant in Newton, which would create 723 jobs.

[Ingersoll1978]

Another big announcement for Downtown Des Moines (sorry...no renderings yet)...

From the Des Moines Register:
Wellmark to build downtown
$175 million headquarters planned; incentives lead company to reject W.D.M. site
BY S.P. DINNEN AND DAVID ELBERT
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITERS


September 15, 2007

COPYRIGHT 2007, Des Moines Register and Tribune Company

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield will build a new $175 million headquarters in downtown Des Moines, rejecting a suburban location, executives said Friday.

Group Vice President Cliff Gold said the health insurer signed a deal Friday to gain control of 6.5 acres on the north side of Grand Avenue between 11th and 14th streets, most from Iowa Health-Des Moines.

The project includes a 2,000-car parking garage between 11th and 12th streets, and a 500,000-square-foot headquarters in either one or two buildings between 12th and 14th streets.

Wellmark wrestled for months over whether to remain downtown or move to West Des Moines with its 1,600 workers. The company purchased 66 acres of land there early this summer, but in the end decided to stay downtown.

"We have gone through a rigorous selection process, weighed all the options and determined that remaining in downtown Des Moines made the best sense," said John Forsyth, Wellmark's chairman and chief executive.

City and state government units still need to approve zoning and incentive packages. And the site needs clearance from environmental regulators before construction can begin in the spring of 2008.

Des Moines will provide a number of incentives consistent with what the city did for Wells Fargo Financial and Allied Insurance when they built new headquarters in recent years, said City Manager Rick Clark.

He declined to put a dollar amount on the incentives before the actual package is presented to the City Council at a Sept. 24 meeting, but Gold said the combination of state and local incentives is more than $10 million.

He said that, with the incentives, the cost differential between downtown and West Des Moines was "about a wash."

The city's incentives will be in four areas, Clark said.

- The city will shoulder the burden of straightening out High Street to provide a little more room for the project.

- Eventually, the city will help extend the downtown skywalk to the building. That may take some time because the nearest connection now is at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue.

- Some type of mass transit encouragement for Wellmark employees to take the bus will be included.

- Tax increment financing will be use to rebate some property tax money to Wellmark. Clark declined to say how much TIF money might be involved.

Among other things, he said, TIF money will be used to make the new building LEED certified, a designation for buildings that are energy-efficient and use environmentally friendly building technology.

The city could also use TIF money to pay some of the cost of removing chemicals from the property now occupied by a dry cleaner.

The city will work with businesses located in the area to find new locations within the city, Clark said. City officials also helped negotiate the sale of parcels of land on the building site not owned by Iowa Health Systems.

Clark described the Wellmark decision as "an extraordinary deal," because of the number of landowners involved and the fact that Iowa Health Systems had at one time planned to use the land for its own expansion.

"This is a home run," Des Moines City Councilman Chris Coleman said. "This is a homegrown corporation that is one of the most prestigious in the country, and they have a vision for downtown development that is green and has healthy lifestyles."

Wellmark's decision puts Des Moines at 1-1 this summer on retaining insurance company head offices. Aviva USA decided last month to leave Des Moines in favor of a 71-acre tract of land in West Des Moines. The annuities and life insurance company said it selected West Des Moines in part because it needs land flexibility as it bumps its employee count from 800 to perhaps 1,200.

Wellmark has more modest growth plans - perhaps as many as 100 new employees in the next few years, according to Gold. But just like Aviva, it was operating from several buildings and wanted to consolidate operations.

Siting a 21st-century office proved to be as difficult as designing one. As employees were asked about how they would lay out their work space, they also were quizzed on a preferred location. Two-thirds of them voted for downtown.

Advantages to a downtown site include a central location, access to transportation and sticking to a 68-year history with the central business district, Gold said. But it costs more to build downtown, and it's tougher to assemble needed land, he said.

Iowa Health-Des Moines came through with property that it has been acquiring south of Iowa Methodist Medical Center. It and Wellmark reached a deal on Friday for the land.

Gold said that Wellmark has adequate resources to pay for constructing the building and equipping it.

"We don't think we'll need to borrow," he said. The insurer won't expect customers to pay any extra for the building, and he said Wellmark is merely swapping rented space in five buildings for purchased space.

RDG in Des Moines and HOK in Kansas City will design the project, Gold said.

RDG is the architect for another major downtown project, the Davis Brown Tower, a 13-story mixed-use building now under construction on 10th Street across from the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

HOK is the firm that designed downtown's 801 Grand, Iowa's tallest building.

