All-America City projects: Des Moines rebuilds its downtown greener, preserving historic buildings
(photo: livingdowntowndesmoines.com)
The National Civic League’s 2009 All-America City Awards conference convenes in Tampa next week. Here is a look at one of the nominees that will present their best civic projects, Des Moines, Iowa:
Des Moines, Iowa
Urban Revitalization Core West 18th St. to East 18th St.
Since 2004, downtown Des Moines has gone through a renaissance to become what is now the pièce de résistance of the metropolitan area. This rebirth took place with the outpouring of support from the public and private sectors and community members. The City Council held broad public meetings to solicit a downtown vision and consulted with experts in revitalization to begin our renaissance. The Council created catalysts throughout the downtown to generate future development across the core of our community. The developments are a mix of new and rehabilitated construction which preserves the historical integrity of downtown architecture while promoting opportunities for new infill design. The catalysts involved in downtown revitalization over the last five years have significantly contributed to the rebirth of Des Moines’ urban core. With a minimum of city investment, historical buildings have been preserved, green initiatives implemented, housing stock added, entertainment districts created. Future phases of revitalization are planned and include ways to enhance the connectivity between the western and eastern edges of downtown and expand into residential neighborhoods.
Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-18 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.
Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.
