Fleur Drive Development

[NOG]

Here is an itneresting blurb from the Civic Skinny section in PointBlank:

According to a top South Side developer, expect both Barnes and Noble and Starbucks (with more businesses to follow) to open branches along Fluer Drive in the coming year due to the high level of on-off traffic at both MLK and I-235, as well as the Highway 5 by-pass and Fluer Drive.

[DMRyan]

Pretty evident where this Barnes and Noble is going too. This stretch of Fleur needs a little pick-me-up and with a nice restaurant, wine store, coffee shop and independent movie house already there, this will go a long ways towards finally giving the southsiders an upscale pocket.

It's about time DSM proper got a Barnes and Noble, and with the exception of downtown, what better location could you ask for? I can't wait to see if this happens!

[mistertwister]

That would seriously save me a lot of time over my lunch hour.

Just the other morning I was driving down Fluer looking at the HyVee and the empty Target store next to it, and wondering why HyVee hasn't remodeled and upgraded their store at that location.


It's really too bad that the Cinema on Fluer is tucked away as it is a really great asset that deserves a higher profile.

There really is SO MUCH potential along that corridor that goes under utilized.

Let's hope this is true and the start of something much bigger

[mistertwister]

It just dawned on me. The perfect location for a B&N. Build it on the corner of MLK and Ingersoll. Make it a two or 3 story structure with a parking ramp. Make it mixed use with retail and office space. It would be beautiful...and I could walk there over lunch.

[DMRyan]

That would be perfection if that were to happen.

That is one of the most high traffic locations on all of the west side of DSM proper.

[Ingersoll1978]

I think that would be a great idea! It would be convenient for downtown, Ingersoll-Grand-Drake, and the Fluer corridor. I really think the land use at MLK and Ingersoll should be well thought out. Mixed use would be the best bet.

[DMRyan]

Knapp already flubbed the NW corner of the intersection. I hope something of a larger scale and higher quality goes on the NE side.

[Young DSM Social Club]

I am excited if this is true --- a Barnes & Noble and a coffee shop like Starbucks are two of the "no brainer" developments I've long thought should be built on Fleur --- if I was a developer I would have been pursuing these for years! (other no brainers to me: an ice cream store and something like a Brueggers or Panera). West of Fleur has SUPER demographics, and with nothing similar on the southside AT ALL I expect this will attract not only southsiders, but eastsiders, downtown residents, and westsiders like myself (I'll definitely go to a B and N on Fleur vs. the western suburbs - and with the quick MLK access it likely is quicker).

I also thought a large book store would be great at the MLK parcel. What I'd like to see it is a mixed used commercial/retail project with the parking on the inside and the stores framing the parcel on the outside. I do know that value of the land has skyrocketed and that is why it has not yet been developed. I also have heard from several store owners that they'd put a store in that space in a second if it was retail. Let's keep out fingers crossed!

Finally --- any thoughts on putting a new movie theatre between Woodland Cemetary and the interstate? I'm not sure if there is enough room but I think those dilapitated homes should go and quick Interstate access would make this a prime location. I know Fridley wants a west side of DSM location based on a few stories in the Register.

[mistertwister]

DM is just too saturated with theaters at the moment. Anything along Fluer would effect the brand new theaters that Fridley built near Southbridge not that long ago. I can see it happening at some point in the future as more residential opens up along highway 5, but its a long way off.

[DMRyan]

Carmike built the theaters at Southridge. The westside of DSM proper could use a small theater I guess, but something on the order of three stories. Of course, if a downtown entertainment project ever gets revved up again, this would be the best spot for a multi-screen IMO. Put it in my dreamed up entertainment complex idea, west of the new arena.

[Young DSM Social Club]

I wasn't suggesting Fleur (which I'd leave alone --- I don't want Fleur Cinema having problems) ... but right next to the interstate and MLK.

Fridley has just said in at least two articles that he wants a theatre there.

I think a smaller one would actually do well. I expect Cobblestone and perhaps another to go under soon anyway.

[mistertwister]

I don't think there is near enough land available in that area for a theatre and requisite parking. Because of its location and the number of cars, developement on the empty parcels would have to be carefully planned to avoid congestion on this important artery. I just don't see a theatre, even a small scale one as being workable.

Now. If they could purchase the medical clinic and the condemned church property as well as some of the adjacent properties, you change the dynamics of the project quite a bit and it becomes a lot more reasonable.

[DMRyan]

We don't need a multi-screen theater in Sherman Hill. I would personally help the cause to fight that one.

[Young DSM Social Club]

I also don't think it should be in Sherman Hill. I agree -- the idea is probably not feasible with the amount of land.

[mistertwister]

But along Ingersoll, that could be doable, and very successful. The way I see it there are a couple of potential sites worthy of such a project.

1. The Chinese Buffet (even though this site has finally had some sort of continutity to it I would love to see this restuarant, the DQ, and Mediacom building go bye bye.)

2. The former HyVee lot with Tandem Brick, Bistro Montage, other assorted business and apartment buildings. (long shot here with quizno's and taco bell setting up shop but would have been a great location.

3. Carwash, Big Tomato, gas station, Floor Covering store. This would be the most likely location currently. Most of the businesses could be accommodated in other locations on Ingersoll and removal of their existing structures would improve the corridor immensely.

[Young DSM Social Club]

Except for the Chinese Buffet, I don't think I'd want to see any of those bulldozed -- many of those are old historic bldg.

The Mediacom Bldg is quite ugly in it's current state, but apparently it is actually on the list of possible historical structures --- I think underneath its facade it might be a nice old brick bldg.

[DMRyan]

As long as we can replace the strip that small businesses like Big Tomato/Enzo's Deli, etc. fill, I don't find anything to exciting about that shopping strip architectually. I don't want Ingersoll to lose its more ecclectic charm that is a result of the businesses that locate there, but the building itself could be replaced with something much nicer.

