Sherman Hill News

[SFO2DSM]

This salon just opened up, attached to the home behind and to the east of Gateway. I met the very nice owner during the Sherman Hill Walking Tour. Good to see another new business for this neighborhood.
http://bracosalon.com/

[DMRyan]

The Olive Street Brickstones project has been put on hold for a year. Instead, the developer is wishing to move forward with a similar project at 17th and High Street, on a parking lot just to the north of the old Stiver's showroom/Simonson and Associates office. If this project gets off the ground, it will be nice to see all of the holes on High Street filling in.

[SFO2DSM]

Well here's some big news: I just saw in the Business Record's Commercial Real Estate Weekly newsletter that the Murillo Flats (611 16th) sold to Murillo Flats LLC for $175,000 on 4/21. A quick trip to the SOS site tells me that Murillo Flats LLC is controlled by Ryan Galloway of Hatch Development. Could be his project, Hatch's or a joint project. I would also guess they would be trying for tax credits on this one. In either case, it's nice to see some movement on this property!

[Philby]

Holes were dug yesterday on Leyner St for the foundations of the 2 homes being displaced for Smokey Row's parking lot. One is on the N side of Leyner, just W of the alley (behind the recently moved/renovated house on the corner of 19th) and the other will be placed across Leyner and slightly to the W (not quite across the street from each other).

I think foundations will be poured this week and the homes will be moved next week? The empty lots in that section of the neighborhood are filling up quickly!

[dogbo]

Holes were dug yesterday on Leyner St for the foundations of the 2 homes being displaced for Smokey Row's parking lot. One is on the N side of Leyner, just W of the alley (behind the recently moved/renovated house on the corner of 19th) and the other will be placed across Leyner and slightly to the W (not quite across the street from each other).

I think foundations will be poured this week and the homes will be moved next week? The empty lots in that section of the neighborhood are filling up quickly!

Interesting. I've heard these homes referred to a the "twin homes" and in their current spot were immediately adjacent to each other (literally inches from each other). I assumed they be re-located similarly but obviously that is not the plan.

[MusicMan]

I drove by the old house at 17th and Pleasant and there appears to be some activity... is it finally getting renovated?

[Philby]

Interesting. I've heard these homes referred to a the "twin homes" and in their current spot were immediately adjacent to each other (literally inches from each other). I assumed they be re-located similarly but obviously that is not the plan.

I think they would have preferred to move them to a location where they could have kept them RIGHT next to each other, but perhaps they couldn't find an open lot in the neighborhood with enough room AND the right owner willing to assume the house. I think in both cases the lot owner will be getting a free house, and one lot they plan to renovate and sell, the other lot plans to sell and let the new owner renovate. We will see if either of those happens in this economy (this is just hearsay from a neighbor, I don't have any details on the actual arrangement)

[MusicMan]

The second house was moved today

[dogbo]

It appears one of the old apartment complexes on Woodland Ave. is getting rehabbed. This is the brownish colored two-building complex that has a court yard in the front that is located just west of Cafe di Scala.

I’m not sure why I'm thinking this, but I believe Jack Hatch owns this (or at least did at one time). It is two great, old, very visible buildings in Sherman Hill that have a ton of potential. A lot of character in the exterior of the buildings (no idea what might be inside). I believe the previous occupants were pretty low-rent (meant to be literal regarding rent, not a judgment on the individuals). I kinda hope these are going to be market rate apartments, but not sure if that would be the case if Hatch still owns and is involved.

Anyone know anything about this project?

[Aulus]

It appears one of the old apartment complexes on Woodland Ave. is getting rehabbed. This is the brownish colored two-building complex that has a court yard in the front that is located just west of Cafe di Scala.

I’m not sure why I'm thinking this, but I believe Jack Hatch owns this (or at least did at one time). It is two great, old, very visible buildings in Sherman Hill that have a ton of potential. A lot of character in the exterior of the buildings (no idea what might be inside). I believe the previous occupants were pretty low-rent (meant to be literal regarding rent, not a judgment on the individuals). I kinda hope these are going to be market rate apartments, but not sure if that would be the case if Hatch still owns and is involved.

Anyone know anything about this project?

Two things.

1. Yes, they are owned by Jack Hatch and I heard from one of his nieghbors about a year ago that he, Hatch, was trying to unload them. It was my understanding that the person Hatch was pitching it to wanted absolutely nothing to do with it, partially due to the person being heavily involved on other rehab projects, but mostly did not think it would be worth the effort.

2. "Low rent." True in both senses of the phrase, at least from what I've seen over the years. Remember, that was the scene, about 18 years ago of a murder/suicide in one of the apartments. The husband an wife got to fighting, he shot and killed her, then shot and killed himself. All in front of their 2 year old twins. When the bodies were found, several hours later, witnesses found the toddlers wandering about the apartment, covered in their parents' blood, leaving small, bloody foot prints on the floors of every room. I and my kids happened to go by there shortly after the bodies were found and it looked like half the police cars in Des Moines were on scene.

[DMRyan]

There's already some additional discussion on the renovation of the Wellsport and Portwell Apartment buildngs at the end of page 3 of this thread. Hatch Development Group is the developer and they'll actually be reducing the density from 20 units to 13 units. I don't believe they received low income housing tax credits, so these may end being market rate rentals.

Renovations to these historic apartment buildings all over the older parts of the city can hopefully continue at a greater clip. Not sure if it's any easier to get financing for this type of project, but it's surely needed, particularly with the demise of Critelli properties adding plenty of boarded up buildings to the core neighborhoods.



