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Local leaders have established a Des Moines Social Club Transition Board of Directors to help establish a public market at the art deco former Fire Station No. 1. Backers also released new photos and video of what the market could look like.

Named to the board were: 

– Jim Brannen (Chair), FBL Financial Group, Inc.

– Sharon Krause (Vice Chair), Kum & Go

– Rob Feeney (Secretary), Atlantic Bottling

– Jackie Quinn (Treasurer)

– Jay Byers, Greater Des Moines Partnership & Capital Crossroads

– Mayor Frank Cownie, City of Des Moines

– Sally Dix, Bravo Greater Des Moines

– Greg Edwards, Catch Des Moines

– Kelly Foss, Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market

– Joe Gonzalez, Latino Resources, Inc.

– Joseph Jones, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

– Kristi Knous, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines & Capital Crossroads

– Kathryn Kunert, MidAmerican Energy Company

– Matt McCoy, Polk County

– Mac Stanfield, Whitfield & Eddy 

– Tiffany Tauscheck, Greater Des Moines Partnership

The board announced it is pursuing a year-round public market, proposed through the Capital Crossroads process years ago and initially eyed for other sites that included Kaleidoscope at the Hub. The market at Historic Firehouse No. 1 is expected to offer arts and cultural offerings as well as community-building through food, innovation, education and entertainment options.

The board is entering a due diligence period on a long-term plan and finding a sustainable model that focuses on community building. 

Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit planning, design and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces, is in Des Moines this week to visit the site and vet the idea of a public market. The visit will include meetings with supporters and a city tour.