Three nonprofit or public entities have submitted proposals for public uses for the federal courthouse located at 123 E. Walnut St. in Des Moines, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. General Services Administration.

The deadline to submit proposals was Aug. 12.

The identities of the entities that have expressed interest in the property will remain secret until reviews of the proposals are completed, Charlie Cook, GSA spokesperson, wrote in an email. Cook cited an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act that allows the identity of groups that submit proposals to remain confidential.

The courthouse, constructed between 1927 and 1929, is considered excess federal property and is currently in the process of being disposed of by the U.S. General Services Administration. The five-level courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the first steps in disposing of the property is screening proposals for other public uses or needs by groups that work with the homeless.

According to a GSA document, public uses can include community centers, schools and colleges, emergency management facilities and others. In addition, homeless assistance groups, state and local governments, eligible nonprofit organizations and other community-based institutions can submit proposals for public uses of the federal property.  

It will take between 60 and 150 days for the proposals to be reviewed and decisions made on whether any of the three proposals are “eligible to repurpose the property for public use,” Cook wrote. Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will make that determination, he wrote.

A spokesperson for the city of Des Moines, which has facilities near the federal courthouse, has said the city is not interested in the property. Polk County officials have also said they are not interested in the property.

If none of the three entities that submitted proposals are allowed to acquire the building, it will be sold during an online auction.

The GSA manages all of the federal government’s properties, including the sale of excess real estate.
A new federal courthouse is under construction at 101 Locust St., prompting the GSA’s disposal of the East Walnut Street property.

Related article: Local developer interested in acquiring historic federal courthouse