South DSM, Norwalk, Indianola, Carlisle Development Thread

[DMRyan]

HP took over the EDS facility on Relocated Army Post Road, so they already have a decent presence here. This logistics center (distribution and small office) is proposed on the land just to the east of their existing facility in the Airport Business Park.

[DMRyan]

The Business Record discusses a long term vision plan to give Des Moines' smallest suburb a road map for the future. Tiny little Cumming, Iowa, population 351 people, is now a contigious suburb, has doubled their small population over the past few years and is now poised for even more growth being located right on the southernmost I-35 interchange within the immediate DSM metro.

Should be interesting to watch this little railroad whistle-stop, once surrounded apple orchards, develop and grow an identify over the next couple of decades. It makes me wonder how a city this small could afford to pay for some of the services needed to serve a rapidly growing new population, particularly if commercial growth doesn't take off around the interchange. It wasn't that long ago that places like Grimes, Bondurant and Pleasant Hill were specks on a map with 2,000 or so residents, but look now.



Article:
http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... M=37557.86

[DMRyan]

A few projects worth noting on the South side:

Christ the King's new senior apartments at SW 9th Street and Porter Avenue




More senior housing on Army Post Road, with the Fort Des Moines Assisted Living project




The new Hewlett Packard Logistics Facility down in the Airport Business Parks


And finally, work has begun getting the site ready for the Fred Maytag Scouting Center, getting built on SW 63rd Street, just south of Loffredo Produce

[DMRyan]

The Hardee's Restaurant at SW 9th and Army Post Road will be torn down and rebuilt with their new prototype later this fall. Now, if development could only happen on the mess that sits on the corner across the street to the east too...

[wmjindsm]

The Hardee's Restaurant at SW 9th and Army Post Road will be torn down and rebuilt with their new prototype later this fall.

Do you know if it will be the same as the new one on Euclid? That's a nice building. Wonder if the franchisee would put in a Red Burrito too (Companion to Hardees)?

http://www.hardees.com/redburrito/menu/burritos

[dogbo]

Sidebar: Now that Hardees has turned things around, I keep half expecting them to go back to some of the locations they've abandoned in the metro in the past. Not necessarily the same buildings, but same areas. Haven't really seen any sign of that, though.

[wmjindsm]

I thought they could get the same spot they were in on Merle Hay Road since the land is available. New building of course.

[Braniff]

With the new plans for SouthRidge Mall--converting parts of it into a practice field for indoor football/soccer if I'm not mistaken and another part into a DMACC campus, what is the current planning for the part of Des Moines which includes SouthRidge, the Blank Park Zoo and nearby areas. If there was any sort of comprehensive planning going on, has it been revised? What are the current long-range goals? All of these have potential--or do they?

[DMRyan]

Here's a link to access the adopted paln for the Superblock.

I would say most things in this plan are fluid, so I wouldn't look for a water park for example to be something that's remotely a realistic proposal. There are some good ideas for the Fort Des Moines Park and reuse of the old Fort Des Moines that could have merit with the right funding and leadership.

http://www.dmgov.org/Departments/Parks/ ... erPlan.pdf

[Jmmt59]

What is going on in Norwalk on the east side of Hwy 28? The main entrance to the Legacy Development has now been extended east quite a ways. It looks like possibly it is preparing for industrial or retail? There is now a stop light at this corner.
Also in Norwalk, new apartments are complete behind Holmes Chevrolet and Pizza Hut has opened just south of that site next to Anytime Fitness.

[iowacountyite]

Also, did anyone else notice some sort of large scale trenching near the sw connector or in that vicinity? It almost looked like they were getting ready to build a bridge but it looked way too close to an exit to be a bridge.

[DMRyan]

I think that trenching by the SW Connector was only for a large water main.

[Jmmt59]

Yes, the water main work from 63rd out to the Hwy 5 bypass all the way to G14 between Norwalk and Cumming has been significant. This new SW connector will make this area extremely accessible to downtown and it's a very quick drive to WDSM as well..... The growth in this area has been steady but seems to be lagging in terms of its potential. Mostly the economy I'm sure, but I wonder if there may be some underlying reasons as well.

