Historic site of Des Moines' Northwestern Hotel to house new restaurant

The North Des Moines City Hall building could be saved under a $2.5 million plan that goes before the city's Urban Design Review Board Tuesday.Why it matters: The 134-year-old building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It's sat vacant for years and is considered to be one of the most endangered buildings in the city, according to the Des Moines Rehabbers Club.Flashback: The building was briefly used as a North Des Moines municipal building until the community was annexed by Des Moines in 1890.The second floor had been used as an opera house.What's happening: Six Avenue Corridor —...

Whenever Jade Song was going through a hard time, her mom would tell her, "ua siab ntev."The Hmong phrase is used to tell someone to be patient. And for many older Asian immigrants, assimilating and not stirring things up was a means of survival when settling in the U.S.But Song, who is second generation, is ready to demand change as she builds her life here in Des Moines."I'm tired of being patient," the 34-year-old said.Driving the news: May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To commemorate, Axios Des Moines spoke to the children of refugees who fled the...

The doors of Noah's Ark will remain open for now after restaurant managers won a temporary protection from eviction Friday.What's happening: The Des Moines restaurant made headlines last week because of a dispute among family owners that threatened to shut it down.A faction of the Lacona family that owns the real estate wants to evict another faction that leases and manages the restaurant. But a judge blocked efforts to terminate the lease, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.Of note: Litigation over rent and repairs is ongoing.What you're saying: Several Axios Des Moines readers shared their favorite memories about the 75-year-old restaurant...

Des Moines will construct 28 blocks of sidewalks this year in residential areas that have not previously had them.Why it matters: Most of the locations, many of which are near schools, were identified among the most pressing public safety priorities in a 20-year plan to fill in missing walkways across the city. Catch up fast: Many Des Moines homes were constructed before city ordinances that require sidewalks. There's been a growing call in recent years to build them to promote mobility and healthier communities.The city identified nearly 700 miles of sidewalk gaps in 2017 and adopted plans the following year to first focus on school walk routes and bus stops.The latest: The City Council approved a $1.9 million contract last month for this year's new sidewalks.They'll vote May 23 on a separate $250,000 plan for dozens of sidewalk replacement projects.Of note: DSM has another $10 million planned in new school and priority route sidewalks in 2023-2026. Go deeper: Review the locations of this year's planned new sidewalks.

Waukee Public Library has eliminated its policy to issue fines for overdue materials, but some Axios Des Moines readers shared that they're skeptical about the decision. State of play: The Waukee library will not allow patrons with overdue materials to check out additional items.Waukee's initially suspended fines in March of 2020 and has not experienced any problems, Sam Bedford, a library spokesperson, tells Axios. What you're saying: "Yes, it's discriminatory to people with less income. Plus, it makes others afraid to check out materials because of late fees." — Marna Sullivan, Dubuque"Library fines are a subtle reminder of responsibility. This is, unfortunately, another example of our expanding 'give away society.'" — Eddie Cunningham, Shelbyville, Kentucky. (Formerly of Beaverdale and Urbandale)"Libraries should charge late fees, but the fees should be very minimal as DMPL has done." — Bridget McNerney, Windsor Heights"If I'm in line for a book and have been patiently waiting on the wait list, you better believe I'd want incentives to keep that list moving, and what other motivation can people have to return on time than fines?" — Nicole Findlay, DSM"What is next? Maybe eliminating speeding fines because they may impact low-income people?" — Michael Rexroat, Moline, Illinois

Des Moines' park system ranked #25 in the nation this year, according to a ParkScore report released last week by the Trust for Public Land.That's up 10 spots from last year and ahead of places like Atlanta, San Diego and Tampa.Why it matters: It's a measure of quality of life. Parks provide health and environmental benefits while also contributing economic value to a community, according to the National Recreation and Park Association.Zoom in: The ParkScore index is based on access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment.Recent improvements at multiple parks, including Riverview and Witmer, helped boost the city's score, Jennifer Fletcher, a spokesperson for DSM Parks and Recreation, told Axios.By the numbers: Des Moines has 76 parks with more than 4,000 acres of land.72% of Des Moines residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, far ahead of the median 55% for the 14,000 cities and towns in the ParkServe database.Yes, but: There's room for improvement. Des Moines' lowest score was in equity.Residents in neighborhoods where most identify as a person of color have access to 60% less park space per person than those in predominately white neighborhoods, the report shows.

From pickleball courts to a two-story indoor playground — the City of Urbandale is dreaming up big ideas for a new community complex.Driving the news: The majority of surveyed Urbandale residents (74%) said they would approve a property tax increase for a new community complex, according to a Selzer & Co. poll released by the city Wednesday.Urbandale is considering a bond referendum in March 2023 that would increase property taxes by $115 for a home valued at $200,000.State of play: For over a decade, the city has identified the southeast corner of Meredith Drive and 152nd in the Walnut Creek...

Waukee Public Library this week terminated a policy that charged patrons thousands of dollars a year in fines for overdue books and other materials.Borrowing privileges have also been restored for those who owed $5 or more.Why it matters: Fines create barriers to library access that disproportionately impact low-income residents, Waukee library officials said. The big picture: Waukee joins a growing national movement in which libraries are questioning whether fine policies truly align with their core mission.The American Library Association passed a resolution in 2019 urging its members to "actively move towards eliminating" fines and to strengthen funding so they're not...

Several federal nutritional aid programs that Des Moines families have relied on during the pandemic are expected to end this summer.Why it matters: Without the programs, many families will not only have to return to paying for lunches, but they'll likely be at a higher cost due to increased food prices. Some Des Moines metro school boards have already approved increasing their lunch costs by up to 25 cents per meal, in comparison to the 2019-20 school year.State of play: Local schools have provided free lunches to students this last school year, thanks to a U.S. Department of Agriculture program...

