Polk County is continuing to accept proposals for its parking lot at Fifth Avenue and Cherry Street with a March 31 deadline for proposals to be submitted.

The county announced last fall that it would begin seeking proposals to redevelop the nearly 2-acre lot in hopes of creating a multiuse link between the Court Avenue District and other yet-to-be-developed properties to the south and west.

Polk County Deputy Administrator Sarah Boese said in an email that the county is still accepting proposals and that the county is working closely throughout the process with city of Des Moines development staff.

Carrie Kruse, the city’s economic development administrator, said in an email that the site is zoned DX2, which will require a minimum height of three stories with a maximum height of eight stories. The zoning requires nonresidential ground floor use with consistent building entrances and transparent window systems.

According to the RFP, goals for the site are for mixed-used with commercial that will bring something new to the neighborhood, and cater to a combination of residential and office users during days, evenings and weekends.

A preference for development would include concepts that acknowledge the history of the site, as well as pay some homage to Des Moines’ Union Station and the rail and industrial legacy of the area.

Kruse said there is also a preference for a single phase of development, and that no long-term project with phases be proposed.

“We really want to see a plan for the full block,” she said in an email.

“We look forward to seeing how this clean slate/full city block will transform and bring additional vibrancy to the area,” Cody Christensen, director of development services for the city, said in an email.

Next steps

The deadline to submit a proposal is 11:50 p.m. on Monday, March 31. Once a proposal is accepted it would go before the Polk County Board of Supervisors for approval and the county would enter into a purchase agreement with the developer.

Kruse said there would also be a development agreement with the city that would follow the usual process through the City Council, Urban Design Review Board, Planning and Zoning Commission and back to the City Council.

It’s unknown how long that process would take because it depends on how quickly the design team can get through the proposed improvements, she said.