Reimagining downtown Des Moines' parking lots

State of play: 26% of downtown Des Moines' commercial business district is dedicated to surface parking lots, according to Parking Reform Network.

• And surface parking lots have become the most appealing spots for downtown developers because they don't have to knock anything down, Anderson says.

Yes, but: Now, large surface lots owned by Wells Fargo on downtown's south side and others owned by Principal on the north side are underutilized, due to hybrid work.

What we're watching: Anderson says the city doesn't know when those lots will potentially be put up for sale, but there are already local developers ready to snatch them up.

• A surface lot owned by the county south of the Polk County Courthouse is expected to be redeveloped in the future, though there is no timeline yet, Anderson says.
• Expect the block to be redeveloped in a way that swings Court Avenue from a "drinking district to a well-rounded entertainment district," he says.

Flashback: The city purchased former car dealerships and empty lots in the East Village in the 2000s-2010s with the hopes of developing them into restaurants and hotels.

The bottom line: Those lots have since turned into venues like the AC Hotel, Zombie Burger, Scenic Route Bakery, RAYGUN and Clyde's Fine Diner — making East Village one of the most visited and walkable areas in Des Moines.