Court Avenue Development Efforts

[4th&Court]

I was at the Royal Mile on Tuesday night and I believe the Surf Shack was closed when I walked by.

[dogbo]

Surf Shack isn't schedule to reopen until tomorrow (Friday).

I will admit (as I know others on this forum will too), as much as many of us are displeased with Smithson's contributions (or lack thereof) to Court Ave District, the Surf Shack is actually not a bad establishment. Food is decent and cheap.

I say....don't knock it until you've tried it.

[dmluvr]

Yeah, it's crazy isn't it?

I will be the first to say that the surf shack has a pretty kick ass lunch menu.

For 7 bucks, you get a big 'ole sandwich of your choice(and it's actually pretty darn good and quite the selection) fries/or some side and a pop. Not bad at all.

Also--I gotta say this too--their hushpuppies are to die for.

The surf shack---from the ambiance, to the choice of colors and theme--is the only, and I mean ONLY redeeming value to this outdated has been bar owner.

oh--one thing however---their music is hoooooorible!!! Yikes!! I'm ok with the "beach" theme thing---but c'mon how many freaking times do you have to play the beach boys?? Oye!!

[Ingersoll1978]

I enjoyed Surf Shack too! It's the only Smithson joint that I ever would go to.

[dogbo]

Huh.....yeah..it appears that it's residential on 4th st. I hope to freaking god that these people buying here will realize this is a upbeat entertainment district and won't whine when they hear music after 10 on a friday night.

O please, you know some stupid biatch will cause trouble. that is why they should do an overlay zoning district to ensure that amplified outdoor music can be played until 2am and what ever else they need in an entertainment district. So some a$$ wipe can't mess things up later.

Good point audio. One question. Is a "biatch" the same as a bee-och? ...or are we talking a totally different animal here.

[Philby]

I've been there for lunch many times and never heard the beach boys - only marley and buffett - but maybe they have certain days that they play certain music and I've just never gone on 'beach boys day'.

[dmluvr]

buffet and marlehy huh? I'll take that for lunch any day!! Interesting though--the 2 times I've been there both had horrible beach boy action.....maybe it's mixed up daily???

[4th&Court]

The Surf Shack is definitely open tonight. Drove by and eyewitnessethed it.

[dogbo]

The bar that is opening on the other end of the railroad depot that currently houses the Hessen Haus finally got some official press in the Des Moines Business Record this week. The story didn't make the online version, but as I recall it was going to be named something like 101 Lounge. They are shooting to open by Oktoberfest weekend which is September 22ndish?

The nice thing about this spot is it helps to fill the gap on 3rd St between the upcoming Court Center establishments and the High Life/El Bait Shop. Also, with the opening of the Ultra Liguid Lounge near Principal Park, a person can soon do a nice lil' bar crawl just staying on 3rd street.

Note: I'm doing my best keeping up on the bar news for you kids for now. Once babydogbo is born later next month, I'll most likely have little opportunity (or desire?) to keep up on the latest bar news so someone else will need to fill the gap.

[saddlery309]

I have been browsing this forum for along time now. I figured wih all of the stuff going on at Court Avenue, I have one of the better views of it all from the Saddlery Building. Here are some photos taken today.

Old Nacho Mamas Building


Looking East down Court Avenue


Looking West down Court Avenue


Spaghetti Works Building Inserting front windows


New Hubbell Condos basement being dug out


The Lot nobody can make a decision on


White Line Lofts from the North


Best View of Downtown at night

[dogbo]

Awesome pics Saddlery309. Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum!

[NOG]

This will be a fun angle to watch the construction progress.

[NOG's Wife]

The bar that is opening on the other end of the railroad depot that currently houses the Hessen Haus finally got some official press in the Des Moines Business Record this week. The story didn't make the online version, but as I recall it was going to be named something like 101 Lounge. They are shooting to open by Oktoberfest weekend which is September 22ndish?

The nice thing about this spot is it helps to fill the gap on 3rd St between the upcoming Court Center establishments and the High Life/El Bait Shop. Also, with the opening of the Ultra Liguid Lounge near Principal Park, a person can soon do a nice lil' bar crawl just staying on 3rd street.

