Des Moines - 33 story high rise (515 Walnut Tower)

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 5:38 pm

If this does indeed get built it will end a long highrise drought for Des Moines. I think 1997 was the last time they had a building built over 300 ft. Will be a nice addition to the skyline by adding some height and density. But not a game changer.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:53 pm

172 feet in 2008 is all Des Moines has for the 21st century is looks like. The Riverfront Place towers are all Omaha has post FNC and UP. Both Omaha and Des Moines have had quite the droughts

ita · Post by **ita** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:03 pm

Garrett wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:53 pm 172 feet in 2008 is all Des Moines has for the 21st century is looks like. The Riverfront Place towers are all Omaha has post FNC and UP. Both Omaha and Des Moines have had quite the droughts

To be fair, we almost got a high rise in the capitol district Marriott. I think its 12 stories. It does affect our skyline though from the east view. We also had the TDA tower in the 2010's, but it was built outside of downtown.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:59 pm

ita wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:03 pm
Garrett wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:53 pm 172 feet in 2008 is all Des Moines has for the 21st century is looks like. The Riverfront Place towers are all Omaha has post FNC and UP. Both Omaha and Des Moines have had quite the droughts
To be fair, we almost got a high rise in the capitol district Marriott. I think its 12 stories. It does affect our skyline though from the east view. We also had the TDA tower in the 2010's, but it was built outside of downtown.

Right, Omaha has added some decent mid rises in the past 10 years. The 12 story Marriott, 12 floor TD Ameritrade, 11 floor Apartments at Capitol district and 10 story HDR headquarters at Aksarben.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:59 pm

Cermak wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:59 pm
ita wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:03 pm
Garrett wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:53 pm 172 feet in 2008 is all Des Moines has for the 21st century is looks like. The Riverfront Place towers are all Omaha has post FNC and UP. Both Omaha and Des Moines have had quite the droughts
To be fair, we almost got a high rise in the capitol district Marriott. I think its 12 stories. It does affect our skyline though from the east view. We also had the TDA tower in the 2010's, but it was built outside of downtown.
Right, Omaha has added some decent mid rises in the past 10 years. The 12 story Marriott, 12 floor TD Ameritrade, 11 floor Apartments at Capitol district and 10 story HDR headquarters at Aksarben.

Ahhhh fair fair. I was just going based off the Wikipedia entries and they cut Omaha off at 200 ft. I’d still probably put both of those in the mid rise category but that could be my last 10 years of living in Chicago and NYC skewing my perceptions haha

ita · Post by **ita** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:27 am

Garrett wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:59 pm
Cermak wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:59 pm
ita wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:03 pm
Garrett wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:53 pm 172 feet in 2008 is all Des Moines has for the 21st century is looks like. The Riverfront Place towers are all Omaha has post FNC and UP. Both Omaha and Des Moines have had quite the droughts
To be fair, we almost got a high rise in the capitol district Marriott. I think its 12 stories. It does affect our skyline though from the east view. We also had the TDA tower in the 2010's, but it was built outside of downtown.
Right, Omaha has added some decent mid rises in the past 10 years. The 12 story Marriott, 12 floor TD Ameritrade, 11 floor Apartments at Capitol district and 10 story HDR headquarters at Aksarben.
Ahhhh fair fair. I was just going based off the Wikipedia entries and they cut Omaha off at 200 ft. I’d still probably put both of those in the mid rise category but that could be my last 10 years of living in Chicago and NYC skewing my perceptions haha

Just came back from Chicago, first time spending significant time there, and can agree it absolutely destroyed my perceptions of what Omaha could/should look like.

The wiki page does state TDA is 230 feet, so I am not sure why it's not listed. I do wonder if there are any sneaky just over 200 footers in the city, like St. Joseph tower on 10th. I was visiting the other week and seemed just as tall as the Riverfront condo towers.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 3:35 pm

It’ll be interesting to see how Des Moines and Omaha compare over the next 10 years. Arguably their downtown is in a stronger place now, but with the streetcar and associated development, especially with all of the rumors we’re already seeing, it could be a good case study for the effects of a rail system.

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:32 pm

The DSM Urban Design Review Board approved the designs of the project this week as well as the financial package.

The developer is saying demo of the existing site to start in April with site clearing taking about 3 months total.

Construction on the tower should start mid summer.

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Feb 22, 2023 9:15 pm

That's awesome!

