City officials want to encourage the redevelopment of underused surface parking lots.
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.”
Read the full story: Reimagining downtown Des Moines' parking lots
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