DES MOINES, Iowa- City leaders are announcing plans for some major changes at Fire Station One, at 9th and Mulberry in Des Moines. The historic building has housed the Des Moines Social Club for several years, but this year the non-profit announced it was no longer financially sustainable.
Now there are plans to turn the space into a year-round public market, built around tenants and vendors selling fresh produce and food. Organizers say the concept builds on the Des Moines Indoor Farmer's Market concept.
Kristi Knous of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines tells WHO Radio News many of the details have yet to be ironed out, but she says backers are expecting they'll need to raise between $5 million and $7 million to make necessary changes.
Knous says they intend to maintain the Des Moines Social Club's "spirit" of the arts. The building features a small theater, and a culinary arts kitchen. She also says she expects art as well as music to continue to be a big part of the space.
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines along with several other entities including Christensen Development, architecture and engineering firm BBS, Polk County, Drake University, the City of Des Moines and the Greater Des Moines Partnership, are working on the project.