Note: I'm doing my best keeping up on the bar news for you kids for now. Once babydogbo is born later next month, I'll most likely have little opportunity (or desire?) to keep up on the latest bar news so someone else will need to fill the gap.

I was at the Hessen Haus last night, and they were working on the new bar. I didn't see any TVs yet, but it kind of looks like it could be sports bar-ish.

[4th&Court]

saddlery309, you got some kind of penthouse suite over there or what?

[Ingersoll1978]

I missed those pics. Those are from a great viewpoint. Thanks for sharing!

[saddlery309]

The roof of the Saddlery Building.

[Eduarqui]

Thanks for sharing these images with us, saddlery309, they are a good help specially for people like me, living outside DM : you brought more good stuff for people interested about this amazing city.
Eduarqui

[saddlery309]

Then I will continue to post pictures of these 2 buildings as they develop. I imagine by next week they should have the front windows completely in and most of the basement dug out. They have run into a few problems with some large basement walls from the previous building that has slowed them down a little..

[DMRyan]

The lot that nobody can make a decision on is pretty depressing seeing how much is going on in this area. I think the city is going back to square one on this parcel, now the most illusive one to get developed in the entire core. Josh eluded to this a while ago, but with development on Court Avenue taking off the way it has, the city and all of the downtown interests are in a much better position of being picky to find the right developer for this site.

And if the referendum goes in a favorable direction next spring, that 2-3 story brick and tan building south of the courthouse could be replaced with a big court annex and parking garage. Slowly chipping away at all of the surface lots south of Mulberry Street...although it will take a decade or two as you can see in the distance.

At least the people checking out Court Avenue nightlife will still have a nice, free place to park.

[dmluvr]

hell yeah 309---thanks for sharing those pics!!!

I gotta say---and I've probably have been one of the biggest court ave cirtics on here---it's stnning to see the changes of court ave taking place---it really gives a sense of true validitity of downtown--really--court ave has been one of the, if not the, biggest pain in the ass for downtown to get going...... really glad to see this.....with regards to the what to do lot, something surley has to happen there and I would think it wouldn't sit vacant for too many years.

[Ingersoll1978]

I wonder how far we are from seeing the parking garage at 5th and Court being replaced?

[dmluvr]

no kidding ingersoll----it almost makes me want to vomit to see what was torn out for that ugly beast......which clearly has not aged well at all.

but hey---it could be a matter of time!?!?!

[4th&Court]

What are the steel beams sticking out of the ground all abou? I saw them swinging some of those around with a crane yesterday (in the rain no less).

[Better Life dude]

The steel beams - actually sheets of steel - are driven vertically into the ground to act as a barrier wall & keep the dirt from caving in during construction. When they're in place, the excavators dig all the dirt out on the foundation side to create the basement. Once the permanent basement walls are done, the steel sheets are then pulled out of the ground and the permanent walls are backfilled with dirt.

And to think, I'm not even a contractor!

[dmluvr]

but still man--nicely done-damn!!

great question and a great answer

[4th&Court]

I'm glad to hear that's all those things are. They are UGLY. However, it was pretty sweet watching a crane swing huge pieces of metal around...they were like 2 stories tall in the air.

[nathanch]

Sharing in profits shields taxpayers, D.M. says
The city and Polk County could benefit from aiding an expected arcade-eatery.

By JASON CLAYWORTH
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

September 13, 2006


An agreement that could give Des Moines and Polk County a share of the profits from a downtown restaurant and arcade in exchange for almost $1.9 million in subsidies is designed to protect taxpayers, city leaders said Tuesday.

A preliminary agreement approved by the City Council directs tax increment financing money to the developers of a $10.8 million project that will include an inPlay franchise, a Legends American Grill and an arcade with more than 120 games.

In exchange, if the venue exceeds a certain level of success, the city and county will share in the profits, according to the agreement. Details have not been ironed out.

"What we're trying to do is set up a structure so if the developer's return is high, then we share in the success," said Matt Anderson, an economic development coordinator for the city of Des Moines.