[Braniff]

Yes, the water main work from 63rd out to the Hwy 5 bypass all the way to G14 between Norwalk and Cumming has been significant. This new SW connector will make this area extremely accessible to downtown and it's a very quick drive to WDSM as well..... The growth in this area has been steady but seems to be lagging in terms of its potential. Mostly the economy I'm sure, but I wonder if there may be some underlying reasons as well.

We've talked about the part of the connector between 63rd Street and downtown on another thread (someone mentioned that it might be in a floodplain, if I'm not mistaken). What is the latest on the planning for that segment of the route? I feel that if that segment is not built, then the segment from 63rd Street to the bypass will be a road to nowhere.

[Norwalker]

What is going on in Norwalk on the east side of Hwy 28? The main entrance to the Legacy Development has now been extended east quite a ways. It looks like possibly it is preparing for industrial or retail? There is now a stop light at this corner.
Also in Norwalk, new apartments are complete behind Holmes Chevrolet and Pizza Hut has opened just south of that site next to Anytime Fitness.

Capital City Fruit is moving from their current location across from the High School to a newer facility across from Holmes Chevy. With all the new infrastructure put in, there's obviously room for much more than just Cap City, but nobody credible has given me any word on what (if anything) else might be coming in the near future.

Godfather's Pizza closed within about a week of Pizza Hut opening up, so I guess you win some and you lose some. The Norwalk Godfather's location wasn't a strong franchise location anyway.

While I'm posting, the improvements and additions at the high school deserve some mention. There is now a brand new ~4,000 seat football stadium, complete with a video scoreboard and stand-alone locker rooms with separate home and visitor concession stands. The school also added a state-of-the-art auditorium that seats several hundred people for both school and community use.

[Jmmt59]

The Capital City Fruit facility is really progressing and looks fairly impressive from Hwy 28 in Norwalk. Does anyone know what will happen to their current facility?

[casbern]

Pomodoro's Italian Grille to open on Army Post Road.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/05/10/pomodoros-italian-grille-opens-on-army-post-road/

[DMRyan]

A firm from Salt Lake City is likely selecting Des Moines as their location to open up a customer service/"production center" office hiring 150 people. Mortgage Compliance Advisors wants to renovate the long-vacant office building at the former RR Donnelly plant on Park Avenue. Good to see something hopefully going back into this unlikely candidate of a building.

[casbern]

Looks as though the Hewlett-Packard cuts will hit their Des Moines Operations..

http://businessrecord.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=17596&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=99

[DMRyan]

Kum and Go is making plans to construct a new store on a 2-acre site located at SW 9th and Army Post Road. This new store will go just north of the Hardee's that is under construction on the corner currently.

[ladymarshall]

I see the site at the southeast corner of Fleur and Watrous has sold and it has been graded over the last two weeks. Any ideas on what is planned for this site?

[dogbo]

I see the site at the southeast corner of Fleur and Watrous has sold and it has been graded over the last two weeks. Any ideas on what is planned for this site?

Addressed towards the end of this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1928&start=60

[DMRyan]

Hubbell has plans for more multi-family housing on the south side. They are looking to build 24 rowhomes (somewhat similar to what's gotten built on Forest Avenue) and a new apartment building in Phase I of a project called McKinley Crest. This is the site of a former elementary school, and more recently, the Stemma D' Italia Lodge, where the Italian Festival used to be held.

[Young DSM Social Club]

Please don't tell me this is going to be another low income housing project.

[wmjindsm]

What I have seen by Google-ing, it's part of Anawim Housing (affordable housing).

http://anawimhousing.org/

McKinley Crest, Des Moines

Address: 1801 SW McKinley Ave.

