Downtown Hy-Vee financial package goes before City Council
The Des Moines City Council will be asked today to approve preliminary terms of a development agreement for a $30 million Hy-Vee Inc. grocery story and 81-unit apartment complex at 420 Court Ave. that includes the transfer of the 2.3-acre site to the developers at a value of $3.3 million and 15 years of tax abatements. Also under the terms, about 100 surface parking spaces will be open to the public after 7 p.m. Some Court Avenue businesses have objected to a full-service Hy-Vee at the location, and chief among their concerns appeared to be the loss of parking at the site. The agreement would abate 100 percent of taxes for 10 years, 80 percent in years 11 and 12 and 75 percent for years 13 through 15, according to a staff document. According to a report to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the project could generate $4.2 million in annual sales taxes, a portion of which would be refunded to the city as part of the Iowa Convention and Entertainment Reinvestment District, a special taxing district that has gained preliminary approval from the state. Its focus is the development of a four-star convention center hotel.