City of Des Moines to Acquire Dilapidated Highland Park Property

Walking past the old I.O.O.F. Hall on Highland Park’s eastern edge last week, I couldn’t aid but notice how the building’s sagging roofline and boarded-up windows seem to whisper stories of a bygone era—stories that now intersect with Des Moines’ pressing need for thoughtful urban renewal. The news that the city is moving toward acquiring this 119-year-old structure through a voluntary agreement isn’t just another real estate transaction; it’s a microcosm of the broader challenges and opportunities facing midwestern cities grappling with aging infrastructure, shifting demographics and the quiet urgency of adaptive reuse. For residents who’ve watched Highland Park evolve from a streetcar suburb into a tightly knit enclave of bungalows and revitalized commercial strips along Euclid Avenue, this moment feels less like an ending and more like a pivotal question: what do we preserve, and what do we reimagine?

The building in question—once a bustling hub for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge and later a neighborhood drug store—sits at the intersection of Highland Avenue and East 12th Street, a crossroads that has seen generations of Des Moines life unfold. Constructed in 1907, it exemplifies the Romanesque Revival style common in fraternal organization halls of the era, with its arched windows and rusticated stone foundation hinting at civic pride that once anchored the block. Over decades, as the Odd Fellows’ membership waned and retail patterns shifted, the structure fell into disrepair, its three stories now deemed uninhabitable by city inspectors. Yet even in its current state, the building retains architectural bones that specialists from Iowa State University’s College of Design have noted could support a sensitive rehabilitation—provided the economic math works out.

This potential acquisition ties directly into Des Moines’ broader economic development strategy, particularly the city’s focus on revitalizing neighborhood corridors outside the downtown core. The Highland Park area, bounded roughly by Hickman Road to the north and University Avenue to the south, has benefited from targeted investments in recent years, including streetscape improvements along Highland Avenue and facade grants administered by the Neighborhood Development Corporation. City officials involved in the discussion—speaking not for attribution but in line with standard municipal practice—have indicated that the voluntary acquisition approach aims to avoid eminent domain proceedings while giving the owner a clear path forward. Such mechanisms are increasingly common in cities like Grand Rapids and Madison, where balancing property rights with community revitalization requires nuanced tools.

Beyond the immediate real estate implications, this move touches on second-order effects that resonate throughout the local economy. Vacant or underutilized properties like this one don’t just represent blight; they create ripple effects—reducing foot traffic for nearby businesses on East 12th Street, complicating emergency vehicle access in dense residential zones, and potentially affecting property values in a neighborhood where homeownership rates remain strong but aging housing stock demands ongoing investment. Conversely, a successful redevelopment—whether into mixed-use housing, a community workspace, or a catalyst for small business incubation—could activate underused square footage while honoring the building’s historical character. Groups like Preservation Iowa have long advocated for such approaches, arguing that adaptive reuse often delivers better long-term sustainability than demolition and new construction, particularly when leveraging federal historic tax credits.

Looking ahead, the conversation around this property will likely involve multiple stakeholders, each bringing distinct expertise to the table. The City of Des Moines’ Planning and Urban Design Department will lead feasibility assessments, while the Historic Preservation Commission will weigh in on any alterations to the building’s exterior features. Meanwhile, local lenders familiar with renovation financing—such as those at Community Bank & Trust of Iowa—may play a key role in structuring viable paths forward for prospective developers or nonprofit partners. These entities aren’t just abstract players; they’re woven into the fabric of Des Moines’ economic ecosystem, their decisions shaping not just skylines but the everyday experience of residents navigating streets from Beaver Avenue to Hubbell Avenue.

Given my background in analyzing how macroeconomic trends manifest at the neighborhood level, if you’re a Highland Park resident or small business owner watching this situation unfold, here are three types of local professionals you’ll aim for to consult as the process evolves:

• Adaptive Reuse Architects: Look for firms with demonstrable experience converting historic commercial or institutional buildings into residential or mixed-use spaces, particularly those familiar with Iowa’s State Historic Tax Credit program and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Question to see portfolios that include projects in Des Moines’ Sherman Hill or River Bend neighborhoods, where sensitivity to existing fabric is paramount.
• Neighborhood Economic Development Specialists: Seek practitioners who understand the interplay between property acquisition, small business retention, and equitable revitalization—ideally those who have worked with organizations like the Greater Des Moines Partnership or the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families. Their value lies in anticipating how changes to a landmark property might affect long-term tenants or informal community gathering spots along corridors like Highland Avenue.
• Historic Property Financing Advisors: Focus on professionals who specialize in stacking funding sources—combining municipal grants, federal historic tax credits, and community development financial institution (CDFI) loans—to make complex rehabilitations financially viable. The best advisors will have recent experience navigating programs offered through the Iowa Economic Development Authority and can clearly outline timelines and compliance requirements.

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