Oakridge Neighborhood is advancing a $15 million-plus project to bring larger affordable housing units and a wellness-focused commercial hub to a long-vacant site in downtown Des Moines.

Why it matters: The project targets a persistent gap in the supply of three- and four-bedroom affordable units, especially for working families who spend a large share of their income on rent, Oakridge CEO Deidre DeJear tells Axios.

Driving the news: The Des Moines City Council last week gave preliminary approval for a $25,000 federal grant that the city will allocate to help Oakridge acquire the 1.1-acre site at 1230 Oakridge Drive.

• While that's a small share of the roughly $966,000 land cost, it's a critical step because it signals city support, DeJear said.

Zoom in: The development, dubbed Cynergy, would turn a former parking lot into a mixed-use building with a ground-floor commercial space and three to four stories of housing above.

• The first-floor occupants would include services related to financial and physical wellness, as well as small businesses focused on building workforce pipelines.

State of play: As of 2024, the U.S. had only 35 affordable units for every 100 extremely low-income renters, with Iowa (39) near the national rate, according to a report published last year by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

• That represents a shortage of 7.1 million affordable homes for extremely low-income renters, including nearly 62,000 in Iowa, according to the coalition.

The intrigue: The property at 1230 Oakridge Drive is owned by MainFrame Studios, a nonprofit that leases about 200 studios to artists in a nearby building.

Inside the room: Polk County is also reviewing options to support the Oakridge project, Supervisors Chairperson Matt McCoy tells Axios.

What's next: Oakridge expects to complete land acquisition in the coming weeks, after which it will launch a fundraising campaign.

• Project organizers aim to break ground as early as 2027 and to complete the project within about a year.

Growing up in the newspaper business, The Bake Shoppe co-owner Lisa Kannapel was no stranger to early mornings.

• Kannapel says she's taken on the work ethic of her father, who still owns small-town Iowa papers in places like Armstrong and Ringsted today.

And while she still puts many hours into the bakery, a breast cancer diagnosis last year kept her out of the kitchen — a major endeavor as a "workaholic," she says.

• Now she tries to take more moments to appreciate other parts of her life.
• "Ever since my cancer diagnosis, we've just kind of decided our personal lives are a little more important than we're giving it credit for," says Kannapel, who runs the bakery with her husband, Chris.

What's next: Lisa is in remission, and the Kannapels are opening a second location this spring in Waukee.

• "You only live once," she says.

Here's how Kannapel starts her day:

⏰ Wake up: 5:15–5:45am.

🍳 Breakfast: Two hard-boiled eggs and coffee. Scrambled eggs on the weekends.

📱 What she's reading: Work emails.

💡 Her advice for new bakers: Start at farmers' markets for experience.

Vice President JD Vance has delayed his trip to Iowa State this week due to unexpected congressional votes happening. It will be rescheduled for the fall. (KCCI)

👎 Five Iowa dog breeders are on Humane World for Animals' "Horrible Hundred" list. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🦬 The first three bison calves of the year were born last week at Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. (WHO-13)

💵 A former employee of Children and Families of Iowa plead guilty to theft after $400,000 from the nonprofit were misspent. (KCCI)

🫔 Tamale's Industry in Merle Hay Mall is moving to the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market. (Des Moines Register)

This week's reader question is in the context of Hello, Marjorie's owner opening a new bar called Nothing Major.

What would inspire you to go downtown more often?

• A new restaurant or bar
• Live music/entertainment
• Easier parking options
• More family-friendly events

Flashback: Here's what you told us are the best parks in the metro:

• Raccoon River Park: "There is something there for everyone: Dog park, playground, boat rentals, archery, miles of paths and an ever-changing variety of birds." — Jill Harris
• Union Park: "Lots of green space for walking, a carousel for families, good location next to bike trails and the marina." — Jeff Meyer, DSM
• Easter Lake: "It feels like Grays Lake's sister. I love the different picnic areas, the 4-mile-long loop, the views of the water, the North Shore beach [area] and the covered bridge." — Erin Keeffer, DSM