There was a great article in Sunday’s Des Moines Register by David Elbert that talked about the redevelopment efforts that have been going on downtown. You can find the full text of the article here. The sidebar to the article had the biggest meaning to me, here’s what was included in it:

Des Moines’ downtown still faces a number of challenges, including:

COMPLETING THE RIVERFRONT: The biggest piece missing from the riverfront plan today is the World Food Prize Headquarters. City officials expect next month to turn over the keys of the former riverfront library to the World Food Prize organization, which plans to spend nearly $30 million to convert the century-old building into a headquarters that will include elaborate riverfront landscaping. The group still needs to raise about $5 million, but construction is expected to begin before year’s end.

HOUSING AND RETAIL: Retail development traditionally follows housing, so the emphasis is on housing. In 2002, a goal was set to add 6,000 downtown housing units. So far, the total is fewer than 1,500. New developments are being planned for an area south of Court Avenue called the Lower East Village and another location called Gray’s Landing between Southwest Ninth and 16th streets south of the MLK bypass. With the current economy, it could be years before either development begins.

Read the rest of this entry »

I know it may be wishful thinking, but here’s my list of businesses that I would like to see come to downtown in 2009. With the renewed interest in building affordable apartment housing downtown, there will be more people living downtown to support these businesses.

Dining Options

My first choice is a place that I loved to eat in South Florida on a weekly basis, Chicken Kitchen. I think this business would do wonderfully as an addition to downtown core. To me, one of the strangest things about moving to Des Moines from Florida is the lack of grilled or rotisserie chicken places. In South Florida, between Chicken Kitchen, Boston Market and Polio Tropical, we would have choices every few blocks. I can just imagine all of the downtown workers would love a new healthy, but fast food choice for lunch. What about a 2-level location, for dining on both skywalk level and street level like in other large cities?

My second choice is Wendy’s. Is Wendy’s just scared of downtown? Do you know how far you have to drive to get to one? The major fast-food franchises are just poorly represented, in my opinion, downtown. Of course you have Burger King, great location, but would it kill them to stay open past 5pm in the evenings and open up on the weekends? If Quizno’s can stay open past 5pm and be open on the weekends, then I think Burger King, who draws a lot larger crowd would be able to make the money to make it work. Now, we have a McDonalds, but only if you want to drive up behind the Capitol. How about a new McDonalds and their sister company, Chipolte, opening up in the Davis Brown Building, or in the retail floors of the new Allied Building, or even in the retail floor of the Gateway Apartments Building? I of course prefer, skywalk access, but a closer downtown location within walking would be great!

Read the rest of this entry »

The Des Moines Register recently published their “Top Dining of 2008″ list. Several of the top were restaurants located here in downtown. Let’s take a look at what they said about a few of them and as I said before this list only contains the downtown restaurants, so the list is not all inclusive.

Check out the full article in the Des Moines Register for the Five Best Fine-Dining Dishes and the Five-Best Casual Dining Dishes.

A big city tradition comes to Des Moines this week. You can get a great meal this week for the low price of $20.08. Participating restaurants will be offering fixed-price menus where $20.08 will buy dinner for one or lunch for two. The special is running August 16th through the 24th and is being presented by: Des Moines Business Record; DSM Magazine; and the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. 
   Read the rest of this entry »

Since moving downtown in March, I find myself walking 300% more than I ever walked living in the burbs. I walk for my health, pleasure, shopping, eating out, grabbing a drink and running miscellaneous errands. With rising gas prices, walking all helps on the budget.

I noticed that cities are starting to be ranked and graded on their “walkability”. A site called Walk Score, gives downtown 50309 a score of 89 out of 100 possible points. Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle—not how pretty the area is for walking.
Here are general guidelines for interpreting a score:

• 90–100 = Walkers’ Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
• 70–89 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
• 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
• 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
• 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

Read the rest of this entry »

I know I have to eat, sometimes too much, but it’s a necessity of life. I’m known as one of those “picky eaters”, since I don’t eat a lot of different foods. I’m more of a “meat and potatoes” guy. When I am hungry for something downtown to eat, I generally venture to one of my favorite restaurants. Here’s my list in a non-ranked order:

• Centro’s – for their steak, great martinis and awesome atmosphere. I always take out-of-town guests there.
• 801 Steak & Chop – great steaks and martinis and affordable on Sunday nights’ prix fixe
• Winston’s – great burgers, chicken sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s a lunch place favorite.
• Smokey D’s – yummy barbecue for lunch, my only complaint is it’s only open for lunch Monday to Friday
• Court Ave Brew Pub – great food all around, good outdoor patio
• Raccoon Brew Pub – good food and cool atmosphere, too bad it’s closed on Sundays
• Legend’s Bar & Grill – awesome BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger and Legends Fries and I love their outdoor patio dinning