Des Moines officials say they envision getting more unique development in downtown’s business district by transforming underutilized surface parking lots, assistant city manager Matt Anderson tells Axios.
Why it matters: Parking lots decrease walkability and take up space that could be better used for commercial or public development.
State of play: 26% of downtown Des Moines’ commercial business district is dedicated to surface parking lots, according to Parking Reform Network .
- And surface parking lots have become the most appealing spots for downtown developers because they don’t have to knock anything down, Anderson says.
Yes, but: Now, large surface lots owned by Wells Fargo on downtown’s south side and others owned by Principal on the north side are underutilized, due to hybrid work.
What we’re watching: Anderson says the city doesn’t know when those lots will potentially be put up for sale, but there are already local developers ready to snatch them up.
- A surface lot owned by the county south of the Polk County Courthouse is expected to be redeveloped in the future, though there is no timeline yet, Anderson says.
- Expect the block to be redeveloped in a way that swings Court Avenue from a “drinking district to a well-rounded entertainment district,” he says.