Units/Eligibility: 60 affordable units for families and homeless persons, including homeless individuals, families, youth and/or veterans

Project type: New construction

Housing Tax Credit award: $636,945

Developer: Anawim Housing

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... statewide/

http://www.ifahome.com/documents/resour ... CDABDC.pdf

[wmjindsm]

Sidebar: Now that Hardees has turned things around, I keep half expecting them to go back to some of the locations they've abandoned in the metro in the past. Not necessarily the same buildings, but same areas. Haven't really seen any sign of that, though.
dogbo

New Southside Hardee's is now open at Army Post and SW 9th.


http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... ide-store/

[wmjindsm]

Anawim Housing plans on McKinley scrapped because of resident's complaints.

I love this quote:
[quote“I understand helping people and I’m all for that because I do a lot of community service,” neighbor Carol Barber explained, “But I don’t think the location they picked is good.”][/quote]

Riiiight.

http://whotv.com/2012/08/01/plan-scrapp ... adlines%29

[dogbo]

Anawim Housing plans on McKinley scrapped because of resident's complaints.

I love this quote:

“I understand helping people and I’m all for that because I do a lot of community service,” neighbor Carol Barber explained, “But I don’t think the location they picked is good.”]

Riiiight.

http://whotv.com/2012/08/01/plan-scrapp ... adlines%29

So you contend this gal would protest this being built anywhere in the metro? I took her quote as a classic NIMBY mindset, not that she's against the idea of this housing in general.

[hawk61401]

Anawim Housing plans on McKinley scrapped because of resident's complaints.

I love this quote:

“I understand helping people and I’m all for that because I do a lot of community service,” neighbor Carol Barber explained, “But I don’t think the location they picked is good.”]

Riiiight.

http://whotv.com/2012/08/01/plan-scrapp ... adlines%29

So you contend this gal would protest this being built anywhere in the metro? I took her quote as a classic NIMBY mindset, not that she's against the idea of this housing in general.

Of course she's not against the housing in general. As long as it's far far away from her and maybe all the way to Council Bluffs. I bet most of those who protested the housing would identify themselves as being mighty fine outstanding Christians. As the church lady would say, "isn't that special?"

[lyddonc]

I guess on this one I could see her not wanting this in her area. I live in Highland Park, in a house that I worked for 10 years to afford and would not be a financial burden. I am working to restore my house and have put a lot of effort into my home and into my neighborhood volunteering. Currently, I have two residences for the mentally challenged and a group home for recovering substance abusers with in half a block of my home. All have been opened SINCE I moved into the house, and now a less then desirable landlord has purchased homes in the area and is currently renting to people on government programs. While for the most part there have been few if any troubles with these properties, they do generate problems, one of them quite frequently. I would not want more of these kind of projects dumped in my area, I would openly fight it. I have no problem helping the disadvantaged and I do now. I volunteer in the area and on several occasions have helped the single mom next door with her home as well as an elderly widow down the street. I do feel that, for what ever reason given for justification, these projects have a more often then not tendency to be dumped in certain areas. I have to laugh, a lot of times I find those that cast aspersions on people for standing their ground on these issues are most often the same people who have fled to the burbs and would be very upset if this was proposed near their homes. I seem to remember when a discount grocery was proposed for a certain area in West Des Moines and people were up in arms at the kind of people it would bring in. Could you imagine a project like this? Also, I think that these organizations would be better received if they worked with the area residents. From my personal experience with a habitat for Humanity project in the area, they say they will, but didn't in our case, allowing weeds to proliferate and dumping to occur. I tried to be a good neighbor and help, but after years of picking up trash and mowing the lots several times to minimize the impact on the area, then having them not provide any details other then 20-40 volunteers will be showing up daily at some point, I would say I have a very clouded view of their operations. I know, I am a jerk, but then again, its my home you are messing with, and other then my family and my dog, it is something that I defend completely. Of course, not sure about this area as I don't go there very often to know about it, but if its like ours, I could see where this would be something that I would fight. I get it, they are helping the less fortunate, I applaud that, but then again, if it is going to impact my home negatively, I will stand up and voice my concerns. And that would be if it were a hog farm, nuke plant, or any other number of things. I apologize if I have offended, just trying to point out that this is not always a black and white issue, and that sometimes it is hard judge from afar. Also, could you imagine if this were proposed for Clive, or Urbandale, or (gasp) West Des Moines? LOL