Gray's Landing/Riverpoint West: A step forward

[BriGuy]

I understand that Iowa, possibly Des Moines, is in the running for a major expansion facility for Microsoft. If so, it is likely that Iowa has been courting Microsoft for quite some time and perhaps the Gray's Landing area is the best area DSM has to offer downtown. Because it needs to be close to a large water source, it is doubtful the suburbs could get this one if Iowa was fortunate to snag this one. Until Microsoft announces where it will build, perhaps mum will continue to be the word on Gray's Landing.

[DMRyan]

The developer has started demo work on the large Jeld-Win warehouse in Riverpoint West (not taking to this Gray's Landing naming very well yet). I think SW 11th Street is supposed to be built within the next year, opening up the main north/south boulevard through the development.

I would rather see Microsoft build somewhere else other than downtown unless they build on the contaminated DICO site. It's underutilization of the land in this area for a one story warehouse with less than 100 employees.

[Mototail]

I would just simply prefer that Microsoft build downtown anywhere so we get more diverse rather then just having insurance as an example downtown!

Where is the article about Des Moines being in the running for the expanding of Microsoft.

[DMRyan]

I get what you're saying, but the downtown employment base is already incredibly diverse. Just because Des Moines is big in insurance doesn't mean there's just insurance companies down there. Look at all the financial and investment companies that have set up shop here too. There's this notion that because there's a huge white collar base, that Des Moines is some how a one-trick pony employment wise and that it's entirely centered around insurance. The diversity of many of our largest employers show that this couldn't be further from the truth.

[Mototail]

Yea, that's not entirely what I was saying...

so....but if the location happened then this could spruce up that old image of just being insurance..

Found the article by the way:

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/arch ... enter.html

We talk about the diversification of tech jobs in my Master's MPA classes at Drake. It's something that Des Moines needs to work on to ensure steady growth in the future.

I suggest that people read this article.

[DMRyan]

I'm all for the continued diversity of employment downtown, or anywhere in the metro. I'm not for putting in a huge one story warehouse of computer equipment with a couple dozen employees in what is supposed to be our next mixed use redevelopment district (unless, it again goes on the tough to develop DICO site). If this lands in a business park somewhere in the Des Moines metro, I'll do a backflip too.

[rasmeth]

I'm not for putting in a huge one story warehouse of computer equipment with a couple dozen employees in what is supposed to be our next mixed use redevelopment district

I agree, but if there was a way to put a potential data center there that was a couple of stories tall and had windows it might be better than having it in a less visible location.

[Des Moineser]

Microsoft probably cares nothing about visibility. This building is entirely utilitarian. They certainly aren't selling anything from it. And with the cost of the servers and the fiber optics, they won't want to drop money on looks and stories. A cheap, functional building is what we'll get. Which is fine for this application. I'm very sure this will be built on the SE side if we get it.

[econboy]

From speaking with someone who spends alot of time at the Statehouse today, he indicated that the incentive package should go through just fine and that IDED is keeping things quiet!

However, he also indicated that some of the Senate may want to tone down the 'energy cutback' retoric right now, b/c it could scare Microsoft away if they think that energy costs might rise alot in the near future.

That being said, I still think that Marshalltown and Waterloo are looking good for the power plants, and that our new green energy sources should help some. This plus the Google presence should help push Microsoft into Iowa.

[bramasoleiowa]

From speaking with someone who spends alot of time at the Statehouse today, he indicated that the incentive package should go through just fine and that IDED is keeping things quiet!

However, he also indicated that some of the Senate may want to tone down the 'energy cutback' retoric right now, b/c it could scare Microsoft away if they think that energy costs might rise alot in the near future.

That being said, I still think that Marshalltown and Waterloo are looking good for the power plants, and that our new green energy sources should help some. This plus the Google presence should help push Microsoft into Iowa.

I really wish our elected leaders would get off their knee-pads trying to get Microsoft to Iowa.

Just a few years ago AG Tom Miller put Iowa in a class-action lawsuit to get $10 per person for over-charges of products and politicians called Microsoft one of the worst companies around.
And at his State of the State address earlier this yearCulver denounced a loophole of corporate welfare.

"It's just not fair that big, out of state, multi-billion dollar corporations that do tens of millions of dollars of business in Iowa avoid paying Iowa income taxes because of an outdated tax loophole."

So this brings us to Iowa giving millions of dollars of tax breaks to get 60 jobs.
But... new month, new attitude for our hypocrites on the hill.

[Ingersoll1978]

Please keep discussion in this thread on Gray's Landing (Riverpoint West).

