Randolph Hotel Rehabilitation

[DMRyan]

Randolph Hotel Rehabilitation---located at 4th and Court.



Below is the list and article from the DSM Business Record.

Breaking News

Randolph project gets $3.6 million in tax credits

A proposal to rehabilitate the Randolph Hotel at Fourth Street and Court Avenue received tax credits valued at $3.6 million today from the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).

Harry Bookey's BHE Acquisitions LLC plans to convert the eight-story hotel into a 36-unit apartment building. He outlined the idea last fall as a $13 million project.

The IFA today disbursed more than $60 million in funds from the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. The money will go toward projects creating 768 housing units in 15 Iowa communities.

Three other Central Iowa projects received tax credits:

-Conlin Development Group's rehabilitation of 24 units at Willow Bend II Apartments at 6500 S.W. Ninth St. received a $1.2 million award.

-Conlin Development Group's construction of 41 units at Deer Ridge VI Apartments at 6000 Creston Ave. received $3.3 million.

-The rehabilitation of 150 units at the Homes of Oakridge at 926-1236 Oakridge

[Better Life dude]

All in all, pretty good news. Another older building on Court Ave. will be fixed up. I'm happy the homes at Oakridge will see some renovation. This serves the community well.

Got to hand it to Conlin. He should give a seminar to other developers on what it takes to score these credits. It seems like each year he wins some.

[4th&Court]

Only one of the four downtown projects received tax credits for this year. Another year of looking at the hole in the ground for the Metro Lofts project south of Court Avenue. It's looking more like a wetland than a development site these days, with cattails growing out of the lowest point on the site.

Below is the list and article from the DSM Business Record.

Breaking News

Randolph project gets $3.6 million in tax credits

A proposal to rehabilitate the Randolph Hotel at Fourth Street and Court Avenue received tax credits valued at $3.6 million today from the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).

Harry Bookey's BHE Acquisitions LLC plans to convert the eight-story hotel into a 36-unit apartment building. He outlined the idea last fall as a $13 million project.

The IFA today disbursed more than $60 million in funds from the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. The money will go toward projects creating 768 housing units in 15 Iowa communities.

Three other Central Iowa projects received tax credits:

-Conlin Development Group's rehabilitation of 24 units at Willow Bend II Apartments at 6500 S.W. Ninth St. received a $1.2 million award.

-Conlin Development Group's construction of 41 units at Deer Ridge VI Apartments at 6000 Creston Ave. received $3.3 million.

-The rehabilitation of 150 units at the Homes of Oakridge at 926-1236 Oakridge

This is HUGE. The Randolph is the biggest eyesore in the whole Court Ave/4th st district. 4th and Court could become a very hip address! Right now, an address at the Randolph usually means you're on the sex offender list or you have a mental illness. I can't wait until it's a clean, alive, active place to live.

As far as keeping the look of the old hotel (per comment above), they will need to start by restoring it to that look to begin with. It's a very accurate "period look" right now, as long as the period is the 1970s. Not even the outside is very true to the historical structure at this point.

Hurray for downtown and the Randolph!

[Ingersoll1978]

Right now, an address at the Randolph usually means you're on the sex offender list or you have a mental illness.

According to the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, there is only one sex offender at the Randolph. He must have lived there before the 2000 ft. rule went into effect. In Downtown, there are only three sex offenders registered (Sherman Hill has an additional 3). I would assume the ratio of sex offenders living Downtown has been reduced dramatically since this rule went into effect (although we don't know where many of them are now).

About the Randolph, I believe this is the last major renovation project there is on Court west of the river. I can't wait to see the cornice go back up on this building!

The empty piece of land across the street has had to gain a lot of value as this district has sprung back to life.

[4th&Court]

There have been as many as 11 sex offenders living there simultaneously in the time I've lived downtown. It should be noted that the sex offender registry often mistakes the Randolph's address for being either south of MLK or in the East Village. Currently, there does appear to be only 1 listed. I check the site regularly to be certain I know who is creeping.

