Latest news with #DesMoinesCityCouncil
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
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Wells Fargo closing in on sale of downtown Des Moines campus, city documents show
Des Moines City Council is slated to terminate incentive agreements with Wells Fargo for properties that were formerly part of its downtown campus as the bank nears the sale of the complex to an unnamed buyer. Wells Fargo listed the four buildings and a parking garage for sale in early 2023 as it moved most of its downtown employees to its West Des Moines campus at 800 S Jordan Creek Parkway. It said in December it had a buyer lined up. But according to a memo to the council, that sale fell through and another buyer now is involved. The scheduled Monday, June 9, vote is to rescind development agreements with Wells Fargo for buildings at 800 and 801 Walnut St. and the parking garage at 800 Mulberry St. The buyer also is set to acquire buildings at 207 Ninth St. and 206 Eighth St. The pending sale comes after repeated rounds of layoffs at the bank, once the largest employer in the Des Moines metro, have removed some 1,200 positions from its employment rolls since April 2023. As it prepared to consolidate most operations at Jordan Creek, San Francisco-based Wells Fargo in July 2023 agreed to forgo $3.7 million in incentive payments for its downtown buildings through November 2028 that required it to maintain at least 900 employees downtown. Collectively, the five properties were valued at $100.12 million and contain more than 850,000 square feet of floor space, according to a memo sent to council members. The sale is expected to close in July, according to the memo. Though the buyer remains unnamed, an architecture firm in May filed plans to convert the 11-story 206 Eighth St. into a hotel and the three-story 207 Ninth St. into a spa and office building. Wells Fargo had previously indicated it intends to lease back some space to continue limited operations downtown, including its legal department. Wells Fargo's metro employment peaked 14,500 in 2017. The Greater Des Moines Partnership says it is now 'more than 11,000.' That's eclipsed by the 12,000-plus of the Hy-Vee supermarket chain, which has its headquarters in West Des Moines. Philip Joens covers retail and real estate for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184 or pjoens@ Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@ Follow her on X at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines City Council clearing way for sale of Wells Fargo buildings Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa Cubs Principal Park bullpens to be moved off playing field in new $1.3 million renovation
DES MOINES, Iowa — During Monday's Des Moines City Council meeting leaders at Principal Park were given the thumbs up to move forward with a $1.3 million renovation project. The changes include moving the home and visitor bullpens off the right and left field line and into new areas that will be built into the existing seating bowl. The changes adhere to the standard practice in new baseball stadiums in relocating the bullpens off of the playing field for safety reasons. The only issue was finding the space, and it ended up costing some seats. Triton Cheer makes state history with first All-Girls National Championship 'Now, removing the bullpens off of the field, in order to do that we had to take seats out and push the bullpens into the grandstand, we're going to eliminate about 700 seats. Any [ballpark] that is younger than us certainly has it pretty much in place, mostly in the outfield, we just don't have the luxury of doing that, so everything will have to be within the confines of the ballpark,' said Sam Bernabe, President and General Manager of the Iowa Cubs. Bernabe said despite the seats lost, there are still plenty of seats for fans, and the change even opens up bullpen-style premium seating for fan interaction. Bernabe says the plan is to have construction be done during the off season, and have the new bullpens ready to go for the start of the 2026 season. Metro News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Records expected to be broken at 16th annual Grand Blue Mile
DES MOINES, Iowa — Downtown Des Moines is gearing up for the 16th annual Grand Blue Mile. The Grand Blue Mile is part of the acclaimed Drake Relays, one of the most prestigious and historic track and field meets held every spring by Drake University. The relays were nicknamed America's Athletic Classic as a result of the range of participants. It was designed for everyone, from elite runners to families, and even walkers. The relays kicked off last weekend with the Drake Road Races. The Grand Blue Mile takes place on Tuesday in downtown Des Moines. The community fitness event was designed to promote wellness. The one-mile race has divisions for families, kids, recreational walkers and runners, and even elite athletes. How a class project revived St. Anthony's middle school track team Drake University's Blake Boldon is the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. He said around 3,000 people will participate in the 16th annual Grand Blue Mile. All participants receive a commemorative shirt and bib. Those who participated in the Drake Road Races as well can receive a Bulldog Double Medal. New this year is Spike's Sprint. This is a new youth event for children between the ages of two and 10. The event was named after Drake's mascot, Spike the bulldog. Children will participate in an age-based sprint with varying distances based on age. Each participant receives a bib and a finisher giveaway, plus a front row seat in the Mascot Madness race. In recent years, the Grand Blue Mile served as the USA Track & Field 1-Mile Championships. For the first time this year, the Grand Blue Mile will serve as a selection event for the 2025 World Road Running Championship. The top two finishers in the men's race and the top two finishers in the women's race will be automatically selected to represent Team USA at the World Championships later this year. 