Des Moines leases vacant City Hall for events
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Des Moines vacated its longtime City Hall building early this year. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Des Moines is opening its recently vacated historic City Hall for event rentals as the search for a permanent tenant continues.
Why it matters: The move signals a stopgap strategy to activate a prominent public space along the city's riverfront as the site's longer-term future remains uncertain.
Driving the news: The City Council this week approved a rental agreement allowing limited use of the building for community-focused events, starting with the Des Moines Metro Opera's June 6 gala.
- Event organizers will pay a minimum base rental fee of $5,000 in addition to security or cleaning costs.
Catch up quick: The three-story, 66,000-square-foot building was vacated this year when the city closed several buildings and relocated offices to the T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building at 1200 Locust St.
- The city began soliciting proposals about two years ago for groups interested in leasing and redeveloping the City Hall site, which has so far been unsuccessful.
Yes, but: Plans to convert the city's now-vacant Argonne Armory office building, located just north of the old City Hall, into a mixed-use space with apartments, retail and an upscale bar are in the works.
The fine print: The council is currently allowing a total of up to four events at its former City Hall site.
- A review process to change the building from office use to assembly use would be required to exceed that number, according to council documents.
- The other three possible events have not yet been booked.
What we're watching: Whether the initial rentals help shape a permanent reuse plan, as deputy city manager Matt Anderson tells Axios he hopes to see.