[jpIllInoIs]

Wow 2 months with no news on Des Moines and then boom another HQ expansion in downtown. Well at least we are not bombarded with the minutea of every retail strip that lands a Dollar General. Thank for the update Ingy.

[IndiexInxIndy]

Your bland Hilton brand convention center hotel? (Don't worry, Indy's new one won't be much better) :nuts:

[mobyhead]

Wow 2 months with no news on Des Moines and then boom another HQ expansion in downtown. Well at least we are not bombarded with the minutea of every retail strip that lands a Dollar General. Thank for the update Ingy.

They are building a new Starbucks right next to my house. I think there should be a parade to coincide with the grand opening. :banana: :banana: :banana: Sarcasm.

[Ingersoll1978]

Your welcome. :)

About our bland Hilton (I agree...although I like that it is taller)...I haven't heard anything on that in quite some time. Polk County is in charge of that (with the Iowa Events Center) and are reviewing the proposal.

[DMRyan]

Another big corporate HQ is slated for the Des Moines area, although they have chosen the suburb of West Des Moines instead of downtown. Aviva USA (British Insurance Company) is moving their North American HQ from the Boston suburbs to the Des Moines metro. It will be a 400,000 sq. ft. building worth $100 million with plenty of room for future expansion for the fast growing company. They have already announced an addition of 600 jobs just since they located here last year, with plenty more hopefully on the way.

Des Moines has done better than just about any city around (in the under 1 million pop category) in landing big financial/insurance jobs. Wells Fargo, Nationwide Insurance, Principal Financial Group and now Aviva are on pace to add 7,000-8,000 jobs so far, just since 2000. There have been/soon will be 5large corporate HQ's/regional HQ's built here in a short amount of time.


***
Development on the new downtown projects has defintely slowed this summer, as the downtown condo market is saturated and overbuilt. Downtown apartments are near 100% vacancy though, and I expect a flurry of new downtown apartment projects to be announced over the next year, especially with all of the job growth underway here.

[dogbo]

Development on the new downtown projects has defintely slowed this summer, as the downtown condo market is saturated and overbuilt. Downtown apartments are near 100% vacancy though, and I expect a flurry of new downtown apartment projects to be announced over the next year, especially with all of the job growth underway here.

Ryan, I believe you meant, 100% occupancy (not vacancy).

Yes, it appears that rental units are the hot commodity for downtown housing and it looks like developers are responding quickly to meet the demand with conversions from purchase to lease on both current and announced condo/loft projects.

[DMRyan]

Continuing on the theme that downtown condos in Des Moines are oversaturated, and apartments are white hot.

This number came out today for the East Village section of downtown. It's a mixed use building called e300, which has 75 apartments and street level retail. This is expected to be the first of several new apartment project announcements coming up for downtown in the coming months.
http://www.pbase.com/image/87419501.jpg

[StevenW]

Nice projects. :yes:

[exit_320]

Any Wellmark renderings?

[DMRyan]

Nothing so far besides this very conceptual rendition of the building footprint on the site. Construction should start next summer, so I would imagine renderings will be out in early 2008.

http://www.pbase.com/bwicks/image/86969563/original.jpg

[seicer]

Exclusive: Historic Church May Become Gas Station (http://www.kcci.com/news/15546090/detail.html)
KCCI-8 [Des Moines], March 9, 2008

http://www.kcci.com/2008/0309/15545812_240X180.jpg

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The end may be near for a Des Moines landmark.

The Kingsway Cathedral in the Sherman Hill Neighborhood may be demolished to make room for a gas station and convenience store.

NewsChannel 8's Jon Cahill reported Saturday that Regency Commercial Development presented the Neighborhood Association with the plans. Neighbors like Mike Donovan, who lives next door to the cathedral, aren't happy.

"Deep down we knew it was going to be the worst case scenario," Donovan said.

Jack Porter, a member of the neighborhood association said they're willing to work with Regency if they want to build apartments or new retail, but not a gas station.

"There is no way," Porter said. "I have not talked to anyone in this neighborhood that feels like it's appropriate to have a gas station and convenience store on this corner."

Regency did not return KCCI's calls for comment on Saturday. But, neighbors said they're unwilling to budge.

"I think they understand that," Donovan said. "I don't know how hard they're willing to push but there are some enormous obstacles for them."

Plans would have to be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning and Zoning and the Des Moines City Council.

