Court Avenue Development Efforts

[dogbo]

I thought the city council would have voted on the latest Hubbell/Bookey plan by now. Am I wrong?

[dmluvr]

so what happen on this?? I thought this was being voted on this week??

[dogbo]

I went to the "Mayor's Forum" sponsored by YPC last night. Nothing too exciting, but I did talk one-on-one with Mayor Cownie afterwards and asked him about the Court Ave Bookey/Hubbell deal and why it wasn't addressed at the last council meeting. He told me that it was pulled from the agenda and he speculated that the developers had probably done some preemptive "vote counting" and realized that this would get shot down if presented with the latest revisions.

[dmluvr]

well hell yeah---, the city needs to straight up say build the original concept or buh bye.

the time has come, these local developers need heed the signal---step up or step out.

[iadm]

What, have the esteemed hubbell name leave the downtown????? I think we know what the answer should be

[Ingersoll1978]

That's good news! Hubbell knows the outcome if they can't do what they promised.

[Ingersoll1978]

More news about this from WHOTV. Great news that the Spaghetti Works building is going to apartments with construction beginning in September.

You can watch the video by clicking the link:

http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3660385

Court Avenue Redevelopment

Des Moines, July 29, 2005 -Its been talked about, debated and redesigned dozens of times over the years, b ut now redevelopment of Court Avenue is really going to happen. The Spaghetti Works building is in for some very big changes and two new buildings will take the place of a parking lot.

Hubbell Realty has struck a deal with the city of Des Moines. If the council approves it, a cluster of condos and apartments will crop up on the empty block. "I ts been a long drawn-out process, but we're making it happen...I'm just happy we're at this point. Finally" says acting city manager, Rick Clark. He says Hubbell's original plan ran into financial snags, but now it is a promising boost for downtown.

The city council is expected to vote on the plan on August 8. The president and CEO of Hubbell Realty says i f the council approves the plan, renovations on the Spaghetti Works building will get started in September. Co nstruction of the other two buildings will start in February. If all goes according to plan, folks will be moving in by February of 2007.

[DMRyan]

This is crazy. It's hard to get that excited about all of this with a track record like this project has had. Even if the city approves the new agreement, I would skeptical that it would actually happen until the steel goes up.

I'm anxious to see the agreement the developer and the city worked out this time. I assuming the city put an end to the rowhomes, and went with something denser.

[DMRyan]

What a frustrating ride this is. Check out the latest plans to come before the city this time. Much better than the last version, but we'll still be waiting on this project receiving more tax credits.

From the DSM Business Record:

Previous Court Avenue plan revived

A development team headed by Jim Hubbell and Harry Bookey wants to scrap its most recent proposal for redeveloping Court Avenue and go back to the plan it proposed last fall.
That plan calls for an apartment building and a condominium building on Fourth Street south of Court Avenue along with the addition of apartments in the Spaghetti Works building. Underground and surface parking also would be included. The total cost is pegged at $31.3 million. The city of Des Moines would contribute $3.9 million for the new construction and $2.2 million for the Spaghetti Works project. The developers said they would reapply for tax credits for the apartment building in September and apply this week for additional tax credits for the Spaghetti Works project.

The city is also being asked to provide 50 parking spaces for 40 years, improve the Court Avenue streetscape and enter into negotiations with Bookey and restaurateur Paul Rottenberg for an assistance package for a proposed Latin restaurant in the area.

[Ingersoll1978]

My god. The city needs to say enough is enough.

[Young DSM Social Club]

What a waste --- drops them ASAP!

[mistertwister]

With everything else in the works downtown, I think its time the Des Moines City council takes a hardline with this project and demand only the best and that developers plans not rely on public assistance to come to fruition. I'm sure some developer will recognize what a great opportunity awaits on Court Avenue and would be willing to invest in the area.

Time to look beyond the locals and find the vision and capital needed to really make Court Avenue into the kind of destination we all know it can become.

[dmluvr]

Amen you guys, you all said it very well.

I still have no idea why the city is still wasting their time on this lack of producer's. They can make every exuse in the book they want, but the reality is, the time has come--make it happen, or make way for those that will.

[DMRyan]

This is asking for a lot from the city, but I just want to see something of the appropriate scale built down there, regardless at this point. This is a much better proposal than the one the developers were bringing in front of the council a few weeks back, especially with the inclusion of this Latin themed restaurant being added once again.

I was amazed to see that they still need more assistance with the Spaghetti Works renovation. I thought it was to start this September, but it may be pushed back once again.

I have a feeling that this is the last chance for these developers to get something built before the city pulls the plug, or the developers cancel the project. One thing is for sure, nothing is a constant or a given on Court Ave.

