The Greater Des Moines area was abuzz with activity related to commercial real estate in 2020, from the redevelopment of the Financial Center and opening of the Surety Hotel in what once was known as the Midland Building to an enclosed driving range planned for Copper Creek Golf Course to the purchase by Merle Hay Mall owners of the former Sears property.

Those however, weren’t the10 commercial real estate-related stories that were clicked the most online by Business Record readers. 

Those stories, in descending order, were: 

10. Construction begins on Zora, new Ingersoll Avenue establishment: The new bar and restaurant at 2120 Ingersoll Ave. is being developed by Ed Allen of Des Moines. He expects the establishment to open in March 2021.

9. Kreg Tool begins construction in Ankeny: The new headquarters for Kreg Enterprises Inc. is expected to be completed by fall 2021.

8. Microsoft plans two new data centers in West Des Moines: The Business Record was the first to report that Microsoft Corp. plans to build two additional data centers in West Des Moines.

7. Historic Varsity Theater to be sold, renovated, reopened: The Business Record was also the first to report that a nonprofit arts group planned to buy the Varsity Theater at 1207 25th St. 

6. New exterior design for Hy-Vee grocery stores revealed: Members of the Grimes Planning and Zoning Commission were among the first people to see the new exterior design for Hy-Vee’s grocery stores. The grocery chain is building a store at 351 N.E. Gateway Drive in Grimes that is slated to open by September 2021. The store will include a nail salon, DSW Shoes, Joe Fresh Clothing and Starbucks.

5. Project Update: Fleet Farm: In late 2019, the Business Record added a new feature to its weekly CRE newsletter called Project Update in which short updates are provided on projects underway in the Des Moines area. The feature has proved popular with readers, generating hundreds of clicks weekly. In 2020, the update about the Fleet Farm under construction in Waukee was so popular with readers that it was the fifth-most-clicked-on CRE story in 2020. The store opened in late August.

4. Bankers Trust files foreclosure petition on downtown Des Moines parking garage: In September, Bankers Trust Co. filed a foreclosure petition on a downtown Des Moines parking garage. The petition claimed that 5th and Walnut Parking LLC and developers Justin Mandelbaum and Sean Mandelbaum are in default on a $48 million note on which payments were to begin being made on Aug. 31. While work on the garage continues, the remainder of the project called the Fifth faces an uncertain future.

3.Development group unveils proposal for airport casino-hotel complex: A group that included Wild Rose Entertainment proposed a $250 million development at the Des Moines airport. The development, which was shot down by Des Moines Airport Authority, was proposed to include a 350-room hotel and casino that would be connected to the airport and parking by skywalks, fronted by a Bellagio-scale dancing water fountain that would serve as a centerpiece tourist draw.

2. Vacant south-side retail building to become outpatient clinic for veterans: A former building that had housed a national toy store is being repurposed into an outpatient clinic for veterans. In July, JD Des Moines LLC bought the property for $1.7 million. JD Des Moines is managed by Johnson Healthcare Real Estate in Alabama. Johnson Healthcare is the project’s developer. In September, a commercial building permit valued at $10.7 million was issued for the project. 

1.$250 million multiuse development planned for Grimes: A story that broke in late October about a $250 million development with 50 acres of turf-covered athletic fields planned for Grimes was the top CRE-related Business Record story of 2020. Hope Development & Realty LLC plans to develop what’s being called Hope District, a 200-acre area northwest of Iowa Highway 141 and East First Street that will include hotels, restaurants, retail and destination entertainment venues. Included in the development will be the Grimesplex, a privately owned, 50-acre multiuse sports tournament complex with more than 70 soccer fields of varying sizes, up to 26 baseball and softball fields and 13 football fields. The complex, which is expected to be turned over to the city of Grimes in 2030, will include lighted fields, concessions, restroom facilities, and areas for food trucks and vendors.

MAP:A proposed $250 million mixed-use development in Grimes is expected to include hotels, restaurants, retail and a multiuse sports tournament venue that would open in fall 2021. The sports venue would include fields for soccer, baseball, softball and football. The development, called Hope District, is proposed for 200 acres northwest of Iowa Highway 141 and East First Street. Site map courtesy of Hope Development & Realty