.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
Kansas City Star business columnist Kevin Collison recently visited Des Moines, went home and wrote a piece filled with praise for the planning of Mario Gandelsonas, the East Village, the riverfront and the fine buildings that have been added to downtown in recent years.

He wrote: “Bottom line: Anybody in Kansas City who believes we’ve done enough revitalizing our downtown over the past few years had better wake up. Regional cities such as Des Moines have been striving too, and, more importantly, they’ve been doing it consistently over a longer period of time.”

The online version of Collison’s column drew quite a few comments from readers, many of them equally enthusiastic. For example:

“Des Moines has put considerable focus in establishing a thriving downtown environment with a uniquely impressive skywalk system (one of three such extensive systems in the world). No one can argue its growth or potential for continued growth.

“However, equally impressive is that this is but one of several city initiatives, including growth in the West Des Moines metro area known as Jordan Creek, as well as large business growth in all surrounding suburbs. Des Moines’ strength … is in building up the entire community, not JUST downtown.”

Plus: “Anyone that hasn’t been to Des Moines in the last year or two hasn’t really been to Des Moines. The rate of growth and change is phenomenal in today’s Des Moines, and the downtown is an ever-evolving transition of historic meets new architecture and design.”

And: “I live in L.A. and travel to Kansas City and Des Moines on business 1 or 2 times a year. Downtown Des Moines has an incredible skywalk system, block after block. … Everyone who has experienced downtown Des Moines has been impressed. Downtown K.C. is drab and boring. Believe it or not, downtown Des Moines is bright and vibrant. I’d say K.C. has a lot to learn from the folks in Des Moines.”

Keep those visitors coming.