Housing, music venue, river outfitter options for Des Moines’ Argonne Armory

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Three developers met a March 30 deadline for proposals for redeveloping the 83-year-old Argonne Armory Building, current home of a handful of city of Des Moines departments at 602 Robert D. Ray Drive.

A development team of Blackbird Investments and Invision Architecture of Des Moines and investment management group TMG have proposed converting the building to 24 for-sale condominium units with a parking lot on the north side of the structure used for on-site parking and residential amenities, according to a release from the city.

Hubbell Realty Co. would convert the upper two floors to 29 apartments or condominiums and use the lower level for residential amenities and a river recreation outfitters space in the first phase of a three-pronged project. In phase two, a building in the north parking lot would include a parking structure and retail. A third phase proposes the construction of additional housing over the phase 2 parking structure.

A team of Christensen Development and California-based events promoter and venue operator Live Nation would create a live music venue, then a mixed-use structure on the north parking lot that would consist of retail, parking and residences. The main event space would have a capacity of 2,000 and would include a smaller “legion hall” for 800. The proposal includes a supporting lounge and bar space.

The building was among six that contributed to the designation in 1988 of the Civic Center Historic District, an area that runs on the east and west banks of the Des Moines River and includes the U.S. Courthouse, the main post office, City Hall, the Municipal Courts Building (the police station), the original library and the former Des Moines Coliseum, which was destroyed by fire and eventually became the site of the Riverfront YMCA. The property is vacant again and is owned by Hubbell Realty Co.

Original blueprints identified the building as the Armory and World War Memorial Building.

The Argonne Armory Building now serves as home to the city’s community development, human resources, civil and human rights, legal, and information technology departments.

Sold or repaired, city staff has recommended vacating the building as part of the shuffle of city workers that was triggered by the shuttering of City Hall last year for the $8.3 million replacement of aging mechanical systems and other renovations.

Factoring in the cost of renting temporary office space for workers at the Argonne Armory Building along with replacing a boiler, windows, roof and HVAC systems, the price to the city could be $10 million to $11 million, Deputy City Manager Carl Metzger has said.

The City Council will discuss the proposals in greater detail during a work session on April 30, according to the release.