In other news, work has once again begun on the Murillo Building, so major progress should be apparent soon. I'm surprised the High Street Brickstones haven't started construction yet, but I noticed the construction trailer is on site.

[dogbo]

. I'm surprised the High Street Brickstones haven't started construction yet, but I noticed the construction trailer is on site.

Actually, equipment was on site and they were ripping up the old parking lot on Friday....so I'd say, it has begun.

[DMRyan]

I dodged the downed trees all over the Sherman Hill Neighborhood to get an update on the renovation of the Wellsport and Portwell Apartments.

[dsmspence]

DM Ryan, is there a site to learn more about what's going on with this project? It seems like there are quite a few neat old buildings in Sherman Hill that are getting some love these days.

[dogbo]

^^^

There is some info on the Hatch Development website: http://www.hatchdevelopment.com/

[casbern]

^^^

There is some info on the Hatch Development website: http://www.hatchdevelopment.com/

Does anyone know anything further regarding their gray-stone infill project? I know the rendering said it was back in 2010, but it's still listed as projects under construction.

http://www.hatchdevelopment.com/portfolio/projects-under-construction

[DMRyan]

The Greystones are still expected to start construction later this year.

[casbern]

The Greystones are still expected to start construction later this year.

Are those infill sites within Sherman Hill?

[DMRyan]

Only two sites are in Sherman Hill. The rest of the infill sites are north of the freeway, up to Forest Avenue. Twenty-six rowhomes in all.

[dogbo]

I dodged the downed trees all over the Sherman Hill Neighborhood to get an update on the renovation of the Wellsport and Portwell Apartments.

The hell and sarafice this guy will go through just to keep us all updated on projects around DSM -- it is amazing! The guy just gives and gives and...

[casbern]

Only two sites are in Sherman Hill. The rest of the infill sites are north of the freeway, up to Forest Avenue. Twenty-six rowhomes in all.

Kinda wish that they weren't low Income.. I'd totally be down for owning something like that in Sherman Hill.

[dsmspence]

Casbern, I totally agree. I think these would be great even outside of Sherman Hill. A development like this could be excellent in the No-Mans-Land of surface parking lots between City Hall and the rest of the East Village. Only something that looks like this and with 2-stall garages like the current brownstones... It could fit in with the Beaux Arts style of City Hall and the original riverwalk.

[casbern]

Casbern, I totally agree. I think these would be great even outside of Sherman Hill. A development like this could be excellent in the No-Mans-Land of surface parking lots between City Hall and the rest of the East Village. Only something that looks like this and with 2-stall garages like the current brownstones... It could fit in with the Beaux Arts style of City Hall and the original riverwalk.

That's gorgeous... Okay.. I'll start the development company... No-Mans-Land Development, Inc. Any takers for funding?

But seriously though... these would be a great solution to that area, and provide some much needed reinforcement to the East Village housing issue.

[DMRyan]

The city appears to be racheting up the enforcement on the long vacant and decrepid house at 650 18th Street. This old mansion has been declared a public nuisance for years, but the city must've held off on stricter enforcement so that they could give this every chance to get it preserved rather demolished. A developer with ties to Sherman Hill is apparently wanting to buy the deliquent property tax certificates to the property, and could then legally own the property once all the legal processes have been conducted. The current owners could still pay the deliquent taxes and make the property transfer moot however.

How great would it be to get this beauty rehabbed and occupied again? This house and the recently vacant (Critelli Properties) apartments on the far west end of the neighborhood are two of the bigger eyesores left in the neighborhood. I think the family that owns this old house may also own a few other dogs in Sherman Hill that are awaiting renovation.

[Aulus]

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!!!!

I've lived down the street from this mess for 22+ years and have been praying for this day. I contacted Christine Hensley about it several years ago and was advised there was nothing they could do about it, in part because the owner is so litigious and, while she didn't come right out and say it, just plain, batshit crazy. Looks like the Polk County property tax auction is going to have at least one very interesting moment this year.

[DMRyan]

The construction of the new Edmunds Elementary School has begun work. The old and odd-shaped Edmunds Academy will be demolished once the new schools is opened. I know the demographics can be a little rough with the Homes of Oakridge right there, but could a brand new elementary school of this size be enough to lure in a few more young families to Sherman Hill?

[hansonj8]

Does anyone have contact information for "Sherman Hill Cooperative Housing Association"? Thanks! -Joseph

[casbern]

Does anyone have contact information for "Sherman Hill Cooperative Housing Association"? Thanks! -Joseph

Would this be different than the Sherman Hill Association?

Sherman Hill Association
Mickle Neighborhood Resource Center
1620 Pleasant, Suite 204,
Des Moines, IA 50314
Ph. 515-284-5717

[hansonj8]

Thanks Casburn! I'm not sure if they are the same or not... I tried calling the neighborhood association ph# you provided and left a message earlier this past weekend. But, as I mentioned, it was the weekend so I haven't heard anything back yet. Thanks for your help!

[dogbo]

I dodged the downed trees all over the Sherman Hill Neighborhood to get an update on the renovation of the Wellsport and Portwell Apartments.

This project is really shaping up nicely. I see they've reconstructed a large overhang supported by pillars to the fronts of both buildings (old pics of this buildings show they used to have this feature) . This is substantial enough it looks like it creates balaconies for the top floor resident(s). Pretty significant difference in curb appeal.