Profit-sharing does not increase the city's risks, officials said.

Once the city designates tax increment financing for the project it is then on the hook to provide about $1.9 million for the project.

An Iowa State University expert said the deal is one sign of the demands on elected leaders to spark economic development.

"It's a philosophical question if government should be involved in private business," said Paul Coates, director of ISU's Office of State and Local Government Programs. "In this day and age, rightly or wrongly, it's become a function of government. You see it all over the country."

Profit-sharing among investors is common in the private sector, Coates noted.

However, the practice is new to the city of Des Moines in the past five years as large downtown projects were proposed.

Developers have long told the city that taxpayers should make up the "gap financing" in order to make the projects economically sound.

The city has provided the money but wants to ensure that developers don't take taxpayers for a ride by overinflating the gap.

Other profit-sharing agreements are in place at the former Masonic Temple, 1011 Locust St., which was turned into the Temple for Performing Arts about five years ago, and the Soho Lofts, a three-story building at 400 E. Locust St. that has condominiums and retail space.

So far, the agreements have not generated extra cash for the city.

City Councilman Chris Coleman said the idea isn't to get rich, but to protect taxpayers.

"We accept the fact that developers want to make a profit, but what we can't allow is for a company to inappropriately profit while taking taxpayer money," Coleman said.

Tax increment financing lets cities and counties give financial incentives to businesses in order to trigger development that, in turn, can raise more money for local services through property taxes.

The inPlay project is led by Jake Christensen of Nelson Development, who wants to renovate the former General Growth Properties building at 215 Watson Powell Jr. Way.

An inPlay on the downtown riverfront in Peoria, Ill., is billed as "the ultimate entertainment complex."

There is also a franchise in Omaha.

Officials hope to have the Des Moines location open early next year.

"What the city is doing is at least as old as 1492," said Jeff Riese of the Polk-Des Moines Taxpayers Association, noting that English royalty financed explorer trips in earlier centuries using profit-sharing agreements.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... 6609130383

This Register article sort of implies that inPlay and Legends are one and the same project. Does that mean Legends is going in the inPlay building or staying on Court Ave? Anyone know?

[saddlery309]

Inplay sounds neat, but does anyone know how the Inplays are doing in Peoria and Omaha? Are they located in the same type of area? Pictures would be cool if we have any lookers from those cities. My experience with these types of places is that they usually located in high-volume heavy touristy areas like Vegas, or Disney.

Maybe they could use a part of the space for LAN events, are those still as popular as they used to be?

[Philby]

Inplay sounds neat, but does anyone know how the Inplays are doing in Peoria and Omaha? Are they located in the same type of area? Pictures would be cool if we have any lookers from those cities. My experience with these types of places is that they usually located in high-volume heavy touristy areas like Vegas, or Disney.

Maybe they could use a part of the space for LAN events, are those still as popular as they used to be?

I don't know how their other 2 locations are doing - but this is a pretty similar idea to Dave and Busters - and those aren't necessarily located in high volume areas to be successful. There's on in the promenade in broomfield, CO - which is a movie theatre, couple upscale restaurants, couple fast food/ice cream places, a hotel and and an ice arena with a sports bar overlooking. Its defintely a local hotspot, but its no Vegas or Disney...

Also autographs in Ankeny is doing this same idea on a smaller scale, they have an arcade on one side/bar on the other.

I'm sure there will be lots of people that just go there for the bar/pool/darts/TVs...

[saddlery309]

That is true the other 5 bars there may be enough to keep it full (wonder if they will allow alcohol in the place.

About half of it is dug out, They may be stopping here as this looks like what could be the footprint of the building with the back area being green space or parking. Should be done next week with digging though.


Almost got all the windows in, 3 to go. The other sides have all of there windows in as well. I will post pics of the sides and back next week. The guy on the left boom is putting in the last of the windows. The guy on the right is putting on the decorative trim. It is white in the fartherest right window on the 3rd floor, but in front of him it appears to be green already.


Need an air conditioner? They were putting all of them on the roof this morning, apparently each unit will have there own.