The Des Moines City Council approved on Nov. 15 an agreement with SSI Pacific Place LLC, which plans to build a large residential development just south of South 216th Street and east of Pacific Highway South.

"This is just the first step in the development phase," said Kim Nakamura, president of Rushforth Taylor Construction and a member of the development group.

The agreement will allow for an expedited permitting process and a transportation mitigation plan that will address potential future traffic impacts.

Long a magnet for gangs, drug dealing and other criminal activity, especially along Pacific Highway, Des Moines long has targeted the Pacific Ridge area for redevelopment.

"The city has wanted to transform the area into a new urban neighborhood," Jason Sullivan, Des Moines land use planner, said.

The 11-acre development will include an 18-floor, 320-room hotel with amenities and 155,000 square feet of office and retail space, 89 town homes, 1,098 residential units, and 200 senior housing units.

It will offer many good views, according to plans.

"We made a sizeable allocation for the senior housing project," Matthew Chan, president of Sunway Services and a member of the development group, noted. "We want to have a contribution to society."

The agreement will get the process rolling for the developers and allow them to begin planning and permitting for construction.

"The development agreement is very important to making the Pacific Place vision happen," Nakamura said. "These projects are only successful when people are working together."

Council members and developers agreed the Pacific Place project will help clean up an area of the city that is no stranger to crime.

But, Nakamura said, there is no date set for construction and the project in its entirety could take up to 10 years. Phase one likely will be finished within two years.

"This is probably the best example of private/public partnership I've seen in all my years," Mayor Bob Sheckler declared.