Large Downtown DSM Developments

[Exurban123]

Hello EOmaha forums. I am from Des Moines, and recently spent a week in Omaha and I was really intrigued with some of the development projects you have going on, so I googled to see what was up and I found this forum. This is a great user generated source of development information, and for those that don't know there is a Des Moines version called UrbanDSM.com. I wish I would have known more about the backstory of Omaha so I knew what to look out for when I was there.

With that said for those of you who are headed to Des Moines soon here are some major projects to be on the lookout for if you come:
1) Market District City Property Redevelopment: Large redevelopment of 40-acer former city maintenance facilities with over $750 Million worth of development planned. The infrastructure work is occurring right now with the first buildings expected to begin construction next spring. https://www.marketdistrictdm.com/

Current Rendering:


2) Greys Station: 75 acre development downtown with over 1,100+ housing unites planned along with retail just across the river from Greys Lake Park. The development is expected to cost $250+ Million. Phase 1 is over halfway finished and infrastructure is being built to start phase II.

Current Plans:


3) Pro Iowa Stadium District/ Western Gateway: $535 Million redevelopment of a former EPA superfund site, and a neglected couple blocks of land on the west side of downtown into a major entertainment district including a professional soccer team, a 2nd major downtown grocery store, apartments, retail, office space, and a festival plaza. This redevelopment will replace an area known as an environmental disaster into the site of a professional sports team.

Stadium District:


Western Gateway:


There are other developments going on downtown and throughout the metro, but IMO these are the most interesting to see.

[ita]

Hello EOmaha forums. I am from Des Moines, and recently spent a week in Omaha and I was really intrigued with some of the development projects you have going on, so I googled to see what was up and I found this forum. This is a great user generated source of development information, and for those that don't know there is a Des Moines version called UrbanDSM.com. I wish I would have known more about the backstory of Omaha so I knew what to look out for when I was there.

With that said for those of you who are headed to Des Moines soon here are some major projects to be on the lookout for if you come:
1) Market District City Property Redevelopment: Large redevelopment of 40-acer former city maintenance facilities with over $750 Million worth of development planned. The infrastructure work is occurring right now with the first buildings expected to begin construction next spring. https://www.marketdistrictdm.com/

Current Rendering:


2) Greys Station: 75 acre development downtown with over 1,100+ housing unites planned along with retail just across the river from Greys Lake Park. The development is expected to cost $250+ Million. Phase 1 is over halfway finished and infrastructure is being built to start phase II.

Current Plans:


3) Pro Iowa Stadium District/ Western Gateway: $535 Million redevelopment of a former EPA superfund site, and a neglected couple blocks of land on the west side of downtown into a major entertainment district including a professional soccer team, a 2nd major downtown grocery store, apartments, retail, office space, and a festival plaza. This redevelopment will replace an area known as an environmental disaster into the site of a professional sports team.

Stadium District:


Western Gateway:


There are other developments going on downtown and throughout the metro, but IMO these are the most interesting to see.

These are awesome. I especially like the market district. There are no similar sized development sites in downtown proper. Millwork Commons is about 50 acres, but I can't think of another area that approach the size of these projects. I think the Mercantile is about 20 acres. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

[Renovator2559]

In addition to the Market District being prepared in Des Moines. The area known as 'South Dowtown' or Gray's Landing in Des Moines, is currently experiencing building activity. In combination, these 3 adjacent "new" neighborhoods in South Downtown Des Moines, will greatly expand the pedestrian area of Des Moines.

The Principal ballpark is at the crux of the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers; in the perfect spot as the dividing line between the Market District and South Downtown.



The west side of south downtown is currently being prepared for development



This is the currently developed area in 'South Downtown'. This area resembles the Council Bluffs River's Edge development but at a much bigger scale and density, with nice bike paths as its feature. I wish I could have taken more pictures of this neighborhood but this neighborhood looks very new and most of the 4 story apartment buildings share the same design language,
giving this area a very uniform look . This area feels large, and surrounded by "wall to wall" density of multiple blocks that give the area a 'large city' vibe. These apartment complexes are mixed use as well, with stores and clinics on the first floors.








Gray's Station Landing announcements
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... 186553007/
Condos are being sold as soon as they are available

This is the edge of the current development, however the current state of the west "South Dowtown" development called Gray's Station, it looks like this:





Looks like Des Moines is taking the hint of the market in building condos, looks like some nice 'boutique' condos are being built in this area as well.





The land may not have construction on some plots but the signs that the land will be developed soon, are there.



Overall, I get the impression that these neighborhoods will bring a lot of promise to downtown Des Moines. There is so much density being implemented in these 3 neighborhoods that are in the construction phase. They are also including very nice features like multi-tone sidewalks and separated bike trails.
These neighborhoods already feel impressive because the laid out streetscape looks impressive and well thought out. I can't wait to visit these neighborhoods in the future when they are developed, especially with all the pedestrian activity that they will bring!

Here in Omaha, there are points we can learn from our neighbor, as they are doing some good things in terms of density and streetscape design. It is also apparent that the Des Moines condo market is selling like hotcakes and it would be wise for Omaha not to overlook condo buyers.

Here is the portion of the Market District visit on the same trip of April, 2025:
https://eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=24177

[PotatoeEatsFish]

I hope Omaha continues to overlook condos because we don’t even have enough apartments yet. I would much rather have real workers downtown than someone retired with a ton of money but doesn’t spend it or someone who just goes to meetings all day on Zoom.