[dogbo]

In addition to the powerful visual impact a restored Randolph will make to the area, it will provide a living option for many of the individuals needed to work in the area's restaurants, bars, lower level positions needed in some offices, etc (not to mention struggling artists, musicians, etc who usually have income of modest means). Reducing or removing transportation costs is a big benefit for someone struggling to make a living. This should in turn be a benefit to many downtown businesses as compared to some of the suburban counterparts who are located in areas that not only don't offer nearby (i.e....walkable) affordable housing for many of their workers but also don't have the benefits of bus service.

[4th&Court]

In addition to the powerful visual impact a restored Randolph will make to the area, it will provide a living option for many of the individuals needed to work in the area's restaurants, bars, lower level positions needed in some offices, etc (not to mention struggling artists, musicians, etc who usually have income of modest means). Reducing or removing transportation costs is a big benefit for someone struggling to make a living. This should in turn be a benefit to many downtown businesses as compared to some of the suburban counterparts who are located in areas that not only don't offer nearby (i.e....walkable) affordable housing for many of their workers but also don't have the benefits of bus service.

I think this is one of the major goals of the downtown revival. Making it a work-live type of neighborhood. Right now, the balance of wages and cost of living down here isn't right for most. The availability of services is a problem too. But I do think we're moving in the right direction by expanding housing options.

[DMRyan]

I talked with the architect working on this project last week, and he indicated that there will be 4 or 5 commercial spaces, and that the cornice will indeed be replaced (not sure if they're planning on using the original cornice, which Coppola has a portion of stored away). I wonder if the Bail Bond's place will stay.

This is probably assumed, but the 3 story annex to the west of the Randolph is slated to be renovated as well.

[Mulder.DSM]

Any updates on this project? Is it still going to happen? Any timelines?

[vansicek]

It should start fairly soon. NeumannBros construction is in charge of the restoration. Everything has been approved and they are probably waiting on a couple last things before they begin.

[4th&Court]

The only thing I remember seeing so far was some of the nasty facade was removed.

[DMRyan]

It should start fairly soon. NeumannBros construction is in charge of the restoration. Everything has been approved and they are probably waiting on a couple last things before they begin.

I'm not as rosy on the status of this project. While I doubt it's a dead project, it has not gone through the plan/permit review process yet. Last I heard, selling the historic tax credits for projects in Des Moines was holding up or even killing several projects. The latest reincarnations of the proposed redevelopment of the Rumely Building and the Hawkeye Transfer Warehouse Building have died on the vine partially due to this issue.

[dogbo]

Back to question I asked on Metro Loft thread. Does this project have any legs any longer?

[DMRyan]

I'm sure it could reappear as a realistic proposal at anytime, but all has been quiet with this project for well over a year now. I don't consider this to be a project to add to the list of realistically proposed at this time.

[dogbo]

Since this project was awarded tax credits, does it have a deadline attached to it so as not to lose the credits? It will do SO MUCH for the Court District to get this project done.

[DMRyan]

I have a buddy that leased one of the apartments in Hubbell's 4th and Court development. While spending some time out on the balcony watching the happenings of the street last weekend, I couldn't help but notice that for as far as Court Avenue has come, it still is pretty rough around the edges. Aside from this building (which really would be a coup if completed), you have the large empty lot on the SW corner of 4th and Court, all of the dead space the three parking garages along the street take up, a vacant bar and patio at 3rd and Court, and the terrible looking old and dark Judge Roy Bean's spot. We've already heard news on the bar at 3rd and Court and I'm confident that something could/will happen to the Judge Roy Bean's spot fairly quickly, but the rest of the eyesores on the list will take much more of a feat to get accomplished so Court Avenue can really live up to its potential. I suppose we'll throw on the redevelopment of the small parking lot to the east of Sbrocco/Shorty's if perfection is to be lived up to someday.

BTW, the Surf Shack of all places was going very strong on Saturday night. Perhaps it catches some of the spillover when the Liar's Club gets too busy.

[hawk61401]

I have a buddy that leased one of the apartments in Hubbell's 4th and Court development. While spending some time out on the balcony watching the happenings of the street last weekend, I couldn't help but notice that for as far as Court Avenue has come, it still is pretty rough around the edges.

