Hampton Inn, South of Court

[Mototail]

So what's going on with this project?

[PlatonKarataev]

So what's going on with this project?

Skinny says it's dead a couple of weeks ago...I'm not one to argue with Skinny.

[wildbill]

The Register ran an article about it a few weeks ago. It reads funny, but it sounds like there was come cold feet from both the City Council and the developer.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... 9909100349

[Mototail]

Yea, the article leaves me scratching my head. Seems like a lot of half-truths being pushed by the developer if he backed out that quickly. Since the guy that owned the property would pay for the survey of the land. Do you think the city did anything they shouldn't have? I'm reading between the lines and saying the city might have given him the run-around because they had doubts about his experience???

[hawk61401]

The decision followed a July 27 City Council meeting in which city leaders, who had been asked to vacate an alley through the property, instead referred the matter back to City Manager Rick Clark so he could "report the historical information about this property."

the failure of this development to move forward in no way diminishes the desirability or development potential of this site."

ok, city council, get your ducks in a row. Mr Clark?, get the historical information report submitted. Sooooo, when the next developer comes along, Des Moines will be ready to move with the least hassles and complications.

[DMRyan]

I see that one of the buildings that would've been slated for demolition for this hotel has become a prop for one of the movie that's being filmed. The building has bars over the window and a sign up that says "Pawn Shop."

I haven't heard anything else about this project since the articles in the newspaper either.

[Mototail]

Hey, wait, I have an idea that they should make it mandatory for all historical properties to file papers when they are posted to sell. Get the studies done before they sell and clear the way so the "sale" isn't done in a futile manner.

[DMRyan]

There's no news to share on this dead project, but I wanted to start documenting some of the last of the remaining 1870's era commercial building stock left in downtown. Consequently, I forgot to photograph the Northwestern Hotel site where this Hampton Inn hotel was once proposed, but I did get the next block over. All of these buildings (most of which are now empty) could be gone without much notice as holding spots for future development. I won't shed a tear over the demo of the buildings for a higher intensity use in the future, but I just don't think they should be cleared out for 5-10 years to serve as weed filled interim parking lots until the economy can support the redevelopment of the sites. There is also a newer metal building on the block that is not historic in nature.

Here's demo candidate #1, which I've heard may have some structural wall issues.








This taller building is still in use and is hidden by a mish mash of new industrial looking additions along 2nd Avenue and Market Street, but would need to come down for the full redevelopment of the block.


I'll try to get some shots of the Northwest Hotel building in the future.

[dogbo]

A total shame (or at least missed opportunity) IMO if we can't rehab buildings like these while at the same time building new structures nearby.

[Mastermind]

Isn't this prime waterfront development? Let the 2 story fall for sure. I don't know abou tthe taller building.

[dogbo]

Isn't this prime waterfront development? Let the 2 story fall for sure. I don't know abou tthe taller building.

No, none of these are on the riverfront and I would agree. , the old structures that currently reside on the riverfront are all expendable (just to make it clear I'm not simply an "old building hugger").

[Mastermind]

Sorry, didnt read the addresses. I still think 2nd Ave has more to offer than that 2 story with prossible structural deficiencies.

[urbanlawyer]

Allow me to offer another perspective. One of the things that differentiates Des Moines from the suburbs is its stock of old buildings. I'm not going to say that all old buildings should be saved, but it seems to be that this area could provide a logical extension of Court Ave. to the ballpark: Little Wrigleyville. The two buildings pictured are perfect for some type of creative entertainment or restaurant use. They are near Sec Taylor and adjacent to El Bait Shop/High Life. I'm all in favor of additional hotel/motel space, but the idea of a mid-range hotel/motel on the site doesn't excite me. By demolishing the structures we would be taking what I consider to be our competitive advantage -- unique older building stock -- and replacing them with a structure that can be found in Anytown, USA. We need to aim higher.

[dogbo]

Allow me to offer another perspective. One of the things that differentiates Des Moines from the suburbs is its stock of old buildings. I'm not going to say that all old buildings should be saved, but it seems to be that this area could provide a logical extension of Court Ave. to the ballpark: Little Wrigleyville. The two buildings pictured are perfect for some type of creative entertainment or restaurant use. They are near Sec Taylor and adjacent to El Bait Shop/High Life. I'm all in favor of additional hotel/motel space, but the idea of a mid-range hotel/motel on the site doesn't excite me. By demolishing the structures we would be taking what I consider to be our competitive advantage -- unique older building stock -- and replacing them with a structure that can be found in Anytown, USA. We need to aim higher.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[TimBungert]

A bit of history on that red brick 2-story building:

The last owner was the Des Moines Iron Company. They moved out in May 2010. The building was originally built as a three-story building in 1878, and was one of Des Moines's earliest hotels downtown. The hotel owner, William Zinsmaster, closed the hotel in 1891 due to lack of business. When visitors to DSM arrived on the train at the Rock Island Depot, they would typically exit to the north. With the train and tracks blocking their path to the south, most people went north to the Kirkwood, Randolph, and the other hotels on "Hotel Row".

After closing the hotel, Zinsmaster opened the Des Moines Bakery in the same building. The wholesale bakery occupied the building until 1940, when a large fire damaged the building and required the removal of the entire third floor.

As other posters have mentioned, the building does appear to have some major structural problems. Though some of the original detailing remains, large sections of the brick bearing walls have bowed, spalled, and shifted noticeably over the years.