[ZachJo]

The last piece of funding for the stadium is now in place and sounds like late next year they’ll be able to start construction. Also another piece of the story is they expanded the reinvestment district to include the market district. Sounds like if the state votes to provide IEDA funding for the parking garage in the market district, development will happen faster. There’s already a couple projects introduced, but the stakeholders brought up plan’s from other developers waiting for the parking garage before they introduce the plans to the public. Overall a good sign for both the Dico site, western gateway, and now market district to fully complete the open spaces around the core.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... 622964007/

[omaha79]

The last piece of funding for the stadium is now in place and sounds like late next year they’ll be able to start construction. Also another piece of the story is they expanded the reinvestment district to include the market district. Sounds like if the state votes to provide IEDA funding for the parking garage in the market district, development will happen faster. There’s already a couple projects introduced, but the stakeholders brought up plan’s from other developers waiting for the parking garage before they introduce the plans to the public. Overall a good sign for both the Dico site, western gateway, and now market district to fully complete the open spaces around the core.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... 622964007/

The Des Moines soccer stadium has been canceled. Cost overruns on the site remediation, city budget crisis. Could start back up at a later date, or if the owner of the team is willing to pitch in more, but looks like this is dead. Another reason I'm chomping at the bit to see the Omaha stadium actually start...

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... a-ds=sophi

[Greg S]

The last piece of funding for the stadium is now in place and sounds like late next year they’ll be able to start construction. Also another piece of the story is they expanded the reinvestment district to include the market district. Sounds like if the state votes to provide IEDA funding for the parking garage in the market district, development will happen faster. There’s already a couple projects introduced, but the stakeholders brought up plan’s from other developers waiting for the parking garage before they introduce the plans to the public. Overall a good sign for both the Dico site, western gateway, and now market district to fully complete the open spaces around the core.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... 622964007/

The Des Moines soccer stadium has been canceled. Cost overruns on the site remediation, city budget crisis. Could start back up at a later date, or if the owner of the team is willing to pitch in more, but looks like this is dead. Another reason I'm chomping at the bit to see the Omaha stadium actually start...

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... a-ds=sophi

Des Moines and Omaha are so different. It's very beneficial that Nebraska has the annexation laws they do.

[CrankyOldDude]

As I understand it the stadium was the idea of the family that owned Kum & Go. They sold it to Maverick and the KG family now has a thing for Italy and Italian business ventures. It happens. The original members of the family start the company, it grows and ultimately becomes valuable, they get an offer, makes them filty rich. I have to problem with taking advantage of hard work to sell out. Des Moines may suffer the consequences but everyone has different priorities. The convenience store industry is changing and becoming more competitive. Profits are razor thin. In the end the KG people decided to move on to other things.

[omaha79]

As I understand it the stadium was the idea of the family that owned Kum & Go. They sold it to Maverick and the KG family now has a thing for Italy and Italian business ventures. It happens. The original members of the family start the company, it grows and ultimately becomes valuable, they get an offer, makes them filty rich. I have to problem with taking advantage of hard work to sell out. Des Moines may suffer the consequences but everyone has different priorities. The convenience store industry is changing and becoming more competitive. Profits are razor thin. In the end the KG people decided to move on to other things.

yes, but as a soccer podcast I listen to said: they have the money. If DSM was actually a priority for the ownership group, they could fund the overrun. That's just a symptom of the bigger issue. team wants a stadium, but city has budget shortage and finds out the land needs more remediation, but owners won't pony up a penny more. frustrating and the fans and citizens suffer.

[Greg S]

As I understand it the stadium was the idea of the family that owned Kum & Go. They sold it to Maverick and the KG family now has a thing for Italy and Italian business ventures. It happens. The original members of the family start the company, it grows and ultimately becomes valuable, they get an offer, makes them filty rich. I have to problem with taking advantage of hard work to sell out. Des Moines may suffer the consequences but everyone has different priorities. The convenience store industry is changing and becoming more competitive. Profits are razor thin. In the end the KG people decided to move on to other things.

Everything I am seeing on this online shows the city of Des Moines pulled the plug due to budget issues, including losing $12 million from the state of Iowa. Both Des Moines and the state of Iowa seem to have some serious budget issues.

https://www.kcci.com/article/des-moines ... s/73533253

[ZachJo]

Heart of America just released the renderings for their new hq for when they officially move all their hq to Downtown Des Moines. Looks like they’ll close down a block of road for a new park/plaza that they’ll fund.

https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/ ... des-moines

[BRoss]

Heart of America just released the renderings for their new hq for when they officially move all their hq to Downtown Des Moines.

That's interesting, is it just steel beams and windows for the exterior?

[ZachJo]

It’s a mass timber building so I’m not sure if there’ll be steel on the exterior.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

This looks familiar. Wasn't there a very similar looking building proposed near Heartland of America Park at one point?

[BRoss]

It’s a mass timber building so I’m not sure if there’ll be steel on the exterior.

Ah gotcha, it was looking like steel beams to me in the picture.

[Garrett]

It’s a mass timber building so I’m not sure if there’ll be steel on the exterior.

Ah gotcha, it was looking like steel beams to me in the picture.

A building can be mass timber and still use steel beams for a curtain facade. Those are pretty steel looking exteriors.

[Linkin5]

This looks familiar. Wasn't there a very similar looking building proposed near Heartland of America Park at one point?

Yes the T3 building was proposed in Omaha, not sure of the status.