urbanMSP

When I was there visiting with my sister, her SUV actually got stuck in the mud on a street that was probably paved at one point in time. This wasn't even half a mile outside of downtown in a residential area.

A few large and significant projects announced this year.

High rise apartments in top of city garage
-7th & Grand Approximately 200 units
Nelson Development


-5th & Walnut 32 stories, 200 units, rock climbing wall, daycare, jazz club, 9 screen movie theater



Krause Gateway Center (Kum & Go Gas station HQ)Designed by world renowned Renzo Piano Building Workshop



http://www.kumandgo.com/2015/06/new-dow ... dquarters/

If anyone is ever heading to DSM, I have a friend who is an architect at a downtown firm and leads architecture tours. I'm sure he'd be happy to show you around. I usually get an update when I'm down there for work.

It is sad that Des Moines developers seem to take their architecture more seriously that they do here in MPLS. But then I think they have companies that want to show a better image of who they are and it shows in what they build. Just my opinion.

I am heartened that it took 2 entire days before someone made that comment.

I am heartened that it took 2 entire days before someone made that comment.

I have older issues of Iowa Architect and I see when caliber of architects and projects that Des Moines has pulled in to help give it more respect. I've seen Des Moines go thru a great transformation in the last 20 years. I must say that they have developers, corporations, and private individuals who take great pride in their city. I'm amazed by the transformation of the part of the city that is closest to the Capitol. It was once run down and now has filled in with rehabs and new classy building that has made the area around the Capitol a place to be now. I'm glad to see so many companies that are remaining in the CBD and investing in the city its self. MPLS take note on how it should be.

I mean Des Moines is great and all, but I don't think its a vast difference like you are making it out to be. Most of the new building (and new commercial growth) has come exclusively in Downtown/East Village. Their nodes (Beaverdale, Highland Park, etc.) haven't seen much investment. If you look at all the new stuff going on in the North Loop, downtown, Nordeast, Uptown, and the little nodes, I think there have been plenty of exciting projects that show people care about our city. Renzo Piano didn't design any of them, but that doesn't mean people don't have pride in our city.

Yeah, Renzo Piano. Apparently the nouveau riche gas station owners are feeling the need to prove they've arrived.

Also, Kum and Go is still funny.

I am heartened that it took 2 entire days before someone made that comment.

I have older issues of Iowa Architect and I see when caliber of architects and projects that Des Moines has pulled in to help give it more respect. I've seen Des Moines go thru a great transformation in the last 20 years. I must say that they have developers, corporations, and private individuals who take great pride in their city. I'm amazed by the transformation of the part of the city that is closest to the Capitol. It was once run down and now has filled in with rehabs and new classy building that has made the area around the Capitol a place to be now. I'm glad to see so many companies that are remaining in the CBD and investing in the city its self. MPLS take note on how it should be.

huh? what should mpls take note of? all i've read this year are companies moving from suburb to mpls CBD. and companies expanding and/or renewing leases. i guess 2 billion of investment isn't enough for you. we really need to follow des moines lead eh. ok then.

Yeah, but TCF is moving to the burbs, so that totally invalidates all the corps that are moving or expanding downtown.

Renderings released today for
Nelson Development, Substance Architecture, BVK Group
-7th & Grand: Office, Parking, Retail/Restaurant, Residential
Units increased to 250 units

So, we're not the only ones stricken with disjointed architectural malfeasance.

Oh my. that is terrible.

The east and west elevations look much better with all glass facades.

I found some news about a tower being proposed on the site of the old Younkers in downtown Des Moines.

Blackbird Investments is already renovating the portion of building that survived a massive fire in March 2014. It now wants to build a $60 million high-rise on the empty lot next door, at Seventh and Walnut streets.

The company's plans call for 220 residential units that could be sold as condos or rented as apartments, a hotel with roughly 150 rooms and some storefronts on the ground level. . .

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/ ... /84866192/

Daaaaang! That's nice! I hope it goes through!

Nice that they have enough budget to create the entire facade out of blocks of machined stainless steel.

I got to a nice higher-up view in downtown Des Moines

Des Moines skyline from UnityPoint Health 8-12-16 by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

That's a great shot! I've always enjoyed downtown Des Moines, especially by the sculpture garden.

Has anyone heard anymore news regarding the towers proposed there?

Via Donald Shoup, here's an article about how the city is losing money on their downtown parking ramps. They've had a deficit of $19 million over the last decade and the annual loss grew to over $3 million last year. A lot of non-city-owned parking has opened up since 2000.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/ ... /87156988/