Des Moines

Downtown Des Moines, Iowa skyline.

Des Moines Plans to Repurpose Downtown Parking Lots

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

February 7, 2024 - Axios

Food bank worker carries box of food in front of outdoor table filled with food items

Redlined Neighborhoods Experience High Food Insecurity

A study from Des Moines found that households in historically redlined parts of town are more likely to have to seek help from food pantries.

August 9, 2022 - Axios

The Pioneer

Iowa Makes it Easier for Landlords to Reject Housing Vouchers

The state of Iowa's Republican leadership preempted local laws that prevent landlords from rejecting housing vouchers as rent payment.

May 4, 2021 - The Hill

Iowa State Flag

Presidential Politics Enters the Des Moines Rezoning Debate

Julián Castro, Democratic candidate for president and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, chose a side regarding the controversial rezoning proposal making its way through the Des Moines City Council.

August 15, 2019 - Des Moines Register

Iowa

New Zoning Code Evolves as Affordability Concerns Linger

The city of Des Moines is working on a new zoning code intended to ease the process of developing homes. The proposed regulations have triggered warnings from affordable housing advocates as well as local and nation home builders.

August 2, 2019 - Des Moines Register

Des Moines, Iowa

New Zoning Code Aims to Remove Red Tape in Des Moines

The city of Des Moines is hoping to update its zoning code for the first time since 1965.

June 3, 2019 - Des Moines Register

Trailer Parks

Mobile Home Parks as Gentrification Flashpoints

The Iowa State Supreme Court recently sided with a resident of a mobile home park over the city of Des Moines, which had worked to shut the entire mobile home park down.

July 9, 2018 - Thomas Reuters Foundation

Des Moines Mega-Development Likened to a 'City Within a City'

New details of an ambitious infill project in Des Moines were released at the end of 2017.

March 16, 2018 - Des Moines Register

Red Light Camera

Legislation to Ban Traffic Cameras Creates Odd Political Alliances

Republicans and the American Civil Liberties Union back bills to ban red light and speed cameras in Iowa, while Democrats and law enforcement want to allow cities and counties to retain automated traffic-enforcement tools.

January 20, 2018 - Sioux City Journal

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Ambitious Plan Could Completely Remake the Streets of Downtown Des Moines

A $33 million plan would make downtown Des Moines home to a dense grid of bike lanes and a safer place for pedestrians, among other changes.

December 20, 2017 - People for Bikes

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Des Moines Has a Plan to 'Connect Downtown'

Des Moines is considering an ambitious complete streets makeover of its downtown streets.

June 12, 2017 - The Des Moines Register

Park Fountain

Where Millennials Are Entering the Homebuying Market

LendingTree ranks the most popular cities for Millennial homebuyers.

March 25, 2017 - LendingTree

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines' Latest Redevelopment Plan Includes Vertical Faming and More

A proposal by the Greater Des Moines Partnership is the latest bid redevelopment idea transforming downtown Des Moines.

February 14, 2017 - Business Record

Des Moines, Iowa

Downtown Des Moines Hopes Boom Will Continue Into 2017

Des Moines' Downtown Chamber of Commerce expects the city's 2016 development boom to continue into the new year.

November 29, 2016 - Des Moines Register

Des Moines

Reinventing Des Moines

Fairly or unfairly, Des Moines has a solid reputation as one of the nation's least interesting cities. But unbeknownst to the rest of us, this quiet working town might become the Midwest's answer to Austin, Texas.

February 10, 2016 - Politico

Iowa State Flag

The Top 10 Cities for Millennial Homebuyers—Starting With Des Moines

A list of cities with the highest percentage of homebuyers described by the category of Millennial is conspicuously absent of expensive, coastal cities.

October 6, 2015 - Bloomberg Business

A New Toolkit for Developing Urban Agriculture Systems

As cities and towns offer more incentives and planning support for local agriculture, there is still plenty of education and learning to be done to create and sustain local food systems. Enter the Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit.

March 17, 2015 - Seedstock

'Bici Flats': A Bike Oriented Development in Des Moines

A new development proposal in Des Moines called Bici Flats will provide one-of-a-kind amenities to residents who love to bike. But will it become a catalytic development for a downtown neighborhood?

January 20, 2015 - WHOtv

Farming Impacts on Drinking Water Litigated in Iowa

A lawsuit by the Des Moines water utility could change the way the farming industry mitigates its environmental impacts.

January 13, 2015 - Grist

Philadelphia

Friday Funny: Copy-Cat Planner Can't Help It

The Onion has once again focused its satirical gaze on the art and science of planning, this time telling the fictional story of a planner in Des Moines, Iowa, who just couldn't help but copy Philadelphia.

March 28, 2014 - The Onion

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.