NOTEBOOK: In search of a ‘vision’ for the Val Air
KENT DARR Dec 7, 2016 | 10:59 pm
3 min read time
605 wordsAll Latest News, Business Record Insider, Real Estate and Development, The Insider NotebookThe Val Air Ballroom, standing on the foundation of a rubber factory and serving up the changing sounds of American music to a local audience since the late 1930s, is for sale.
Whether the structure will continue as a venue for live music, not to mention the occasional high school prom and other social events, remains to be seen.
NAI Optimum director Christopher Stafford and sales associate Collin Nelson said the asking price is $2.59 million. The current owners are based in Michigan and they plan to continue hosting concerts and events until the Val Air and the 8.5 acres of land where it sits are sold.
West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer would like to see the Val Air stay.
“From the city’s standpoint, we want to keep the Val Air as the Val Air,” even if it is combined with other uses, Gaer said.
At the city’s request, Neighborhood Development Corp. compiled the Val Air’s provenance and did some research on potential uses and their costs. Though the building won’t win any prizes for unique architecture, it has played a big role in the history of West Des Moines and served as the prominent entertainment venue for decades.
The NDC report points out that the property holds plenty of cultural significance.
The NDC report covers a lot of potential uses, from demolition for new development to mixed-use projects that would preserve the 30,000-square-foot concert hall. The site could accommodate a farmers market, retail center, multifamily housing, restaurant or brew house, for example.
A change of uses would require updates to safety systems. New owners should expect to spend money on new heating and cooling systems and resolve other maintenance issues.
But to the thinking of many people, those would be worthwhile expenses.
Val Air probably would be eligible for historic designation as a cultural facility, according to the NDC report, and qualify for historic renovation tax credits.
In addition, a redevelopment project also could qualify for tax abatement under a new city program for improvements of at least $500,000 on commercial properties.
The Val Air was built on the foundation of what was to be the multistory Wilson Rubber Co. Charles Weitz’ Sons General Contractors was the builder in 1919, possibly taking the job at the same time it was building the Hotel Fort Des Moines. Wilson Rubber went into receivership and Weitz took control of 89 acres of factory land, platting most of it as residential lots.
Tom Archer brought the Val Air to prominence. In 1936 he opened the Tromar Ballroom in downtown Des Moines and in 1939 he bought the Val Air site, building a partially covered ballroom. The promotional material advertised “dancing under the stars.” In the 1930s and 1940s, you could dance to the likes of Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Lawrence Welk.
Archer also owned ballrooms in South Dakota, Omaha, Cedar Rapids, Creston, Marion and Sioux City.
The Val Air was enclosed in the mid-1950s. In the beginning of the rock era, the Val Air hosted the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and the Ventures. The acts changed with the times. Bob Dylan played the Val Air, as did Snoop Dogg.
The Archer family sold the Val Air in 1996 to Mark Kennedy, who later sold it to the current owners.
Its musical future is up in the air.
Nelson and Stafford said they have heard from interested groups, but they are looking for a special owners.
“We haven’t found the right driver of the overall vision for the property,” Stafford said.
Click here to watch Drone video of the site and click here for a marketing flyer.
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