“They have built up quite a good reputation for doing these projects with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” Carrie Kruse, Des Moines’ economic development coordinator, told the Urban Design Review Board this week.

Johnson Healthcare was recognized in May as the nation’s fifth-largest health care developer. The company has about $300 million invested in VA facilities.

In 2012, the Des Moines City Council approved a development agreement and master conceptual plan with Macerich Southridge LLC for the redevelopment of the then-mostly vacant Southridge Mall.

Since then, the mall and the surrounding area have begun to be redeveloped. Des Moines Area Community College has opened a satellite facility in the portion of the mall that had been occupied by J.C. Penney. A Unity Point medical clinic was recently completed as an in-fill project and 334 residential units are planned in areas north and east of the mall.

The former Toys R Us building was vacated by the national retailer in early 2018. The 45,515-square-foot building was constructed in 1991, Polk County assessor records show. The property in 2019 was valued at $2.96 million.

The cost to transform the former retail store into a medical clinic was not available.

The Urban Design Review Board this week approved updating the master conceptual plan, which includes the former Toys R Us site. The board is expected to receive more information about the medical clinic project before construction begins this summer.

The project’s general contractor is LS Black Constructors, based in Minneapolis; SciArt Studio of La Crosse, Wis., is providing design services.