We Don’t Coast · Post by **We Don’t Coast** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:02 am

Interesting how this project received new life so quickly, at least it seems. I’ll remind folks this is still a proposal with a very ambitious timeline. I’d say it’s 50-50 ground gets broken this summer, this year or even at all. If it does happen, good for Des Moines.

https://www.businessrecord.com/learn-mo ... nes-tower/

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 6:12 am

We Don’t Coast wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:02 am Interesting how this project received new life so quickly, at least it seems. I’ll remind folks this is still a proposal with a very ambitious timeline. I’d say it’s 50-50 ground gets broken this summer, this year or even at all. If it does happen, good for Des Moines.

https://www.businessrecord.com/learn-mo ... nes-tower/

This is really on a fast track, all but a few months ago it was pretty much dead. Now just like that it's all systems go. Impressive.

ita · Post by **ita** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 8:44 am

Wow, I'm jelly. Good on DM for fast tracking this $133 million project and skyline changer. Any word on height? 350? 400?

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:25 am

ita wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 8:44 am Wow, I'm jelly. Good on DM for fast tracking this $133 million project and skyline changer. Any word on height? 350? 400?

Think it said 359 ft. Which sounds about right for a 33 floor residential .

This will have to be torn down first.

When it was built in the mid 80's was probably one of the best looking downtown malls for a midsize metro. It never really took off , but was somewhat successful when it first opened, has been a dead mall for about the past 10 years.

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:09 pm

Seriously, how is DSM pulling this off before Omaha?

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:50 pm

I don’t think there has been anything quick about this project at all. Look at how many years it’s taken for them to finally get the 80% funding secured.

In small markets like DSM (and frankly here in Omaha, too) these are tough to get done. Hopefully they can finally pull this off and start swinging the sledgehammer in April.

We Don’t Coast · Post by **We Don’t Coast** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:52 pm

Athomsfere wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:09 pm Seriously, how is DSM pulling this off before Omaha?

There seems to be the assumption this is a done deal. It isn’t. It’s still a proposal and has multiple hoops to clear if it were to ever get off the ground. Not to be a doubter, but this project has been in the grave for years and was literally recently resurrected. The timeline is ambitious and while I like the optimism of it, I have my doubts this will get pulled off. I hope it does. But I’m not holding my breath either. Like we always seem to say as it relates to proposals, we’ll see.

We Don’t Coast · Post by **We Don’t Coast** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:53 pm

NorthernGuy wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:50 pm I don’t think there has been anything quick about this project at all. Look at how many years it’s taken for them to finally get the 80% funding secured.

Hopefully they can finally pull this off and start swinging the sledgehammer in April.

I agree with you.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Fri Feb 24, 2023 10:40 am

We Don’t Coast wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:53 pm
NorthernGuy wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:50 pm I don’t think there has been anything quick about this project at all. Look at how many years it’s taken for them to finally get the 80% funding secured.

Hopefully they can finally pull this off and start swinging the sledgehammer in April.
I agree with you.

Right, very ambitious timeline, doubt it goes as planned.

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Thu Mar 02, 2023 11:25 am

Equipment is now on site ( inside the mall ) for what is believed to be used for geophysical testing of the area.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Fri Mar 03, 2023 8:17 am

NorthernGuy wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 11:25 am Equipment is now on site ( inside the mall ) for what is believed to be used for geophysical testing of the area.

Thanks for the update.

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 9:10 pm

New signage is now up where the skywalk has been closed off in preparation for the upcoming demo.

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 8:35 pm

Some of the beginning demolition work has now started on portions of the old mall.

We Don’t Coast · Post by **We Don’t Coast** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 10:54 pm

Interesting that I read in a recent Des Moines Register article that this high rise proposal has secured 85% of its funding and that any demo work won’t begin until financing is 100% secured. Folks even on the DSM Forum aren’t taking this proposal very seriously as it relates to it actually becoming official. It’s still a long way from becoming reality at this point based on what I’ve read.

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:04 am

Demo permit has been granted and issued by the City for the old mall.

More details to follow.

NorthernGuy · Post by **NorthernGuy** » Tue Jul 11, 2023 3:56 pm

Demo has officially started on the old mall.

Interior demo was already completed per the previous post. Now exterior demo has started today.

Developer is aiming to have all demo completed by September. Possible tower construction may start this Fall.

ewilliams27 · Post by **ewilliams27** » Wed Dec 18, 2024 4:05 pm

From Des Moines here, some ground work seems to be underway, no official announcement yet.

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:13 pm

It's exciting to see this one may actually be built after all the uncertainty the last couple years! Hope this starts to take off next year.

ShawJ · Post by **ShawJ** » Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:36 pm

Would love to see this building get vertical!

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 12:14 pm

https://councildocs.dsm.city/communicat ... 24-536.pdf

Permits in front of the DSM council

ewilliams27 · Post by **ewilliams27** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 5:30 pm

Tonights story on KCCI:

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 8:34 pm

Whoever made this map in this story? Yeesh.

CompSci99 · Post by **CompSci99** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:17 pm

Realistically, why is it that Des Moines is getting residential with this much height while all we get is 5-6 story apartment blocks?

