City of Des Moines could buy Nationwide building downtown

AT SIX, BIG CHANGES MAY SOON COME FOR THE CITY OF DES MOINES. CITY LEADERS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TODAY TO MOVE ITS STAFF FROM THE OFFICES THEY HAVE USED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. THEIR NEW HOME, THE NATIONAL BUILDING AT 12TH AND LOCUST KCCI, IS BEAU BOWMAN IS LIVE TONIGHT WITH THE SCHEDULE FOR WHEN CITY EMPLOYEES MIGHT SO. WE GO STACY CITY COUNCIL WILL NEED TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND NATIONAL ON MONDAY AT THEIR REGULAR MEETING. BUT CITY EMPLOYEES WILL NOT MOVE IN UNTIL AT LEAST 2024. THIS BUILDING SHOULD SUIT US AS A TASTE. THE CITY OF DES MOINES IS NOW PLANNING TO MOVE ALMOST ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO THIS BUILDING AT 1200 LOCUST STREET, THE OLD NATIONAL BUILDING HAS BEEN EMPTY SINCE THE PANDEMIC. THAT’S WHY THEY AGREED TO SELL IT. AND A PARKING GARAGE TWO BLOCKS SOUTH OF TOWN FOR $40.6 MILLION, $40 MILLION IS THE COST OF ACQUISITION. WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SUPERIOR COSTS AND BEYOND THAT AFTER THE DEAL IS CLOSED IN APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS, THE CITY WILL BEGIN TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT NEW OFFICE SPACES. AND BY 2024, THEY HOPE TO DISPLACE EMPLOYEES FROM THE ARMY BUILDING, TOWN HALL AND EVEN THE POLICE STATION, ABANDONING THE EAST VILLAGE. BUT OPEN THESE SPACES FOR REDEVELOPMENT DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A HISTORIC REHABILITATION. THIS, ONCE AGAIN, I THINK WILL BRING MUCH MORE LIFE TO THIS DISTRICT THAN WE CURRENTLY DO WITH OFFICE SPACE FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THE TOWN OF DES MOINES FIRST MOVED TO WHAT IS NOW OLD TOWN HALL 120 YEARS AGO. THEY HOPE THIS NEW SPACE LASTS AS LONG, IF NOT LONGER, AS WE HAVE SHOWN. WE REMAIN IN OUR FACILITIES FOR A LONG TIME, 100 YEARS. SO THIS BUILDING BEHIND US WILL BE CITY OFFICE SPACES FOR ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED YEARS. NOW THE CITY SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE LAST TO MOVE TO THIS NEW LOCATION. NATIONWIDE PLANS TO KEEP ITS BUILDING DIRECTLY EAST OF THIS AT 1100 LOCUST. WE ARE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN LES MOINES.

City of Des Moines could buy Nationwide building downtown

Updated: 6:12 PM CDT, September 9, 2022

Des Moines city leaders said Friday they are considering buying one of the Nationwide Insurance buildings on Locust Street in downtown. The city would pay $30 million for the Nationwide building. City leaders say the purchase would allow them to consolidate all city government services into one facility. But city employees won’t move into that building until at least 2024. City services are currently spread across five sites. The city hopes to relocate employees from the armory building, city hall and even the police station. Nationwide has consolidated all of its employees into another building nearby downtown. City Council will discuss the plan at Monday night’s meeting.

DES MOINES, Iowa—

Des Moines city leaders said Friday they are considering buying one of the Nationwide Insurance buildings on Locust Street downtown.

The city would pay $30 million for the Nationwide building.

City leaders say the purchase would allow them to consolidate all city government services into a single facility. But city workers won’t move into that building until at least 2024.

Municipal services are currently spread over five sites. The city hopes to relocate employees from the armory building, city hall and even the police station.

Nationwide has consolidated all of its employees into another building nearby downtown.

City Council will discuss the plan at Monday night’s meeting.