City officials had been mulling three development proposals for the building: A live music venue, for-sale condominiums, and apartments that would include a recreational business tied to a river park tied to the Des Moines River.

Plans for a live music venue hosted by global entertainment behemoth Live Nation caused a stir among some local music promoters and advocates.

Though preliminary details of all three plans had been submitted and released to the public, the City Council had yet to review them in a formal way.

Des Moines Economic Development Director Erin Olson-Douglas said in an email that “after further research, we’ve determined moving staff out of the building requires more time and funds than previously anticipated. The city is taking this time to assess needs and complete proper long-term planning.”

During a workshop in December, the City Council had discussed the fate of the Argonne Armory after learning it needed up to $12 million in repairs. At that meeting, officials discussed extending a lease for office space at Capital Center in the East Village, where some city departments operated during recent renovations to City Hall, regardless of whether the 83-year-old building was repaired by the city or sold for development.

The city’s community development, human resources, civil and human rights, legal, and information technology departments are housed at the Argonne Armory. Moving the IT department during repairs or as the result of selling the building would be problematic and expensive, the City Council was told during a workshop at that meeting.

The fate of the Argonne Armory is part of the city’s assessment of future space needs. Among the possibilities is construction of a new civic building across the street from City Hall. City Manager Scott Sanders has said a decision on that project will not be made for several years.

Developers might want to keep their proposals within reach.

“Our long-term intent is to redevelop the Armory into another use and, at some undetermined point in time, we will seek proposals to do so,” Douglas said.

Hubbell Realty Co., which proposed apartments coupled with the recreational river-related business, wants to stay in the hunt to redevelop the site.

“We’re hopeful it may come up again in the future, and until then we’ll hold on to our proposed plans,” spokeswoman Claire Bremer said.

Christensen Development had worked with Live Nation on the proposed music venue. Blackbird Investments hoped to test the for-sale condominium market.