Hotel Fort Des Moines to See Renovation

[DMRyan]

Not much news here yet, but the Hotel Fort Des Moines is looking to significantly renovate the interior of the building. Good news for anyone that has stayed there recently and saw how rough the rooms are getting.



From the DSM Business Record:

Rehab in store for Hotel Fort Des Moines
By Kent Darr

The Hotel Fort Des Moines is being evaluated for a "soup to nuts" renovation, owner Jeffrey Hunter said.

The 89-year-old structure at 10th and Walnut streets has undergone a series of partial updates over the last decade, the most recent announced in 1999 when Hunter received $400,000 in city financing to complete a $2.6 million upgrade.

Hunter, who bought the hotel from a partnership of which he was a member in June 1999, said he is working with an architect and contractor to establish costs for the project.

"We want to do it 100 percent, rather than take an incremental approach," he said.

It is possible that the hotel will close during the renovation, but a decision on that will not be made until after the first of the year, Hunter said.

Hunter said he is evaluating funding options for the project.

The hotel has accounted for its share of state and national history. In 1969 in the hotel's ballroom, Vice President Spiro Agnew launched a verbal attack on television newscasters that evolved into a crusade against the news media. A decade earlier, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev booked a room - the presidential suite - during a tour of Iowa.

The intersection of 10th and Walnut has been a focal point of redevelopment efforts downtown. The 13-story Davis Brown Tower, which counts Hunter as an investor, occupies space where the Hotel Fort Des Moines' parking ramp once stood.

[Ingersoll1978]

This hotel really needs a renovation of its sleeping rooms (especially for the price they charge), corridors, elevators and lobby. I hope that they modernize the rooms and restore the lobby and corridors to their original state. It's a beautiful hotel that needs to be preserved.

[spacebetween]

I agree Ingersoll. They need to do some work before that street can develop into the entertainment district they intend it to be. I was at Raccoon River for dinner last Saturday and the street was pretty dead. They need to get their intended restaurant into the Davis Brown and develop some nightlife type retail on the ground level of the Davis Brown Tower. Josephs and the bank are great, but they also close at 5 pm and the weekends which leaves the street empty and no vibrancy. At least that is the way it appeared at 8 pm last Saturday.

[DMRyan]

This hotel needs a prominent national flag to keep up the integrity and reputation of the place.

[Mastermind]

I would love to see a Hyatt, but I am not sure if they would go for this space. There are 0 Hyatt's in Iowa and Nebraska, yet they are Headquartered in Chicago.

[Ingersoll1978]

I would love to see a Hyatt, but I am not sure if they would go for this space. There are 0 Hyatt's in Iowa and Nebraska, yet they are Headquartered in Chicago.

I'd be happy with a Hilton.

[Mastermind]

The Hilton can still build at the convention center

[DMRyan]

That convention hotel isn't going anywhere. There are proposals on the table for 4-5 hotel deals throughout downtown that are in the works. I doubt all of them get built, but it'll be enough rooms over the next 5 years that it could kill any potential outstanding demand for a convention hotel. It's a boondoggle of a public investment and the City is better off giving smaller incentives for individual projects that pay taxes rather than fork out dozens of millions of tax payer dollars for an unsure bet. Politically it's black eye and Polk County and the City of DSM would be unwise to touch it with a ten foot pole.

[Mastermind]

boondoggle

hate that word, huge pet peeve of mine

[Mastermind]

I see Omaha is getting an Element Hotel (Westin's "green" brand) What potential hotel projects are on the table (ie hilton, hyatt, etc.) any names?

[CJG]

Ingersoll1978 - So you would be happy with Hilton? From what I have heard trying to schedule events for the next few year you will probably be happy. We were informed that the hotel is likely to affiliate with the Hilton hotel brand. We were also informed that it was uncertain if the name of the hotel would be impacted.

[Ingersoll1978]

Ingersoll1978 - So you would be happy with Hilton? From what I have heard trying to schedule events for the next few year you will probably be happy. We were informed that the hotel is likely to affiliate with the Hilton hotel brand. We were also informed that it was uncertain if the name of the hotel would be impacted.

That's great news! I don't believe there are any Hilton's in Iowa anymore.

[4th&Court]

This is fantastic news. The hotel needs to be restored to its original look. Before the paneling, dropped ceilings, ratty carpets, etc. Right now, there is a beautiful early twentieth century hotel underneath a bad 1960s-1970s remodel job, just waiting to be restored. I can't wait to see what they do. Hopefully, that awful smoke and musty smell will go out the front doors with the 1970s decor.

[4th&Court]

This hotel needs a prominent national flag to keep up the integrity and reputation of the place.

Actually, this applies to many buildings downtown. If you look closely at the older, taller buildings down here, many have a lonely, unoccupied white pole somewhere on their roof. It's depressing, but symptomatic of the times.

[DMRyan]

No, a flag as in a hotel being oriented with a particular hotel chain.

[Mulder.DSM]

This hotel needs a prominent national flag to keep up the integrity and reputation of the place.

Actually, this applies to many buildings downtown. If you look closely at the older, taller buildings down here, many have a lonely, unoccupied white pole somewhere on their roof. It's depressing, but symptomatic of the times.

