Photo: Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- The City of Des Moines is moving operations from up to six locations to the former Nationwide building at 1200 Locust Street.
"We have well-over 100 year-old buildings that we're going to be able to get our staff into more efficient space designed for 21st century office uses," says Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders. "It will impact no less than six locations across the city where staff are currently and consolidate that to get the efficiencies of having them closer together."
The Des Moines City Council approved plans to buy the former Nationwide building for $30 million dollars to house some of the city's operations. City offices, the Des Moines Police Department, and some city hall operations will move to the location around 2024. The deal also includes the six-story parking ramp south of the building.
Des Moines Councilmember Connie Boesen says the move will be cheaper than developing the open space next to City Hall.
"For $30 million, we get everybody from three buildings into one," says Boesen. "We have the opportunity to redevelop the land down at the Amory and at the police station, where the whole market area is being redeveloped. It gets us into buildings where we can provide the correct space for our employees."
The proposal passed by a vote of 6-1. The only vote against was Des Moines Councilmember Indira Sheumaker.
"I've had conversations with staff about a potential city annex or buying the Nationwide building or updating some of our older buildings. Not once in any of those conversations was the police station mentioned," says Sheumaker. "I don't believe it's appropriate for the police station to be in the same building as other city services where people can go to deal with city problems."
The former Nationwide building has been empty for two years.