Preservation at its Best 2017, Commercial Small: Green & Main (Des Moines) The Northwest corner of 19th and Center Streets in the Sherman Hill Historic District has a history of mixed residential and commercial usage. Formerly known as the H&H Grocery Store, the two-story brick building contributed to the neighborhood’s designation as a National Historic… Read more »
Preservation at its Best 2017, Multi-Family Residential: Franklin Apartments (Des Moines) For many years, the property at 1811 6th Avenue seemed to be a forgotten set from a Hollywood horror movie. The hulking, vacant, deteriorating 6,000+ square foot converted mansion evoked a sense of unease and disregard. Cloaked by wildly growing bushes and trees, the… Read more »
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced that more than $32 million in historic preservation tax credits have been registered for 14 different projects in eight communities across the state for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The State Historic Preservation and Cultural & Entertainment District Tax Credit program provides an income tax credit of up… Read more »
2016 Preservation at its Best, Public Building: Polk County Courthouse Designed by the Des Moines-based architectural firm of Proudfoot & Bird, the current Polk County courthouse was built in 1906. Constructed for $750,000 on the site of its 1858 predecessor, the Beaux-Arts style courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979…. Read more »
2016 Preservation at its Best, Residential: The Randolph The Randolph—previously the Hotel Randolph—combines three historic buildings into one complex. The three buildings—dating back to 1876, 1896 and 1912—had been combined into one hotel with 101 tiny units. Though it was one hotel, the three buildings were different both in their style and in their construction…. Read more »
2016 Preservation at its Best, Large Commercial: American Enterprise Group The American Republic Insurance Company building is an 8-story building located on the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and Watson Powell Jr. Way in Des Moines. Designed in 1965 by one of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP’s legendary principal architects, Gordon Bunshaft. The American Republic… Read more »
2015 Preservation at its Best, Sustainability in Preservation: Samuel Green Rowhouse–Norden Hall The Samuel Green Rowhouse–Norden Hall was located at 709 E. Locust Street, Des Moines, and occupied what was once a mid-block lot on the edge of the State of Iowa Capitol Grounds. This area was historically known as East Fort Des Moines. The… Read more »
2015 Preservation at its Best, Residential: Plymouth Place When it was built, the 1968 building design was unlike anything Des Moines had ever seen. The tall, concrete cylinder was inspired by the progressive philosophy of Le Corbusier and by the forms of Bertrand Goldberg’s Marina City. The Des Moines housing tower was also a function… Read more »
The Des Moines Rehabbers Club has resurrected its annual “Most Endangered Buildings” list. Focused on highlighting significant Des Moines buildings in danger of demolition or neglect, this year’s list includes gathering places for the community, centers of entertainment, family homes that have housed important figures… these places matter. And some of them are in danger…. Read more »