Please talk about Microsoft in this thread:
http://absolutedsm.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3052

[DMRyan]

Below is the newest concept rendition of the Riverpoint West/Gray's Landing Development. Changes to this plan include less housing units (around 500 versus the 700 originally proposed) and an increase in commercial office space. This concept looks to include about 740,000 sq. ft. of commercial office and retail space. It appears as if there will be less mixed use retail space along the 11th Street corridor, which should start construction within the next year. A big box store is still shown in the plans for this development.

Concept_Map_May2008.jpg

[rasmeth]

I like how the buildings line MLK Parkway and face north, but I think that northeastern block is almost all parking which isn't good because it's in a such a prominent spot. I like how Riverpoint West is incorporating the surrounding grid system for its streets.

[Better Life dude]

When you drive by on MLK Blvd. you can see dirt being pushed around. It will be good to see some new building going up. In my lifetime I want to see new housing go in this area!

[doubleWindsor]

Obviously I need to see the sight in person, but can someone (who is more familiar) explain why that area is not a flood risk?

[rasmeth]

..and other parts of downtown appear to be at risk of flood too.

[SpinningBird]

Obviously I need to see the sight in person, but can someone (who is more familiar) explain why that area is not a flood risk?

Because it sits up higher than the river.

[doubleWindsor]

Obviously I need to see the sight in person, but can someone (who is more familiar) explain why that area is not a flood risk?

Because it sits up higher than the river.

Thanks for clearing that up.

[couch]

Fron the first post:

Riverpoint West was unattractive to developers for years because the area was flood-prone. The problem was fixed with a floodgate after the floods of 1993.

[Mastermind]

This is now called Gray's Landing correct??? They have been hauling tons and tons of dirt to this site for a few weeks now. They probably have 3 stories worth of dirt!

[Better Life dude]

I think all that dirt is coming from the Wellmark site and is being parked at its new location until it can be used for yet another project. Just my hunch. It is a lot of dirt, though.

[vansicek]

Does anyone have any idea how tall the comercial buildings that line MLK are. I was reading in the city plan for downtown that they need to be fairly tall in order to create the feeling of an urban parkway. This may not be possible due to zoning and the amount of un-leased office space in downtown already.

[DMRyan]

The zoning for this area requires a minimum building height of three stories as a design guideline. The office buildings that were most recently proposed were 3 or 4 stories.

[vansicek]

Well that's not very exciting.

[couch]

I'd like 2 things that I don't see in this plan: focus and variety.

The plat seems to not give any reason that this area should be built. It's just like something you would see in any of the suburbs. People come to downtown to escape that feeling. Perhaps a unique area of retail and restaurants on the southern end, overlooking Gray's lake? I know we don't need another area competing with EV, the Western Gateway, and Court Ave, but I would like to see this development have purpose.

In terms of variety: I know it is the standard procedure now to practically gift huge tracts of land to developers to do with what they will, carte blanche. It is the rarely seen exception for units in a development to be very different from one another (The Reserve on Polk, anyone?). Is this area going to be anything else? I don't want to see 500 identical townhomes going up. I'd rather see it sit vacant until there is enough demand to actually make something of this area. Could we have someone develop a master plan, then sell individual lots for development by families? That would insure variety, and give these urban pioneers a sense of ownership in their neighborhood.

For that matter, it would distinguish this neighborhood from just another development.

[Mastermind]

[Better Life dude]

As you drive along MLK Parkway these days you can clearly see much improvement with removal of old warehouse buildings and adding fill dirt to prepare the area for whatever will be built there. If you look just right, you can now see all the way from MLK Blvd south to the Raccoon river dikes.

[DMRyan]

Now that things are cleared and demolished, you really get a feel for just how prime of a piece of development ground this really is. As much as we all want progress, I'd almost rather see this project held off until the market warrants the construction of a quality development. I don't want to see the city and the developer put an effort in to do a substandard development in phase I, just to get something off the ground.

It's not 100% urban, but I can live with this office park in this area. It's such a large piece of land to develop.

[wdsm81]

I heard the other day that the Stetson Building will be knock down in October. I am assuming that it is for this project? Has anyone else heard any updates?

http://www.assess.co.polk.ia.us/cgi-bin/invenquery/pickdp.cgi?dp02001091011001=020%2F01091-011-001&map=Y&report=WebPublic&photo=Y&fixed=N&sketch=Y

[DMRyan]

Looks like the Stetson Building is already owned by Hubbell Realty. Their portion of the development is one story flex office space. I can't imagine anyone building new spec office space right now, but I suppose if they have the right tenant in mind. Once the State of Iowa takes over the Mercy Capitol complex, there may be some consolidation of state offices including pulling out of leased spaces. These Riverpoint office buildings have landed a decent amount of state government office workers over the past few years.