D.M. council approves expanded outdoor seating at restaurants
KATHY A. BOLTEN Jun 10, 2020 | 4:23 pm
2 min read time
425 wordsAll Latest News, Government Policy and Law, Retail and BusinessThe Des Moines City Council this week approved a resolution that would allow restaurants to increase outdoor seating, a move that would help establishments serve more customers.
The resolution is an effort to address the financial losses experienced by restaurants in the city that for more than eight weeks were not allowed to have dine-in service due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
In May, when restaurants were allowed to again serve customers indoors, they could only do so at 50% capacity.
At a meeting on Thursday, the council is expected to approve a measure that would allow bars to expand outdoor seating.
Also at its meeting on Monday, the council:
- Approved a request to designate the Varsity Theater at 1207 25th St. a landmark. The Des Moines Film Society, which has made an offer to buy the property, plans to renovate the structure and reopen it sometime in late 2021 as the Varsity Cinema. Designating the two-story, 103-year-old building a city landmark will give the nonprofit a boost in obtaining state historic preservation tax credits to help with renovation costs.
- Approved terms of a preliminary development agreement with District Developers LLC, which is proposing a $750 million redevelopment project in the Market District in downtown Des Moines. The redevelopment would occur over 15 years and would include an indoor-outdoor event venue, a hotel, and apartments and condominiums. The preliminary development agreement includes the sale of city-owned land to District Developers at a fair market and an economic development grant.
- Approved final terms of an economic development agreement with Lawmark LP, which plans a $59.3 million renovation of the Financial Center at 207 Seventh St. The renovation includes converting 13 floors of the building to a full-service, upscale hotel. The economic development agreement includes up to $7.5 million in assistance generated from tax increment financing. The assistance is 12.7% of the project’s expected costs.
- Directed the city manager to negotiate an economic development agreement with the owner of Southridge Mall. Genesis Health Clubs, a Wichita, Kan.-based group, is proposing to convert the site of the former Sears store at Southridge Mall into an athletic club and multisports facility with a focus on basketball. The development agreement would include up to $7.4 million in financial assistance in the form of tax increment financing. The proposed assistance is 55% of the project’s estimated cost of $13.5 million. Also, the city would provide Macerich Southridge LLC, the mall’s owner, with a $500,000 grant to pay for replacing the roof on the western portion of the mall.