Just to throw my two cents worth in, but the Liberty Building has a flag that flies from the roof.

[spacebetween]

I dont think affiliating it with a national chain will do anything other than lessen this historic value of the hotel. Placing a Holiday Inn on the side of the building is the wrong way to go as it will just then be another hotel. As it stands now, it is an icon of history in the city and it should not change. A little renovation is definately needed, but other than that it should remain the same as it is today.

[dogbo]

I dont think affiliating it with a national chain will do anything other than lessen this historic value of the hotel. Placing a Holiday Inn on the side of the building is the wrong way to go as it will just then be another hotel. As it stands now, it is an icon of history in the city and it should not change. A little renovation is definately needed, but other than that it should remain the same as it is today.

I get what you're saying spacebetween, but you only have to look at the Savory to see that an affiliiation can work and work very well. The Savory was getting in pretty bad shape before Marriot bought it and put it under their Renaissance brand. I'm sure Hilton has a similar line for older, historic hotels. Does anyone know?

[DMRyan]

Hilton is no Holiday Inn.

[spacebetween]

Hilton is no Holiday Inn.

I realize that, it was merely an example. Putting a brand on it takes away from its value, in my opinion.

[Ingersoll1978]

Hilton is no Holiday Inn.

I realize that, it was merely an example. Putting a brand on it takes away from its value, in my opinion.

I don't. For one, the visibility of the hotel to potential guests will dramatically increase. Most business travelers stay at chain hotels. With no points and other amenities, the Hotel Fort Des Moines is at a HUGE disadvantage to the Embassy Suites (also a Hilton chain hotel), the Marriott, the Renaissance and Holiday Inn. Also, people know what to expect from a chain hotel (in most cases). They have standards that have to be met. With independent hotels, you never know until you get there (and the Hotel Fort Des Moines now is a prime example of that).

[spacebetween]

I am stil against it, but I guess I can see the value a little more now. As long as it is not re-done to look like other Hiltons and the image of the hotel is taken away to meet some corporate guidelines, I guess I can see how it would be a benefit. I just picture the shell of what was once the Hotel Fort Des Moines and the core or guts of one of those hotels that all look the same, and it doesnt matter which city you are in cause everything is the same. If that can be avoided then my visuals will go away and I can just sleep.

[dogbo]

I am stil against it, but I guess I can see the value a little more now. As long as it is not re-done to look like other Hiltons and the image of the hotel is taken away to meet some corporate guidelines, I guess I can see how it would be a benefit. I just picture the shell of what was once the Hotel Fort Des Moines and the core or guts of one of those hotels that all look the same, and it doesnt matter which city you are in cause everything is the same. If that can be avoided then my visuals will go away and I can just sleep.

Doesn't the example of the Savory work to answer your concerns?

[cbjason]

I agree with the fact that a major upscale chain would do it good, but if that doesn't happen, would it be a good candidate for a cosmopolitan boutique type hotel? Does DSM even have any boutique hotels?

[DMRyan]

The Suites of 800 Locust is downtown's only boutique hotel and spa. Hotel Fort Des Moines has the bones to continue to remain as a full service hotel. It's got restaurants, bars, gift shops, ballrooms, convention space, etc.

[BenRoethig]

If they do this, I think it almost has to be a complete reconstruction like they're doing with the julien.

[icia]

I would really like to see a Starwood property downtown. Having a Westin, W (unrealistic, I know), or even an Aloft would be great. We always stay at the Savory. It's alright, but it's not what you would call "happening". Plus, I could earn Starwood points while visiting Des Moines.

[Ingersoll1978]

I would really like to see a Starwood property downtown. Having a Westin, W (unrealistic, I know), or even an Aloft would be great. We always stay at the Savory. It's alright, but it's not what you would call "happening". Plus, I could earn Starwood points while visiting Des Moines.

I agree. Starwood is our favorite chain too.

[Aulus]

Back twenty or so years ago when I was a claims adjuster, the local claims association used to have its annual get together/dinner at the Hotel Ft. Des Moines. Afterward, we would adjourn to several "hospitality suites" there for serious drinking and poker games. Trust me, at least through the mid to late 1980's, a large number of Des Moines' property and casualty claims people were card carrying members of Alcoholics Synonymous. Dutifully showing up at many of those suites, I could not help but notice that a lot of the rooms back then were spruced up by multiple layers of paint, so much that the details of the original moldings were almost totally lost beneath countless layers of paint. I won't even begin to describe the condition of the carpets.

So, if management is serious about renovations, I welcome it.

Oh, and BTW, Des Moines DID at one time have a Hyatt. It got torn down years ago in order to clear space for new airport regs. It used to be a block or so north of Army Post road on Fleur. Back when I was working claims, I handled a few for them. One was from some guy who claimed he caught crabs from the bed linens. The other was a dram shop claim from their bar that was totally bogus. They always seemed to attract that sort of nonsense.

[DMRyan]

The nice part is the exterior of this building has been well maintained and preserved, so any renovation efforts could be mostly focused indoors.

It would be a coup for downtown Des Moines if aLoft were at the top of the list for hotels chosen for the redevelopment of the YMCA on the riverfront.