Are there zoning restrictions against some of those (especially the last one)? Feel like it'd be a goldmine downtown..
Big Earl's Goldmine?
Are there zoning restrictions against some of those (especially the last one)? Feel like it'd be a goldmine downtown..
I agree with most of your points besides the parking ramp. In demand at select times during large events, maybe. But I'm not convinced that's the most efficient and highest use of downtown space. Parking is ample compared to most downtowns....including the much needed parking ramp...
I agree with most of your points besides the parking ramp. In demand at select times during large events, maybe. But I'm not convinced that's the most efficient and highest use of downtown space. Parking is ample compared to most downtowns.
JFC, Gunner. Your ideas for DT would be what DSM would look like had George Bailey never been born.
I agree with most of your points besides the parking ramp. In demand at select times during large events, maybe. But I'm not convinced that's the most efficient and highest use of downtown space. Parking is ample compared to most downtowns.
Big Earl's Goldmine?
I guess I don't see the issue with when it is done. I'd rather have a great building then have something right away. The incentives is probably a big thing, but I really think the other project is that much better. The article didn't talk about an intersection and skywalk when I read it.IMO there are enough specifics in the Register article to provide a pretty good clue as to why the city might be leaning to Blackbird. 1) project will be done sooner including the much needed parking ramp, 2) far less in incentives needed by the city, 3) Blackbird is offering to rebuilding the nearby intersection and also extending the skywalk all the way to Court Ave. . Outside of the article, one has to seriously wonder if DM can support two high-rise luxury apartment buildings going up around the same time.
I don't want to lose the movie theater, but fiscally speaking the Blackbird project is a lot less risk for the city I believe.
I guess I don't see the issue with when it is done. I'd rather have a great building then have something right away. The incentives is probably a big thing, but I really think the other project is that much better. The article didn't talk about an intersection and skywalk when I read it.
I guess my issue is that while it is great to see residential properties going in down there, you also have to have stuff to occupy them. That's why I think that the HyVee is such a big deal. You can actually live and shop downtown. I don't think that Des Moines can handle two basically residential only towers at once. That is why you need to include something else to make it so it can be successful.
The immediate construction will also establish a complete permanent skywalk solution, reconnecting the 5th Street and Walnut Street bridges to a new, elegant and attractive glass structure. We will replace the current skywalk that extends along Walnut Street. A new skywalk will provide a vertical access facility (public elevator) at 5th and Walnut Street. Blackbird Investments will fund a new four-way intersection at 5th Street and Mulberry Street as well as 5th Street and Court Avenue. This greatly increases the efficiency of traffic and alleviates the current bottlenecks that form near these intersections. Lastly, we commit to fund the extension and revitalization of the Walnut Street streetscape improvement project.
During the construction of the parking garage, the second phase will still start with a 150-room hotel located along Court Avenue. Blackbird Investments has secured three different hotel groups interested in immediate development of this site. The hotel will host an indoor/outdoor music venue, further enhancing the viability of the Court Ave district. The skywalk system will be extended along 5th Street to Court Avenue, including handicapped accessibility to Court Avenue.
The third phase is a 35-story cooperative housing tower that addresses an unmet demand for home ownership in downtown Des Moines. The tower offers entry level to luxury price points catering to young professionals, families, and empty nesters, as well as various income levels. Blackbird Investments is funding an affordable home ownership program for 20% of the total square footage (approximately 40 households). The program will be facilitated by the Polk County Housing Trust and be 20 years in duration. The new tower will achieve LEED Certification to demonstrate (as Blackbird Investments has done on other projects) that sustainability can and should be a critical goal in all construction.
Please do something with kaleidoscope mall. Please. Are they thinking like a Newbo Market type thing?
I still think this project is infinitely better, just by the building. It would take to much time to get into the finances, but even if it costs the city more I think the long term benefits outweigh the short term costs.Original developer not going away quietly.
Article: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...tle-new-images-and-last-minute-plea/99731210/
Indeed. If there truly is a market there for that Coop, hopefully Blackbird pushes it at another site.Hopefully this energizes Blackbird to do another tower project by 2020. The co-op housing would have been interesting to follow and see if that works in DSM