The Des Moines City Council will consider a new grant tonight that would return nearly all lease payments for the planned $95 million downtown soccer stadium.

Why it matters: The arrangement could make financing for the 5,500-seat stadium work, but it also increases taxpayer-backed incentives for the long-planned downtown soccer project.

Driving the news: If approved, the city would award an annual $656,074 grant to the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation after the stadium and public plaza are completed, just $1 less than the foundation's lease payments.

By the numbers: The project has already secured about $62 million in approved or committed public support, including up to $23.5 million in state tax rebates, $17 million from Polk County, and $21.5 million in Des Moines grants.

Zoom in: Des Moines' already-approved portions are a $7 million grant for the stadium project, $1.5 million for the plaza and $13 million tied to environmental costs at the former Dico steel wheel manufacturing site.

The bottom line: The proposed lease-offset grant would add approximately $16.4 million of public assistance over 25 years.

• That would bring the total public assistance tied to the project to about $78.4 million, though the city frames the lease grant as recycling ISDF's own rent payments back to the foundation.

Context: The potential of a grant-back arrangement was referenced in a June 8 council document when a 50-year lease with ISDF was approved.

Behind the scenes: The grant is one of the final pieces in a complex, long-running effort to assemble the project's public-private funding mix.

• It was announced in 2019, delayed in 2022 due to supply-chain and cost pressures, and remained in limbo until recently because of a funding gap and negotiations with local governments.

Flashback: The project drew pushback over its growing public funding when Polk County increased its contribution from $7 million to $17 million in 2024.

What's next: If approved, the annual grant would begin after the stadium and public plaza are completed, which is expected by Dec. 31, 2029.

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A downtown Des Moines complex that includes a former opera house built in 1899 would be demolished under a proposal the City Council is considering tonight.

Why it matters: The proposal pits downtown redevelopment potential against the fate of one of the city's most historically significant but long-altered buildings.

Driving the news: City staff say the buildings meet the criteria for landmark designation, which could delay demolition and force a closer look at preservation options.

Catch up quick: Graham Investment Company is seeking permission to demolish the Brown Garage complex at 401 and 411 Grand Ave. and 516 Fourth St.

• That includes the former Des Moines Auditorium, a 3,000-seat theater that was said at the time to be the second-largest opera house in the country, behind only Chicago's Auditorium Theater.

Zoom in: The auditorium was later converted into Brown Garage, which once housed 1,250 vehicles and was, at one point, the third-largest parking garage in the world, according to city documents.

Behind the scenes: Graham president Doug Den Adel told the Business Record earlier this month that the company wants to clear the property and market the site for redevelopment.

• City leaders were not aware of redevelopment plans, per the Record.

The intrigue: The complex is just across the street from the former Koch Office Group building at 325 Grand Ave., which was demolished in 2024.

• That lot, owned by Knapp Properties, is still undeveloped.

What's next: If the council refers the request to the Historic Preservation Commission, the panel would have up to 90 days to work with the owner on alternatives to demolition.

🏢 A former threshing equipment manufacturing building at 108 SE Fourth St. would be converted into office space as part of a $13.7 million project scheduled to go before the City Council tonight.

• DSM would pay about $3.3 million in incentives over the next 30 years, but city officials estimate it would generate about $6.8 million more in property taxes than if the project didn't happen. (Council document)

🚗 A $15 million "car condo" has opened in Urbandale, offering private garage units for vehicle storage and hobby space. (KCCI)

💡 Iowa's underground hydrogen could possibly support clean energy and fertilizer production, but researchers say development requires funding, data sharing and industry coordination. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Get ready to blow off some steam: A traveling anger workshop comes to Des Moines next month.

Why it matters: It might make you feel better.

Catch up quick: Jo Haas, the founder of The Anger Project, is currently traveling for an artist residency at Ragdale, a nonprofit artists' retreat in Lake Forest, Illinois.

• Haas' idea began more than 20 years ago in Chicago, when their dance work and conversations explored trauma and healing.
• The idea later grew from smashing things into a broader project about expressing anger in a safe, structured place through movement, sound, writing, drawing, storytelling or observation, Haas tells Axios.

Between the lines: This workshop isn't about breaking things — go to Smash Room Iowa for that!

Yes, but: Participants can still bring towels, pillows or other soft props to hit, strike, shake or throw, Haas says.

Go: The workshop is from 6-8pm July 15 at Unity Center of Des Moines, 414 31st St.

• A film screening and collective reflection is from 6:30-8pm July 17.
• Both events are donation-based, with a suggested $20 donation. Proceeds benefit Unity Center.