Des Moines still has a legacy it lives up to, take one step forward - two steps back. I remember when this parking ramp was under construction and I thought ... dumb, dumb, dumb. You're taking a huge chunk facing Court Ave stretching from 3rd St to 2nd Ave and creating a dead zone. Too bad this couldn't have been filled with restaurants and outdoor seating instead. I would love to see the day when we do the reverse. Tear down the ramps that sit on prime downtown locations and build housing or mixed use.




photo attributed to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9254027@N04/2874652298/

[dogbo]

That ramp is built so that commercial bays can be easily added at street level. I really think that would be the ideal location for a year-round farmer's market. They could make it open-air and it would just naturally blend in with the regular downtown farmer's market during the season.

[BenRoethig]

I have a buddy that leased one of the apartments in Hubbell's 4th and Court development. While spending some time out on the balcony watching the happenings of the street last weekend, I couldn't help but notice that for as far as Court Avenue has come, it still is pretty rough around the edges.

Des Moines still has a legacy it lives up to, take one step forward - two steps back. I remember when this parking ramp was under construction and I thought ... dumb, dumb, dumb. You're taking a huge chunk facing Court Ave stretching from 3rd St to 2nd Ave and creating a dead zone. Too bad this couldn't have been filled with restaurants and outdoor seating instead. I would love to see the day when we do the reverse. Tear down the ramps that sit on prime downtown locations and build housing or mixed use.




photo attributed to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9254027@N04/2874652298/

You can tear them all down, and then after the businesses leave for business parks with convenient parking and people don't patron the restaurants because its too hard to find a spot, you'll want them back.

[hawk61401]

You can tear them all down, and then after the businesses leave for business parks with convenient parking and people don't patron the restaurants because its too hard to find a spot, you'll want them back.

This is the kind of parking ramp I want to see in downtown Des Moines http://www.velomobiling.com/gallery/Tra ... 845c8bb63c

[SFO2DSM]

You can thank the Federal Government for the parking garage on 2nd/3rd and Court. It's in their contract for the Federal Building to have that parking available from what I understand.

[Mulder.DSM]

It appears that: Sherman Associates is proposing a plan to rehabilitate the Randolph Hotel. Sorry, I don't have any more details, but this is awesome news!

[dogbo]

^ I hope soooooo!!!

[casbern]

..I hope this renovation project doesn't kick out 4th Street Beef.

[hawk61401]

thanks, Mulder, that is great news.

A little history trivia about the Randolph ... In 1923, an elevator crashed from the top floor to the bottom floor killing 2 people and injuring 7. Every victim with the exception of one was a member of the Hill or Hoskins family of Earham, Iowa. They were in Des Moines for a farewell party before the Hills left for a visit to California.

In those days, (the 1920's), elevators in Des Moines had "elevator boys" and many were black. The newspapers pointed out the victim who was the exception, and not a member of the Hill or Hoskins family. He was referred to as "the negro elevator boy".

[DMRyan]

Sounds like a winner to me. Construction on Court Avenue has turned pretty stagnant over the past few years, so an infusion of new life and new businesses should be just the shot in the arm needed. There's some pretty big redevelopment prospects in the area, with the 4th and Court parking lot and the 5th and Walnut parking garage nearing the end of its useful life.

We're going to run out of old buildings to convert downtown soon if all of this renovation work keeps up.

Hotel Randolph

[casbern]

We're going to run out of old buildings to convert downtown soon if all of this renovation work keeps up.

Good issue to have IMO... once all the older buildings are redone, new buildings will be soon to follow (hopefully).

[casbern]

It appears that: Sherman Associates is proposing a plan to rehabilitate the Randolph Hotel. Sorry, I don't have any more details, but this is awesome news!

Any further details?

[dogbo]

Question (not sure anyone here knows the answer, but I'm curious so I'll throw it out there). The very first post on this thread indicates that Harry Bookey rec'd tax credits for this project. If the rumor is true that Sherman & Assoc is taking this over, do they received the tax credits from Bookey or maybe those are now gone since so much time as past? Anyone know?

[DMRyan]

Should be able to give more details on this soon, but this proposal is legit and appears to address everything it needs to to bring the buildings (includng the annex) back to its former glory.