Sherman Hill neighbors said they plan on protesting every step of the way.

[MarkoISU]

Good stuff there. From what I've heard insurance is one off the few things "booming" right now and that's great for Des Moines, especially with more off these giants comming to town with their big investments.

[MasonsInquiries]

des monies is definitely a city on the rise. two thumbs up!!!:okay::okay:

[DMRyan]

A couple of new developments for Des Moines:

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa HQ
New 550,000 sq. ft. office building in Western Gateway Redevelopment Area, 1,800 stall parking garage with fitness center, day care
$194 Million
http://www.downtowndesmoines.com/images/photos/wellmark_front.jpg

http://www.downtowndesmoines.com/images/photos/wellmarkbldg_frontcourtyard_hr.jpg

http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/Wellmark_Front_0528.jpg

Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Across the street from the HQ above and the newly constructed HQ for Allied Insurance is a $30 million sculpture garden with donated pieces of artwork
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Gateway_West_Park/sculpture7.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Gateway_West_Park/sculpture2.jpg

4th & Court Mixed Use Development
-46 condos and 52 apartments with street level retail
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Court_Avenue_Bookey_Hubbell/4th&court1.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Court_Avenue_Bookey_Hubbell/4th_&_Court1_april08.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Court_Avenue_Bookey_Hubbell/4th_&_Court3_april08.jpg

East Village Place/Oxford Row
15 lofts, street level retail
$15 Million
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Burgeson_Lofts_Retaail/VillagePlaceNE.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Burgeson_Lofts_Retaail/East_Village_Court1_april08.jpg

Principal Riverwalk Ped Bridge
The signature icon for the newly redeveloped riverfront is under construction
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Principal%20Riverwalk/centerstreetped5.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Principal%20Riverwalk/riverwalkped3_april08.jpg

SE Connector/MLK Jr. Parkway
A 6 lane parkway around downtown is starting phase II over the Des Moines River.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/MLK_Extension_(East)/MLK_East1.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/MLK_Extension_(East)/riverbridge4.jpg

Davis Brown Tower
13 story building with 100,000 sq. ft., two stories of retail, parking ramp
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Davis_Brown_Tower/davis%20brown%20tower.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Davis_Brown_Tower/Davis_Brown1_april08.jpg

e300 Mixed Use Project
75 apartments with street level retail
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/e300_Mixed_Use_Project/e300_NW.jpg

Randolph Hotel Renovation
Conversion of transient hotel into 48 apartment units with street level retail
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Randolph_Hotel_Renovation/hotelrandolph.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Randolph_Hotel_Renovation/Randolph_Hotel1.jpg

E5W Mixed Use Project
5-story condo project with street level retail
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/E5W_Condos/E.5th&Walnut3.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/E5W_Condos/E.5th&Walnut1.jpg

and in the burbs...
The north American HQ for Aviva USA $$jobs$$
$150 million, 7 story HQ building, first phase
http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Aviva_Headquarters/Aviva_Headquarters_Front.jpg

See more, including many smaller projects at www.absolutedsm.com

[DMRyan]

The Des Moines area has landed a $600 million Microsoft Data Center, which is Iowa's 2nd such data center after Council Bluffs grabbed Google last year.

http://blog.protectwebform.com/images/microsoft_logo.jpg

From the DSM Register:

State confirms Microsoft coming to Iowa
BY DONNELLE ELLER • deller@dmreg.com • July 1, 2008

State officials confirmed today that Microsoft Corp. has chosen Iowa as the site of its next data center.

Stephanie Bjornson, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Economic Development, said today the software giant will build a data farm in central Iowa.

Microsoft leaders will choose the site in coming weeks. Bjornson said leaders are considering several properties for the center.

Earlier this year, lawmakers put together state tax breaks that officials said would put Iowa in the the hunt for a Microsoft data farm.

The state agreed to provide sales and use tax exemptions on purchases of computers, equipment and electricity necessary for use in a Web portal business with an investment of at least $200 million in Iowa.

The technology equipment inside the building also would be exempt from property taxes.

The tax breaks are the same as the ones lawmakers passed last year to lure high-tech giant Google.

Google is renovating and adding on to buildings in Council Bluffs for a $600 million data center that will be stocked with rows of computer servers. It eventually plans to employ 200 people.

The company owns other land in Council Bluffs and has hinted at plans for a possible future expansion.

Microsoft has said it must have a good supply of energy, water, workers and certain fiber optics.