[dogbo]

especially with the inclusion of this Latin themed restaurant being added once again.

Do we need another Latin restaurant in town to compete with the Latin King?

[DMRyan]

I guess I was thinking this was the Latin themed nightclub/restaurant that would play Salsa music and like, and feature food more along the lines of Cuban/Spanish food.

[dogbo]

Ryan buddy. I was just joking!

I see the Latin King as very Italian...not Latin in the sense that the Bookey/Hubbell project is talking. Sorry 'bout that.

[dmluvr]

You should be sorry dogbo---you bastard!!!

[DMRyan]

The city has submitted a request for developer interest in the parcel of property fronting Court Avenue that has seen talk of a hotel recently. At least one developer will step forward with interest in developing the property into a mixed use hotel, residential, and retail/entertainment component (announced at tonight's council meeting). Just what everyone has wanted, a new developer to step up to the plate!




Also, if this, or the Bookey-Hubbell projects actually start construction, look for new streetscape improvements to take place on much of Court Avenue. Court Avenue could be reversed to a two-way street again as soon as next year.

[dogbo]

I'm wondering if the Royal Mile/Hessan Haus guys aren't preparing to open yet another bar. I saw one of their guys working on a spot on 4th street the other day and now I noticed in the City Council minutes from Monday that a Class E liquor license was approved for:

4th St. Supply Co., 204 4th Street, Suite 101

This is the small store front space in the old Randolph Hotel (just north of the main lobby entrance). If you know the spot, you're aware that it is very small and has housed several short term business (clothing store, record/dj shop) as of late. It will be interesting to see what becomes of this. It will definitely be cozy as the spot is even smaller then The Red Monk.

Has anyone heard anything about this?

[NOG's Wife]

I haven't heard anything about that, but it's exciting to know something is being done with the space.

Any word on when those guys will be opening up the other half of the High Life Lounge building? Originally, I heard it was going to be a BBQ-themed bar. But, I was talking to a bartender at the Royal Mile a couple months ago, and he said they're thinking of turning it into a bar that specializes in microbrews from around the country. I don't know how much validity there is in what he said, but I like the idea.

[dmluvr]

..........someone is gettting hooked on absolutedsm.com----naughty naughy


This is exciting to see--let's just see what the dmryanster has to post tomorrow

[DMRyan]

There's another half to the High Life? Before the details were really announced, I always thought the High Life was to be a bluesy/bbq joint.

Hopefully that little spot at the bottom of the Randolph Hotel becomes something nice that lasts more than a few months. Retailers haven't had the best of luck with that little storefront. I'd like to think that once (if?) things pop on Court Avenue, a renovation of the entire Randolph Hotel wouldn't be soon behind.

[NOG's Wife]

There's another half to the High Life?

The west half of the building currently isn't in use. They're supposed to open it into a new bar one of these days. Sometimes you can kind of see inside through a small window on the north side of the building. It's by the wheelchair ramp.

[Ingersoll1978]

Found some rendering of the Spaghetti Works building on GE Wattier Architects website:

Backside facing north:


Looking east on Court Ave:

Floorplan:

[dmluvr]

5 story Phase II building???
and yeah---it's look like they aren't doing much with the spegetti works building.

And why is the city still working with these developers still?


Court Ave just wont' live up to it's full potential--ever--with the way the current plans are--or lack there of.

[DMRyan]

What are you freaking out about? Plans to renovate a glorified historic pidgeon roost are moving forward. I don't what they're supposed to do with the Spaghetti Works building, being that is historic and all. New balconies and windows, with a little brick tuckpointing will go along ways towards making this building looks much nicer. There will be 51+ new apartments in this building alone.

I'm skeptical of the development team selected on Court Avenue, just like everyone else, but this Spaghetti Works project is happening, and just what Court Avenue could use IMO.

[Ingersoll1978]

They will get the Spaghetti Works building done. The other building...who knows???

[dmluvr]

oh dmryan---well, let me be the one to call it like it is. A tragedy. This courtave deal is bunk and we all know it. The city knows it(but doesn't have the balls to do anything about it) Yes, I agree that there really wasn't much to be done with Spagetti works buildings--new windows and actuall life being there will be nice. But what's up with the old nacho moma's?? Damn it--that thing has been vacant for over 2 years!!! That's sick!

and then--what's with this phase II B.S. When--I just want to know--when are we going to dump these cornfield cookie cutter developers for downtown projects???


Just thank god we have other parts of downtown that are going better.

[Young DSM Social Club]

I think the Spaghetti Works project looks just fine --- and looks to be what it should be.

I'd dump them for everything else.