I like the idea of the "Little Wrigleyville" for this section of downtown, and I think a well-designed hotel could contribute to that. I would hate to see another gray EIFS-clad eyesore like the Embassy Suites across the river.

[DMRyan]

The Embassy Suites looks pretty cherry compared to the Hampton Inn that was proposed...

Thanks for the history Tim, an interesting read.

[Ingersoll1978]

According to the Business Record, the Hampton Inn and Suites proposal is alive. Hawkeye Hotels of Burlington is proposing a $12 million, 5-story, 128 room Hampton Inn and Suites. It will be situated in the same spot as the last proposal (and with an additional floor).

[DMRyan]

Here are other suitable urban Hampton Inn properties found by doing a quick web search. Anything less for Des Moines on this important riverfront location would be catering to the fiscal whims of a developer and cheering on the project just for the sake of getting development during a down period. There are dozens of other loctations around downtown for less urban, prototypical hotel architecture.

Also, I see plenty of examples of converting historical buildings to Hampton Inns in other downtowns. The Des Moines Building awaits the call.

Nashville:


Omaha:


Greenville (in fairness, this is part of a larger development project):


Columbia, SC:


Columbus, Ohio:


Mobile, AL


Gainesville, FL:


Buffalo, NY:





NO!!


Perhaps closer to what we'll end up getting in scale?

[dogbo]

Here's the Business Record article. Either my compreshension skills are lacking or this is poorly written. The article is about flattening the Iron Works building and putting up a hotel on the river front. Welll....this wouldn't be on the river front. Also, why wouldn't he be flattening the properties on the river front first? Also, senior housing across the street from El Bait Shop/HLL and a couple blocks from the noisy Court District? Seems like an odd location.

Second chance for a riverfront hotelBY TODD RAZOR
Hawkeye Hotels Inc. has picked up where a Michigan-based developer left off and plans to construct a 128-room Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton on the west bank of the Des Moines River.

Operating as Waterfront Lodging Inc., Burlington-based Hawkeye Hotels said it has a purchase agreement with Riverfront Associates LP, an ownership group managed by Frank Levy of Newbury Management Co., to acquire three parcels at 101 and 121 S.W. Second St. and 114 Water St.

Hundreds of new hotel rooms are being planned in Greater Des Moines as the economy recovers and developers work to acquire commercial land on which to construct nationally branded lodging facilities.

On Feb. 9, John McRoberts, who owns three properties across the street and to the west of the proposed hotel, began overseeing the demolition of the nearly 125-year-old Des Moines Iron & Supply Co. building at 123 S.W. Third St.

Link to full article:
http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... leID=12284

[DMRyan]

The article meshes between the two adjacent blocks (Hampton Inn site and Iron Works block). With the exception of an alley, the Hampton Inn block is all accumulated under the same property owner. The Iron Works block has three of the four quandrants under common ownership. Personally, I'm rooting for Sherman and Associates to end up hopefully purchasing the entire Iron Works block if it can be acquired, and doing what they do best.

I think mention of senior housing is throwing anything at the wall that sticks in this economy, particularly since senior housing tax credit projects are quite common.

[BenRoethig]

Where's that last hamtpton from?

[Des Moineser]

The URL said Schenectady, NY.

[hawk61401]

Well, I'm pretty impressed. If Hawkeye Hotels is good enough to build on the San Antonio Riverwalk, they should be good enough to build a hotel near the Des Moines Riverwalk. The Holiday Inn Express Riverwalk: http://www.holidayexpressriverwalk.com/ ... hotel.aspx

I have never heard of Hawkeye Hotels before and was a little leery, hoping that their expertise was more and beyond something built in Ottumwa or Keokuk. What does a 12 million dollar hotel look like? In San Francisco or Indianapolis it's a renovation. McAllen, Texas is also building a 5 story, 12 million dollar Hampton Inn but no pics yet.

[DMRyan]

This project is still very much alive, and I think many will be pleased with the results of the latest version. While the design is still somewhat protypical for their urban locations (as the photos above would indicate), it's come quite a ways from the first rendition. The architectural design isn't complete yet, but I'm just happy to hear that we have a developer that is still committed to the site even after fairly extensive overhauls were suggested.

Hopefully, this hotel and the Riverpoint West hotels can all get going this year or next spring. Now if only the Hilton renovation of the Hotel Fort Des Moines could come back around...

[dogbo]

I'm confused about the potential location. Is it no longer proposed to be just south of Waterstreet Lofts (and north of Browncamp Lofts)? I ask because the building that was taken down is one block to the west . Maybe I'm confusing two different developers/developments?

[DMRyan]

There's nothing serious proposed for the block where the building recently came down other than an interim parking lot. This is still slated for the same block along the riverfront.

[Cyclonefan]

Drove past this area yesterday. The lot where the iron works building came down (123 sw 3rd) has flags and markers up as if something is about to be built.

[DMRyan]

Here's an early, conceptual first crack at the Hampton Inn proposal for the riverfront, which recently appeared before the City's Urban Design Review Board. Things are still slowly moving along for a 2012 construction date, financing and approvals pending.

[dogbo]

Not bad. Hope things keep moving forward!

[dogbo]

Looking at this rendering again and comparing to the actual pictures of Hampton Inn's in various cities (above) , I would say this looks to be a mirror image of the one in Nashville.