The YMCA of Greater Des Moines is now open to a future without a presence in the massive downtown facility it has occupied since 2015. Why it matters: The Y is among the largest fitness centers in the metro, and the nonprofit aims to provide residents more affordable options for exercise, child care and youth activities.

A family dispute could put Noah's Ark out of business, according to a recent court filing from the longtime Des Moines restaurant's management. Catch up fast: Noah Lacona, who started the restaurant in 1947, died five years ago. A faction of Lacona's family, who represents a trust that owns the...

A new exhibit at Johnston's Gold Star Military Museum shares the stories of women who helped free or account for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. "League of Wives" will open to the public Thursday at 7pm, and run through Aug. 31. Admission is free. Details: The exhibit shares...

Urbandale's monthlong Spring Clean-up effort starts Monday, just ahead of multiple others in the metro.Why it matters: It's a thrilling time for the metro's thrift crowd who can find useful goods for free, and it saves items from the dump. That's a win-win. How it works: Urbandale's cleanups take place in certain zones over four weeks.On each zone's collection week, residents are asked to put discarded items out on their curbs by 6am Monday.Plan a treasure hunt: Here's a rundown of some upcoming area cleanup days across the metro.Clive: May 7 (West of I-80/35).Norwalk: May 16.Windsor Heights: May 21.West Des Moines: June 6-10.Reminder: Be respectful and tidy up. Nobody wants junk scattered in their yards or streets. A few curbs in Clive Friday, just ahead of a Saturday spring cleanup covering the eastern side of the city. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios Map courtesy of the city of Urbandale

MidAmerican Energy will pledge to help the city of Des Moines reach its environmental goals under a draft agreement published online last week.Why it matters: The partnership could influence future environmental and economic policies involving one of the Midwest's largest energy companies. Driving the news: The City Council will consider on Monday 13-year electric and gas franchise renewals with MidAmerican, which gives the utility company permission to use the public rights-of-way to service customers.The cooperation agreement is a separate document that will be considered in June, after the third and final public hearings for the franchise renewals.Details: The cooperation agreement...

503 Cocktail Lab + Tasting Room bar director Jake Humburg was named Iowa's top mixologist in the Iowa Restaurant Association's annual Mixology Championships last week.Zoom in: "Between the Frames" is one of four drinks Humburg made in the competition, which included a $1,000 prize. The cocktail has Templeton rye, blanc vermouth, fig jam, kumquat, black tea, hopped-lemon bitters and MSG.Drink it: Three of the drinks are on the Lab's menu at 503 Locust St. in Des Moines.Open Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-9pm; Friday and Saturday 4pm-11pm. "Between the Frames," one of last week's winning drinks. Photo courtesy of 503 Cocktail Lab + Tasting Room

An independent review's recommendation to require Des Moines police to document the race and ethnicity of all people they stop is raising logistical and accuracy questions.Why it matters: Multiple civil rights groups consider the information critical in efforts to eliminate racial disparities in policing. But City Council members recently raised concerns about implementation since Iowa doesn't require that driver's license applicants self-identify.State of play: Des Moines police currently only collect data on individuals they stop if it results in a citation or arrest. Even then, officers don't always document race and ethnicity if the information isn't available.If Des Moines were...

After we published the lineup of upcoming curb shopping opportunities in the metro Monday, Des Moines reader Mary Humphrey asked us: "Why do the suburbs have a spring clean-up pick up day but Des Moines has to deliver the trash to a SCRUB site?"Context: Des Moines' Spring Cleanup to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) events take place the third Saturday of each month between March and November this year.Items must be delivered to designated spots rather than being left on curbs.Answer: DSM's nine SCRUB days cost the city a total of about $250,000, paid mostly by residential trash bills, Public Works director Jonathan Gano told Axios last week.A one-time suburban-style curb collection is estimated to cost $750,000, Gano said.The bottom line: SCRUB days are most efficient for DSM, which has more than 900 miles of roadways.Of note: Scavenging is not permitted at Des Moines SCRUB events.

Data: Des Moines Area Association of Realtors; Chart: Baidi Wang/AxiosSome early home sale numbers for 2022 are signaling a potential cooldown in Des Moines' hot housing market later this year.Driving the news: Pending home sales are down 11% for the first quarter of 2022 in comparison to 2021 — an early sign that closed home sales will also trend downward, Ted Weaver, president of the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors, told Axios.It's the first year-over-year decline in recent years, Weaver said.State of play: Since the housing boom started in 2020, 30-year mortgage interest rates in Des Moines have increased...

Mortgage rates have surpassed 5% — their highest in more than a decade, according to data shared by Freddie Mac. Why it matters: Low mortgage rates made buying in a sellers' market more affordable in the pandemic. In March 2022, median home sale values in Des Moines were up 13.7% year over year, and now borrowing money is more expensive, too. Already-fatigued buyers could be priced out of the market.Data: Freddie Mac, Redfin; Chart: Simran Parwani/AxiosState of play: A year ago, mortgage rates were at 2.97%. In late April 2022, mortgage rates were at 5.11%.By the numbers: If you...

Ash tree adoptions saved about 100 from being removed from public areas in Des Moines last year, Shane McQuillan, the city's forester, tells Axios.Why it matters: Today is the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, a celebration of trees. Adoption is one way to help improve our community's forestry program. Catch up quick: Roughly 600 ash trees that were dying or most vulnerable to the invasive emerald ash borer beetle were culled last year.The beetle has the capacity to kill all ash trees that are not chemically treated, including about 13,000 in Des Moines' public areas.Treatments costs around $120 for each...