'Growing up here in Central Iowa, it really is magical to see a National Championship just in the shadow of our skyline, right here in the heart of our city and in the center of our state come to life every spring. So, it means a lot, not just for me but for our entire community,' said Boldon. Urbandale family seeks change in school child abuse investigations after their experience Just feet away from the finish line is the Honorary World Record Way. This is located on 13th Street between Grand Avenue and Locust Street. The Des Moines City Council approved the World Record Way following the performances by Nikki Hiltz and Sam Prakel at the 2023 Grand Blue Mile. They were the first-ever world records in the road mile. Organizers say they're expecting history to be made again this year. 'I'm going to make an early prediction that we'll see an American record here on the city streets of Des Moines tonight,' said Boldon. Roads will be closed throughout Downtown Des Moines because of the Grand Blue Mile. The closures start as early as 9 a.m. and go as late as 11 p.m. They are mainly between Grand Avenue and Locust Street, from as far east as 6th Avenue to as far west as 15th Street. Aside from getting the chance to watch history take place, there will also be family-friendly activities like a bounce house, face painting, balloon animals, and a DJ. Records expected to be broken at 16th annual Grand Blue Mile Ames teen with gun arrested in Des Moines carjacking How a class project revived St. Anthony's middle school track team Pleasant Hill family reminisce on meeting Pope Francis twice Des Moines shooting leaves one seriously injured Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
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Des Moines City Council approves changes to Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines City Council on Monday voted to approve changes to the Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project. In 2021 the mall and the Des Moines Buccaneers announced a multi-million-dollar project to build a 3,500-seat ice hockey arena that leaders hoped would rejuvenate the surrounding area. But in July, roughly two years after the project broke ground, the Buccaneers pulled out of the project citing its cost and contractual issues. Cooper DeJean, teammates to compete in charity softball game at Principal Park After nearly a year of the project being stalled, the mall announced that it would go on with the project with a few changes and new tenants. According to mall leaders, the plans now include just one sheet of ice, sports courts, and pickleball courts. Those who would use the multi-use space would include the Drake Hockey Team, Iowa Demon Hawks, and others. In order to continue with the project, the Des Moines City Council and Urbandale City Council have to approve the amended project application for state funding. The project jumped through one of those hurdles on Monday with the Des Moines City Council's stamp of approval. The Urbandale City Council is expected to vote on the amendment on April 15. Metro News: Des Moines City Council approves changes to Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project Ankeny police requests help locating missing teen 1 dog killed in Ankeny house fire Monday Drake welcomes new men's basketball coach Eric Henderson Renaissance Faire returns to Ames next weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
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Prominent Des Moines hotel could begin an important new chapter
DES MOINES, Iowa — One of Des Moines' most visible buildings is in line for a whole new life. 'It came on our radar in September,' says Emily Osweiler of Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, 'and so we went for a tour and it seemed like perfect fit.' She's talking about the downtown Holiday Inn. It has sat perched over I-235 for decades, but has long since fallen out of favor as an upscale hotel. In fact, its underground parking area is in such disrepair it can't be used. But this week, the Des Moines City Council agreed to contribute up to $5 million in HUD grants toward the purchase of the property, and housing advocates see it as a small but desperately-needed step toward addressing one of the city's biggest needs. Metro marathon man joins elusive 50/50/50 club Matt Hauge of the Polk County Housing Trust Fund says the building's size will allow it to provide tenants with more than just affordable shelter. 'It's not every day that we have the opportunity to combine housing, plus the opportunity for needed support services all in one venue and check off 160 units that we know are really needed here in Greater Des Moines,' he says. Osweiler says services located in the lobby will be aimed at helping all tenants — from those who are just off the streets, to those who simply need to build enough savings to move into market-rate housing. 'Case management, rental assistance, food pantry, groups and classes,' she says, 'so all kinds of ways to support people kind of in different aspects of their lives.' While Osweiler's group has secured the necessary $8.75 million to purchase the property, it will need to locate another $25 million in public and private funds for building renovations before any work might actually begin. Metro News: Broadlawns Medical Center removes barriers to healthcare employment through TECH & TEACH apprenticeship Healthcare workers demand UnityPoint cease anti-union actions Prominent Des Moines hotel could begin an important new chapter How will Trump's auto tariffs affect car prices? Iowa Cubs ready for Opening Day Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
