Des Moines Plans to Repurpose Downtown Parking Lots

City officials want to encourage the redevelopment of underused surface parking lots.

1 minute read

February 7, 2024, 9:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Downtown Des Moines, Iowa skyline.

Downtown Des Moines, Iowa. | f11photo / Adobe Stock

City officials in Des Moines, Iowa want to put the city’s underutilized downtown parking lots to better uses to spur economic development and bring in a more diverse group of businesses, according to an Axios article by Linh Ta.

As the article notes, “26% of downtown Des Moines' commercial business district is dedicated to surface parking lots, according to Parking Reform Network.”

In the early 2000s, the city made a similar move, purchasing former car dealerships and empty lots in its East Village. “The bottom line: Those lots have since turned into venues like the AC Hotel, Zombie Burger, Scenic Route Bakery, RAYGUN and Clyde's Fine Diner — making East Village one of the most visited and walkable areas in Des Moines.”

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 in Axios

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