Post by **Brad** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:58 pm

CompSci99 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:17 pm Realistically, why is it that Des Moines is getting residential with this much height while all we get is 5-6 story apartment blocks?

They get one building with height where we have a bunch with decent height:

Highline - 15 Floors
Duo - 16 Floors
FNBO old Tower - 22 Floors
The Wire - 11 Floors
The Beam - 16 floors
Orpheum - 16 Floors
Westbrook Tower - 17 Floors

We also have 3 decent sized condo buildings
1600 Farnam - 14 Floors
Riverfront Place 1 - 12 Floors
Riverfront Place 2 - 15 Floors

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 10:29 pm

I agree with what you said Brad, but Des Moines also has the 25 story, 340ft plaza residential building.

Wish Omaha would build something in that range 20-30 stories seems pretty doable, although like you mentioned with the Duo, Beam and First National buildings we are adding 1,250 apts and the building in Des Moines is only 336. With the Duo alone being more than double the Walnut tower.

CompSci99 · Post by **CompSci99** » Fri Dec 20, 2024 11:00 pm

Brad wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:58 pm
CompSci99 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:17 pm Realistically, why is it that Des Moines is getting residential with this much height while all we get is 5-6 story apartment blocks?
They get one building with height where we have a bunch with decent height:

Highline - 15 Floors
Duo - 16 Floors
FNBO old Tower - 22 Floors
The Wire - 11 Floors
The Beam - 16 floors
Orpheum - 16 Floors
Westbrook Tower - 17 Floors

We also have 3 decent sized condo buildings
1600 Farnam - 14 Floors
Riverfront Place 1 - 12 Floors
Riverfront Place 2 - 15 Floors

All decent sized buildings but their visibility isn't on par with the 515 tower. All those buildings are either obscured by other buildings or are bland/outdated looking, such as the old fbno tower. I think nustyle has done amazing things for downtown Omaha, but part of me wishes they would tear down the bland looking fbno tower abd replace it with a modern apartment tower, similar to 515 walnut.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Sat Dec 21, 2024 8:35 am

I think the last couple years of development momentum in Omaha are going to lead to a new build tower on this scale sooner or later. Even with this building, downtown Des Moines has had a rough couple of years from what I understand.

As for demolishing the Main Bank building, I don't see why they would do that when there is already a bevy of empty/underused lots downtown if they wanted to build new. Adaptive reuse is a good thing.

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Sat Dec 21, 2024 11:26 pm

I remember that old mall in Des Moines. I kinda miss it. Especially when it had some some foot traffic in the early 2010s, afterwards the old mall became peacefully quiet, very unreal. Back then not knowing as much about urbanism, I used to think that skywalks were the perfect solution for shielding from the weather elements.
Who knows what will happen to the long-term viability of the Des Moines skywalk system, because these past few years they've had to close the skywalk at 10pm, instead of the the 24 hours. They've had to deal with miscellaneous containers of body fluids and homeless in the skywalk system. Des Moines isn't the only skywalk city with this problem, other cities have had to scale down skywalk expansions or tearing them down, like Cincinnati.

Strongtowns published an observation of skywalks vs cities without skywalks.
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/6/27/skyways

Its a no brainer for Des Moines to connect this new 33 story development to the skywalk system; since they have a good investment in the skywalk system . Still, it remains to be seen if Des Moines has changed their strategy in reinvigorating its skywalks or sidewalks

CompSci99 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 11:00 pm All decent sized buildings but their visibility isn't on par with the 515 tower. All those buildings are either obscured by other buildings or are bland/outdated looking, such as the old fbno tower. I think nustyle has done amazing things for downtown Omaha, but part of me wishes they would tear down the bland looking fbno tower abd replace it with a modern apartment tower, similar to 515 walnut.

The 515 looks like a mid-century boxy tower, the design could be much better and I can see why they would be able to start in 2025 and finish it in 2027; the building has a basic look to it.

ewilliams27 · Post by **ewilliams27** » Mon Dec 23, 2024 6:38 pm

Approved! https://www.dsm.city/news_detail_T2_R975.php

Hopefully this rendering will be reality in 3 years!

CDixon · Post by **CDixon** » Mon Dec 23, 2024 6:51 pm

Des Moines' skyline has stayed the same since when, 1997? It'll be cool to see a neighbor's skyline grow.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Mon Dec 23, 2024 7:04 pm

CDixon wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2024 6:51 pm Des Moines' skyline has stayed the same since when, 1997? It'll be cool to see a neighbor's skyline grow.

This is a big deal for Des Moines, whose skyline had become stagnant after impressive skyline growth in the 80’s and 90’s. Look forward to watching it go up when I pass thru town.