Items Tagged ‘Iowa’
Council Backs Redevelopment Plan For Vacant Des Moines Building
Synopsis:
A vacant office hi-rise in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa, may soon be called home for a number of households. Faced with a glut of office space in the downtown area, this adaptive reuse project is seen as great opportunity by both city and business leaders. The proposed 145 units of residence will also help to increase the opportunity and quantity of downtown housing. Having been declared a public nuisance by the City Council in January 2011, the redevelopment of the Des Moines Building will help to alleviate a lot of pressure from the city. The declaration also gave ownership of the building over to the city, who has since approved the sale of the property to Nelson Foutch Joint Ventures.
The adaptive reuse of the building will be a mixed-use project. Nelson Foutch intends to create commercial space on the first two floors and 145 market-rate apartments in the upper floors. In addition to the conversion, a low-rise annex to the tower will be torn down to create an outdoor restaurant area and skywalk access.
The redevelopment does come with an additional incentive for the developer – a 10-year, 100-percent tax abatement package that would equal about $400,000 a year. Time will tell of the abatement incentive will pay off for the community as a whole.
Des Moines County Heritage Center
Synopsis:
History
The building had long served as the Burlington Public Library. It was originally built in 1898.
(Re)Developer
The Des Moines County Historical Society took ownership of the public library and began full renovations in order to expand their museum collections.
Outcome
The renovations included new heating and air conditioning, updated lighting, collection storage and creative exhibit galleries. Helping to commemorate and promote the history of the county, the adapted building will serve the needs of the community for years to come. It now includes an interactive map room, military gallery, the Bart Howard Room (faux nightclub), the 19th Century Gallery, a children’s exhibit, the Agricultural Gallery, and the 20th Century Gallery.