[Guest]

another barnes and noble would suprise everyone, the one at jordan creek is not doing very well...i doubt the corporate will allow another.

[mistertwister]

Just because a building is brick and old does not make it architecturally significant.

[Young DSM Social Club]

The Mediacom bldg. is indeed supposed to be historically significant --- it's in the Ingersoll Streetscape plan as being so. Personally, I don't think it looks like anything special now -- I'm just repeating what the "experts" said.

[Guest]

Just because a building is brick and old does not make it architecturally significant.

very true, try explaining to the city of des moines...IMPOSSIBLE.

[dogbo]

very true, try explaining to the city of des moines...IMPOSSIBLE.

I don't understand how you can say this when you look at all the buildings that have been destoyed in downtown DSM????

Thank god they saved the AIB building a couple years ago....oh yeah they didn't. The Des Moines City Council approved its demolishion and it's gone too.

[DMRyan]

While searching through the most recent council agenda, I found word that Coppolla development is in the early stages of having Hy-Vee build a new store on the location of the long-time vacant Target store on Fleur Drive, along with a "Hy-Vee Gas" station. I wonder what they will do with the current Hy-Vee next to this building?

Also, it appears that southsiders will have one less bar to go to if this development makes it through. It appears that in trade off for city money to help Coppolla complete the development, the All in the Family Lounge may get the bulldozer.

http://www.dmgov.org/mayor_council/agen ... 06-511.htm

[Young DSM Social Club]

Why is All in the Family tied in with a Hy-Vee redevelopment??? Weird ...

[mistertwister]

This is not all that suprising. In fact this should have been done about 5 years ago, as the Hyvee on Fleur is really bad in comparison to many of the other stores in the chain.

If I could make a suggestion for the spot that HyVee will vacate when they locate to the old Target spot....move the Varsity Cinema into that location. I love the movie theater currently but I think it suffers some from visibility and accessibility. They should look for a few investors and build an new theater with stadium seating.

[imgreen]

I was wondering about that too. All In The Family seems like it's hidden behind a few things. Maybe they don't like that it's in view of the new Starbucks?

[Ankeny Husker Freak]

I was wondering why Hy-Vee didn't expand into the old Target building and in addition put up a Hy-Vee gas. There's plenty of room there to do so

While searching through the most recent council agenda, I found word that Coppolla development is in the early stages of having Hy-Vee build a new store on the location of the long-time vacant Target store on Fleur Drive, along with a "Hy-Vee Gas" station. I wonder what they will do with the current Hy-Vee next to this building?

Also, it appears that southsiders will have one less bar to go to if this development makes it through. It appears that in trade off for city money to help Coppolla complete the development, the All in the Family Lounge may get the bulldozer.

http://www.dmgov.org/mayor_council/agen ... 06-511.htm

[DMRyan]

I think the hopefully soon-to-be-old Hy-Vee site could lure a bookstore of some type. I would rather see a large book chain on Ingersoll & MLK or somewhere near downtown, but this would be a close 2nd for a location within Des Moines proper.

[mistertwister]

The large bookstore chains like to be in locations of concentrated retail and high traffic. While Fleur drive has traffic, I think the retail on the corridor is a little light to attract the attention of a large chain.

[DMRyan]

Hy-Vee may move into vacant building
The structure, which has been empty for about 15 years, on Fleur Drive could spur further developments if filled.

By JOSE DE JESUS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


August 11, 2006



City planners hope a proposed Hy-Vee expansion project on Des Moines' south side is the catalyst that will spur continued redevelopment in that part of the city.

Hy-Vee Inc. plans to renovate the 91,000-square-foot building that once housed a Target store but has been vacant for nearly 15 years. It is directly south of a 47,000-square-foot Hy-Vee store at 4707 Fleur Drive.

"It's ultimately a commercial redevelopment of that center and it's been a long time coming," said Mike Ludwig, the city's planning administrator. "It's an urban renewal area, and we are hoping to improve commercial (development) in that corridor."

The West Des Moines-based grocer plans to add a convenience store, gas station and car wash in the parking lot west of the building, said Pamela Myhre, an economic development coordinator for the city. Adding a convenience store and gas station requires a change in city zoning for the property. A hearing for the rezoning request is on Aug. 21.

Chris Friesleben, assistant director of communications at Hy-Vee, has confirmed the store was set to be expanded on Fleur but did not provide details on the project.

Nearby residents welcomed news of the project that will reinvigorate a large commercial area.

"I think it's great news," said Gary Babberl, president of the Greater South Side Neighborhood Association. "It's been empty for a long time, and I'm in favor of something going in there."

Teresa Utterson, a south-side resident who shops at the Hy-Vee on Fleur, agreed.

"If they are going to expand, I think it's a good idea," Utterson said. "

It is unclear whether Hy-Vee will remodel its existing building or tear it down and build a new store. The Target building has been vacant since 1992, when the store moved to Southridge Mall.

The project is yet another example of the construction boom in south Des Moines, the fastest-growing part of the city with an array of residential and commercial developments gaining strength.

"The need for more development is there," Utterson said.

Some city officials and developers have said that affordability and land availability has turned the south side into a target for major development projects such as Hy-Vee's.

"There's growth occurring all over the city," Ludwig said. "Obviously, there's a lot of residential growth occurring on the south side, so I would assume that that's generating needs for new, expanded commercial business."

Des Moines has seen five years of booming commercial and residential development. Such growth contributed to a $23 million increase in building permit values over the last five years, according to city records.

Ludwig has said the city predicts thousands of houses and commercial developments will be constructed in east and south Des Moines within the next 20 years.