Valley West corridor makeover begins in West Des Moines
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A map pointing out the planned urban development pilot spot just north of Interstate 235. Map: Courtesy of the City of West Des Moines
West Des Moines officials are reimagining the aging Valley West Mall area as a denser, more walkable district, starting with a block near Valley West Drive and Westown Parkway.
Why it matters: The corridor still draws a steady number of visitors, and decisions made now could shape how it evolves over the next 10 to 20 years.
Flashback: Since 2019, West Des Moines and Clive have studied potential improvements to the University Avenue corridor, spanning roughly from Interstate 80 to the west, Interstate 235 to the south, and 22nd Street and 86th Street to the east.
- A redevelopment plan released in 2023 outlined ways to modernize the area's suburban, car-centric, strip-mall design to a more urban, pedestrian-friendly area, WDM development coordinator Linda Schemmel tells Axios.
- The study area covers more than 650 acres. Recommendations include increasing density, placing parking lots behind businesses, widening sidewalks, and making smaller, internal roadways more pedestrian-friendly.
Driving the news: A planned Kwik Star at 3501 Westown Parkway could be the first new development under this framework.
- The city is testing its updated design on a block that includes Whylie Eye Care and the former Valley West Inn site.
- West Des Moines City Council is expected to vote Monday night on a tax incremental financing designation that includes the pilot area and the Valley West Mall site.
Between the lines: Existing businesses are not required to make any changes unless they make major renovations, meaning redevelopment plans will happen gradually, Schemmel says.
Zoom out: Negotiations over Valley West Mall — the project's centerpiece — have been delayed, WDM economic development director Ryan Moffatt says, though a developer has been under contract since July.
- Existing lease negotiations with mall tenants, plus extended due diligence, have slowed the process, he says, and the deal has not been finalized.
What's next: After a new city councilperson is elected, the council is expected to discuss and approve plans for the whole 650-plus acres.