Downtown Des MoinesTuesday, November 3
Des Moines picks Heart of America's $24 million headquarters over a $200 million arts center
The Daily West Des Moines team
If you've wondered what's next for the historic city hall site, the Des Moines City Council picked a $24 million corporate headquarters plan Monday over a $200 million performing arts center. The council approved selling the vacant lot to Heart of America for $1 million.
The headquarters plan costs $24 million; the arts center would need $200 million
Sources: KCCI, Business Record
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Heart of America HQ (construction) | $24 million |
| Performing arts center (fundraising) | $200 million |
Heart of America owns Machine Shed restaurants and several hotels. Its headquarters will sit across the street from historic city hall. "This is not an easy vote," council member Josh Mandelbaum said. The arts center group, the Des Moines Metropolitan Center for the Arts, had asked the council to wait six months to develop its plan. Council member Rob Barron said he hopes "we can find the right spot for it."
- Site: 401 Robert D. Ray Drive, a 0.4-acre parcel
- Building: five-story, mass timber office
- City incentive: $3.95 million in tax increment financing
- Completion: anticipated in 2028
The headquarters plan moved from preliminary terms to a council vote in seven weeks
- Sept. 14Council approves preliminary terms with Heart of America Group.
- Oct. 13The arts center nonprofit submits its competing proposal.
- Nov. 2Council chooses the headquarters plan over the arts center.
- 2028Completion of the office building is anticipated.
Sources: KCCI, We Are Iowa, Business Record
Sources: KCCI, We Are Iowa, Business Record