An urban farmer who has leased a former Des Moines pocket park for nearly a decade is trying to keep her farm as the city considers selling the land.

Why it matters: Monika Owczarski, who runs Sweet Tooth Farm and helps provide homegrown food to low-income families, has had a complicated history with Des Moines since officials sold other parcels of land she was farming.

Flashback: Formerly known as Royal Park, the quarter-acre plat at 1809 Eighth St. in the River Bend neighborhood was run-down and drawing complaints from neighbors. Owczarski, who lives next door, suggested using the space for a garden, and in 2017, the city agreed to vacate it and lease it to her.

• In 2018, Owczarski expanded her operations to include Central Place Industrial Park, growing her garden operation to more than an acre.
• Though she wanted to purchase the expanded garden, the city ended up selling the Central Place land to a developer in 2021, who never followed through with construction plans. Now, the city is in court trying to reclaim the abandoned property, per the Register.

So when Owczarski learned the city plans to sell the land she gardens on once her lease is up in June, she committed to doing everything she could to purchase it.

• "When you've been burned so much in the past, it just makes it hard to not be worried it's going to happen again," Owczarski says.

State of play: After her lease ends, the Des Moines City Council will consider putting the parcel up for sale, per Parks and Recreation director Ben Page.

• Owczarski is asking for the first right of refusal and says she'll pay full market value.

What they're saying: City Council member Rob Barron says he understands the city's pressure to sell the land for revenue, given the state's property tax limits.

• But he sees value in preserving the space for urban gardening, especially with the Reichardt Community Recreation Center opening nearby.
• "I'm optimistic that we can do something," Barron tells Axios.

The big picture: Beyond the Royal Park land, the city is also considering selling unused land that was part of Bates Park, also in the River Bend neighborhood.

What's next: The Parks and Recreation Board will consider the future of the land during its March 24 meeting.

• The City Council will consider the sale process.

Des Moines is expanding its list of contractors involved in the Improving Our Neighborhoods (ION) program, marking a significant step in a new citywide housing plan.

Why it matters: The program, which offers up to $40,000 to homeowners for home improvements, is likely to see much higher use in the upcoming months.

Catch up quick: DSM has some of the oldest housing in the country, with nearly 28% of homes built in 1939 or earlier, compared to 12% nationwide, according to Census estimates.

• City leaders have worked to improve neighborhoods for decades but widespread needs have made it like a game of Whac-a-Mole.

Zoom in: The City Council adopted the citywide strategy last year to preserve and improve as much housing as possible by expanding programs that encourage repairs.

• Whole-block redevelopment is a long-term plan that could be carried out in some areas, though city leaders stress they will avoid extensive demolitions or displacing residents.

The latest: The program's annual budget is set to increase from $1.3 million to just over $2.5 million for the fiscal year starting in July, as part of a budget proposal.

• The city plans to nearly double the number of contractors working with the program this year to about 90 and manage around 200 projects, which is roughly twice as many as it awarded in its first three years, Dan Grauerholz, the city's property improvement administrator, tells Axios.

What's next: The City Council will hold a public hearing on the upcoming budget on Monday, starting at 7:30am.

• The city administration building, 1200 Locust St. in DSM

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The woman charged this week in the 2011 murder of real estate agent Ashley Okland worked for a home builder at the time of the incident. (DSM Register)

• It's unlikely the public will learn details of the case for years, due to the grand jury indictment process. (KCCI)

🚨 A former Des Moines Public Schools principal from Hoyt Middle School is suing the district, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🏗️ Urbandale is taking additional steps toward a downtown revitalization effort aimed at reshaping the city's core. (Business Record)

✌️ Polk County Recorder Julie Haggerty announced she will not seek reelection and plans to retire at the end of this year after nearly 20 years in office. (Press release)

📈 Iowa's home insurance rates increased 28% last year to an average of just over $2,800. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Greyhound introduced new daily routes this week from Des Moines to St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Why it matters: More towns in Iowa will now have affordable, direct connections to major Midwest cities.

Zoom in: Each route runs once per day in each direction, seven days a week.

• New Iowa stops include Monroe, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Burlington and Mount Pleasant.

Follow the money: The routes are supported by a federal grant administered by the Iowa DOT, which covers 50% of each route's operating deficit — the gap between costs and ticket revenue.

• The grant will cover up to $186,100 for the Indianapolis route and $364,700 for the St. Louis route this year, Matt Oetker, Transit Programs Administrator at the Iowa DOT, tells Axios.

One-way ticket prices fluctuate based on timing and demand, with some of the lowest costs this week starting at around $52.

What we're watching: Whether these routes will still be available next year and if new ones are added.

• The grants require an annual application.

It's gonna be in the 80s this weekend — so it's a great time for something chill.

• Hit reply and correctly guess Jason's location by 4pm for a chance to win some ice cream, courtesy of Scoops by Beth.
• The winner and a story about this location will be in tomorrow's newsletter.