City of Des Moines looks to buy Nationwide building

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AT SIX, BIG CHANGES COULD SOON COME FOR THE CITY OF DES MOINES. CITY LEADERS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TODAY TO MOVE ITS STAFF OUT OF THE OFFICES THEY’VE BEEN USING FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. THEIR NEW HOME, THE NATIONWIDE BUILDING AT 12TH AND LOCUST KCCI, IS BEAU BOWMAN IS LIVE THERE TONIGHT WITH THE TIMELINE FOR WHEN CITY EMPLOYEES COULD SO. WE’LL STACY THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND NATIONWIDE ON MONDAY AT THEIR REGULAR MEETING. BUT CITY EMPLOYEES WON’T BE MOVING IN UNTIL AT LEAST 2024. THIS BUILDING SHOULD FIT US LIKE A GLUT. THE CITY OF DES MOINES NOW PLANS TO MOVE ALMOST ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO THIS BUILDING AT 1200 LOCUST STREET, THE OLD NATIONWIDE BUILDING HAS BEEN SITTING EMPTY SINCE THE PANDEMIC. THAT’S WHY THEY AGREED TO SELL IT. AND A PARKING GARAGE TWO BLOCKS SOUTH TO THE CITY FOR $40.6 MILLION, 40 MILLION IS THE ACQUISITION COST. WE KNOW WE’RE GOING TO HAVE COSTS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT AFTER THEY CLOSE ON THE DEAL IN ABOUT NINE MONTHS, THE CITY WILL BEGIN TO DESIGN AND BUILD OUT NEW OFFICE SPACE. AND BY 2024, THEY HOPE TO MOVE EMPLOYEES FROM THE ARMORY BUILDING, CITY HALL AND EVEN THE POLICE STATION, ABANDONING THE EAST VILLAGE. BUT OPENING UP THOSE SPACES FOR REDEVELOPMENT DOWN THE ROAD. THAT’S A THAT’S AN HISTORIC REHAB. THAT, AGAIN, I THINK IS GOING TO BRING A LOT MORE LIFE TO THAT DISTRICT THAN WE CURRENTLY DO JUST HAVING A FIVE DAY A WEEK OFFICE SPACE. THE CITY OF DES MOINES FIRST MOVED INTO WHAT IS NOW OLD CITY HALL 120 YEARS AGO. THEY HOPE THIS NEW SPACE LAST JUST AS LONG, IF NOT LONGER, AS WE’VE SHOWN. WE STAY IN OUR FACILITIES FOR A LONG TIME, 100 YEARS. SO THIS BUILDING BEHIND US, THIS IS GOING TO BE CITY OFFICE SPACE FOR ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS. NOW, THE CITY SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE LAST TO MOVE INTO THIS NEW LOCATION. NATIONWIDE PLANS ON KEEPING ITS BUILDING DIRECTLY TO THE EAST OF THIS ONE AT 1100 LOCUST. WE’RE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES.