1 big thing: Drivers going "egregious speeds"

Des Moines' Court Avenue will lose some lanes under reconstruction

2. 🚧 Court Avenue to lose lanes

Former WHO Radio host launches "The Iowa Podcast"

3.🎧 Worthy of your time: The Iowa Podcast

Des Moines' weekend planner: Sept. 23-25

4. Your weekend planner: Sept. 23-25

Do you see yourself with a new career? 

5. 👩‍🎨 1 fun thing to go: Rotating art

Red sculpture entitled “Xuberant!” by artist Craig Snyder

🍾 It's Friday; we're at the pearly gates of the weekend. Will you make it in?

Highs in the upper 50s with a chance of rain.

🎂 Happy early birthday to our Axios Des Moines member Dan Purcell! 

🏡 Situational awareness: Statewide, home sales prices jumped 13% in August as compared to the same month last year, according to a new report from the Iowa Association of Realtors.

Housing affordability is at a 33-year-low.

Today's Smart Brevity™ count is 760 words, a 3-minute read.

👨‍🔧 A local production of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Sweat" runs through Sunday at the DSM Civic Center's Stoner Theater.

In the meantime, please share and recommend our free newsletter.

This newsletter was edited by Ross Terrell and copy edited by Lucia Maher.

Des Moines

Picture of the Des Moines skyline with DSM written across it.

Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta.

Axios Des Moines

Des Moines sweetens its Market District incentive

1 big thing: A sweeter Market District deal

A drawing of the Market District in Des Moines.

The biggest eyesores in Des Moines

2. 🥹 The metro's biggest eyesores

A photo of the Kaleidoscope in Des Moines.

3. The Ear: Poppin' with news

Illustration of two hands coming out of laptop screens to grab a bowl of popcorn

4. ☕️ Morning routine: Zach Nunn

New jobs to check out

We invite you to draw Des Moines' neighborhoods

5. ✏️ 1 fun thing to go: Draw Des Moines

It's Monday and what would have been Robert D. Ray's 94th birthday.

Iowa PBS' new documentary about the former governor debuts tonight at Drake's Sheslow Auditorium in DSM.

🎂 Happy birthday to Axios Des Moines member Tracy Lewis!

Today's Smart Brevity™ count is 773 words, a 3-minute read.

👩‍💻 1 affordability tip to go: There's a federal program to help low-income families pay for the internet but few are using it.

Another good deal: A free subscription to our newsletter.

Des Moines seeks help curbing Court Avenue crime

1 big thing: A Court Avenue intervention

Des Moines councilperson Indira Sheumaker pays panhandling fine

2.💰 Councilperson pays panhandling fine

3. The Ear: Let's just cut to the cob

Illustration of a neon sign depicting an ear of corn, reading "The Ear."

New nonprofit program adds housing on Des Moines' vacant lots

4.🏡 Hot home and good for the neighborhood

Now hiring: New job openings

Saucy questions with Des Moines' Chuck Offenburger and Mary Riche

5. 😍 Saucy questions with Chuck and Mary 

A photo of Mary Riche and Chuck Offenburger.

😘 Hey, Wednesday, we'd never ignore you.

👷🏼‍♂️ Situational awareness: Meetings about a proposed 1,300-mile carbon dioxide pipeline that would route through northern Polk County are scheduled today.

In person: Noon-3pm at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

Today's Smart Brevity™ count is 885 words, a 3.5-minute read.

🍕 Mayor Clayworth would require taxpayer subsidies for all Big Tomato Pizza sold between 1am-3am.

🌜Mayor Ta would encourage more restaurants to stay open late.

📚Become an Axios Des Moines member and contribute $100 or more between now and September 30th to receive a copy of Axios' Smart Brevity book! Promotion Terms apply.

Polk County ponders a new affordable housing model

1 big thing: A new affordable housing model

Illustration of San Francisco row of houses with dollar signs floating above them

Mapping Iowa's dry, hot summer

2. 🥵 It was one dry, hot summer

Home Touch Kitchen: Des Moines' new Afro-Soul food restaurant

3. 🇬🇭 First bite: Home Touch Kitchen

4. The Ear: Maized but not corn-fused

Illustration of a cornstalk and two goldfinches silhouetted against a sun and sky in neon colors. 

5. 👀 Where's Jason?

🍻 It's Thursday and the first day of fall. 

Grab a sweatshirt and one of these seasonal, local beers.

✉️ Situational awareness: Gmail users may start seeing more political emails.

A Google pilot program allows campaigns to bypass spam folders.

Today's Smart Brevity™ count is 709 words, a 2.5-minute read.

🌵 One drought buster to go: DSM residents can get a 50% rebate — up to $2,000 — on rain barrels through the city's public works department.

Des Moines to launch a new lead pipe abatement program

1 big thing: DSM's $200M lead pipe problem 

Illustration of pipes shaped like a dollar sign.

2. ⚰️ Polk County seeks a morgue buddy

More Iowans are working from home

3. 🧑‍💻 Home is where the work is

4. The Ear: A-corn report

Illustration of a tin-can phone with one end covered in a wrapper with "The Ear" printed on it, and lightning bolts coming out of it.

Seeking employment?

5. 📕 1 good read to go: Smart Brevity

5. 📕 1 read to go: Smart Brevity

🏜 It's Tuesday and it's getting hot in herre.

Expect record highs in the mid-90s and sunny.

🗳 Situational awareness: It's National Voter Registration Day.

Here's how to request an Iowa absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 election.

Today's Smart Brevity™ count is 811 words, a 3-minute read.

💋 And thank you for reading our free newsletter — Tell your friends about us!

Des Moines' East Court Avenue will be reconstructed from the DSM River to East 14th Street as part of a two-year, nearly $33 million project that starts next spring.

Why it matters: It's the start of big changes for one of downtown's most prominent streets.

There will be lane reductions and the speed limit will be permanently lowered by five miles-per-hour in most sections.

Catch up fast: DSM conducted a walkability study in 2016 that resulted in setting goals to make the city more pedestrian friendly.

The timing of East Court Avenue's changes are prompted by pavement conditions that warrant full reconstruction, city engineer Steve Naber said during a public forum last year.

Plus: The work comes just ahead of expected growth along the avenue.

The redevelopment of an industrial area into what will be known as the Market District will add thousands of housing units.

Details: The new street configuration will generally narrow traffic to one lane in each direction with buffered bike lanes.

Concrete bump-outs constructed at intersections will shadow parking spots and shorten pedestrian crossing distances.

Driving the news: The DSM City Council authorized city staffers last week to proceed with obtaining temporary easements for the project.

Construction will take place in two phases and conclude in the fall of 2024.

Traffic

Des Moines&#x27; East Court Avenue will be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reconstructed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dsm.city/departments/engineering_-_division/e_court_avenue_reconstruction_project.php" data-vars-content-id="51a00fd5-65de-4ea0-9266-faa286502dc7" data-vars-headline="Des Moines&#x27; Court Avenue will lose some lanes under reconstruction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dsm.city/departments/engineering_-_division/e_court_avenue_reconstruction_project.php" target="_blank">reconstructed</a> from the DSM River to East 14th Street as part of a two-year, nearly $33 million project that starts next spring.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the start of big changes for one of downtown&#x27;s most prominent streets.

News

Axios Des Moines, anchored by Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

Last month we asked for your opinions about the metro's greatest eyesore.

It was linked with a story about a city of Des Moines initiative to track problematic properties.

"The deterioration along MLK. Too many unkempt properties are a detraction along a main corridor into the downtown area," — Carol Morrow, Ankeny

"The Kaleidoscope mall, especially from the viewpoint of the skywalk," — David Jennings, DSM

"The Homeless Camp on MLK between 9th and 15th. I know this is a bigger issues than being an eyesore but it needs to be addressed," — Nancy Paulson, DSM

The new federal courthouse under construction in downtown DSM. Drawing Courtesy of Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects via the U.S. General Services Administration

⬆️ "The (still-under-construction) federal courthouse downtown. It's not dilapidated, but seeing it is a reminder of what could have been and how the feds completely ignored what our community wanted," — Danny Akright, DSM

Selections range from the Kaleidoscope Mall to the deterioration along MLK.

The Kaleidoscope mall inside downtown DSM's skywalk system was supposed to be demolished in 2019 to make room for a 33-floor residential building. The plans have stalled and the mall remains shuttered. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Last month we asked for your opinions about the metro&#x27;s greatest eyesore.<ul><li>It was linked with a story about a city of Des Moines initiative to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="track problematic properties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/08/22/des-moines-track-problematic-properties" data-vars-content-id="80265ffe-f31a-476e-a8f4-3fd6d8b541c6" data-vars-headline="The biggest eyesores in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/08/22/des-moines-track-problematic-properties" target="_self">track problematic properties</a>.</li></ul>

🍻 Oktoberfest Des Moines: German food, craft beers and live music.

Friday and Saturday along Fourth Street, just south of Court Avenue in downtown DSM, 3pm-1am. Gate admission is $25.

🍷 Winefest: Friday and Saturday at Capital Square and Cowles Commons in DSM, 6pm-9pm. Tickets start at $50.

💃 Latino Heritage Festival: Nearly two dozen food vendors plus live entertainment and cultural booths at DSM Western Gateway Park.

🍁 Illumifest: WDM's fall festival celebration includes free games, a jazz concert and fireworks.

🌪 Artist Alice Aycock — the sculptor of the DSM airport's "Liftoff" — will talk about her work.

Grand View University's Viking Theatre starting at 3pm, free admission.

Check out Oktoberfest, the Latino Heritage Festival and more.

🎸Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit will play at the Val Air Ballroom in WDM, Sunday at 8pm. ($55) Photo: Gary Miller/Getty Images for Shock Ink

Weekend

<h5>Friday</h5>🍻 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oktoberfest Des Moines" data-vars-click-url="https://oktoberfestdsm.com/index.html" data-vars-content-id="a96339a4-d422-4861-9b3f-6a7add318534" data-vars-headline="Des Moines&#x27; weekend planner: Sept. 23-25" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://oktoberfestdsm.com/index.html" target="_blank">Oktoberfest Des Moines</a>: German food, craft beers and live music.<ul><li>Friday and Saturday along Fourth Street, just south of Court Avenue in downtown DSM, 3pm-1am. Gate admission is $25.</li></ul>

Things to Do

Why it matters: It adds another option for local news content, which has been disappearing in recent years.

Catch up fast: It's a production from Justin Brady, a former WHO Radio talk show host.

Each weekly episode includes a 30-minute discussion with Iowans who are at the forefront of business, culture or news.

Listen to it: Eight episodes are posted online or through podcast platforms like Apple or Spotify. They feature people like Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, WHO-TV anchor Elias Johnson and Raygun owner Mike Draper.

Justin Brady. Photo courtesy of Justin Brady/The Iowa Podcast

Illustration courtesy of The Iowa Podcast

Podcasts

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Iowa Podcast" data-vars-click-url="https://iowapodcast.com/" data-vars-content-id="c24b9ac3-f72f-4fad-9aea-f62aeba44de0" data-vars-headline="Former WHO Radio host launches &quot;The Iowa Podcast&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://iowapodcast.com/" target="_blank">The Iowa Podcast</a> launched last week.Why it matters: It adds another option for local news content, which has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="disappearing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/03/11/des-moines-register-saturday-print-edition-ends" data-vars-content-id="c24b9ac3-f72f-4fad-9aea-f62aeba44de0" data-vars-headline="Former WHO Radio host launches &quot;The Iowa Podcast&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/03/11/des-moines-register-saturday-print-edition-ends" target="_self">disappearing</a> in recent years.

Business

Market District developers will receive up to 100% of the new taxes generated from their projects over the next 20 years. 

It will help subsidize construction, according to an agreement approved last month by the Des Moines City Council.

Why it matters: It's potentially millions of dollars more in taxpayer incentives.

A previous agreement capped an incentive known as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) at 93%.

Context: The Market District is a 10-block, 39-acre area near downtown's East Village that was previously used by industrial businesses.

A conceptual plan to transform the area into a downtown urban neighborhood with thousands of residential units, hotels, offices and entertainment venues was approved by city planners about two years ago.

Redevelopment and new construction could exceed $1 billion.

State of play: Much of the area has been cleared for redevelopment and some streets are constructed and ready for new buildings.

But developers worry that rising interest rates and construction-related costs could stymie progress.

What's happening: The boosted incentive is available to Market District projects that start by the end of 2027.

Developers of projects that begin later will receive the lesser TIF incentive.

What they're saying: The additional incentive would likely lower a project's overall costs by a few percent points and could be important in maintaining construction progress in the district, developer Paul Hayes told Axios last week.

Of note: The development agreement prohibits the use of residential tax abatement.

That leaves TIF as the primary local incentive in the Market District, Ryan Moffatt, an economic development coordinator for the city of DSM told Axios.

Bottom line: The district faces market challenges.

The city is trying to offset some of the pain to keep the project's momentum.

What's next: There is likely to be a few building projects that come forward in the next year, Hayes said.

Sites like this near Southeast 4th and Raccoon streets are being cleared to make room for Des Moines' new Market District. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

Market District developers will receive up to 100% of the new taxes generated from their projects over the next 20 years.

Market District is located near East 4th and East Market streets, adjacent to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway on the south and near the Des Moines river on its western edge. Rendering courtesy of JSC Properties via the city of Des Moines

Market District developers will receive up to 100% of the new taxes generated from their projects over the next 20 years. <ul><li>It will help subsidize construction, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an agreement" data-vars-click-url="https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2022/22-389.pdf" data-vars-content-id="c8b8e9c4-a3c5-416e-b14b-961544d48d7a" data-vars-headline="Des Moines sweetens its Market District incentive" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2022/22-389.pdf" target="_blank">an agreement</a> approved last month by the Des Moines City Council.</li></ul>

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Stories

The biggest eyesores in Des Moines

Des Moines sweetens its Market District incentive

Des Moines' Court Avenue will lose some lanes under reconstruction

Former WHO Radio host launches "The Iowa Podcast"

Des Moines' weekend planner: Sept. 23-25

Newsletter editions

🤝 Market District deal

☠️ Killer speeds

🏠 Affordable forever homes

🚨 Rescuing Court Avenue

☣️ Lead pipes, everywhere