A new western gateway to Drake University is in the works.

On Tuesday, the university started demolition of the building at 31st Street and University Avenuse that formerly housed Thode’s Sporting Goods and the China Place restaurant, making way for a new entrance to Drake.

Drake recently swapped a building at 3102 Forest Ave. for the building at 3013 University Ave. owned by Bruce Gerleman, said Drake spokeswoman Lisa Lacher. The lot at University Avenue, which is less than an acre in size, will serve as a western entrance to the campus. Drake expects to develop the project during the next two years, she said. The site will be converted into green space until the final western gateway entrance is completed.

Lacher said Drake doesn’t have an estimated cost for the project, and design plans are still in the “formative” stages.

According to the Polk County assessor, Drake bought the property from Gerleman for $540,000. Officials said the university plans to save the bricks from the demolition and will offer them to the neighborhood associations in the Drake area.

Drake sold the building at 3102 Forest Ave. to Gerleman for $420,000, according to the Polk County assessor. The building houses the Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit, which will relocate to another Drake building at 1222 24th St. by Jan. 31. Gerleman, owner of Splash Seafood Bar and Grill in Des Moines, plans to create a barbecue restaurant in the building on Forest.

Gerleman didn’t return phone calls for this story.