West Des Moines office park could become a neighborhood
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The Regency West building. Photo: Linh Ta/Axios
A sprawling West Des Moines office park that once housed some of the metro's prominent companies could be transformed into apartments, shops and a hotel.
Why it matters: Regency West is a mostly vacant, dated office park in a prominent spot next to Interstate 235.
Catch up quick: The first Regency West building was constructed in 1981, eventually growing into an eight-building office park along Westown Parkway.
- The office park, built by Des Moines businessman Marvin Pomerantz, once housed major companies including ITA Group, Equifax, MetLife, Sammons and Holmes Murphy.
- Over the years, however, tenants have left for newer facilities, while the pandemic also reduced the need for space.
- R&R Realty purchased the property in 2012 and sold it to Chicago-based Bradford Allen in 2025.
State of play: Today, the office park is under 30% capacity with 600,000 square feet of space. Its valuation has dramatically dropped, going from a $52 million assessed valuation in 2023 to just $17 million in 2026.
- West Des Moines is considering a new tax incentive for the area to help pay for redevelopment costs, says the city's economic development director, Ryan Moffatt.
What they're saying: Bradford Allen wants to turn the property into a "vibrant mixed-use destination" with help from tax increment financing, says Nicholas Placek, the firm's executive vice president of development.
- They're considering renovating some office buildings and demolishing the rest.
- Additions could include multifamily housing, retail space and a hotel.
The big picture: Redeveloping the office park is part of the city's overall larger efforts to update the University Avenue corridor.
The intrigue: The modernist-style building was designed by West Des Moines firm Savage and Ver Ploeg Inc., now known as SVPA Architects.
- They gave the building rounded corners with bands of dark-tinted windows all around and glass atriums.
- It makes us want to talk Reaganomics and put on a good power suit.
What's next: The project could be complete in the next eight to 10 years, Moffatt says. The council plans to vote on the tax financing on Nov. 16.