For the first time in 15 years, Des Moines is seriously looking at raising the building heights for new development in the Marina District.

Raising the building height downtown is not the only thing the council is discussing as they look to completely revamp the zoning code for the downtown core. But it is the height changes are the most controversial.

With the award of a height bonus the proposed zoning changes would allow Four buildings along Marine View Drive South to go up to 45 feet, and 10 buildings along 7th Avenue South to go up to 65 feet.
The building height on 7th Avenue north of South 226th Street would be raised from the current 35 feet to 45 feet.

Two open houses were held so citizens could look at the proposed changes and give their input. City Manager Tony Piasecki said most people spoke against raising building heights, but there were a couple of people who came that were in favor.

Piasecki said 100 people showed up for the two open houses, which he described as a good turnout, but not a consensus of the citizens.

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler feels raising the building heights downtown is an opportunity to not only revitalize downtown, but make the city more financially stable by creating a larger tax base.

"We can no longer rely on one-time funds, we must take a closer look at sustainability," Sheckler said. "What I don't want to do is raise taxes, what I want to do is raise the tax base."

But Councilman Dan Sherman, who has been opposed to increased buildings heights since it was first brought up 15 years ago, does not believe increased building heights will solve the city's problems.

Sherman said he became involved in Des Moines politics 15 years ago, to try and prevent the city from raising building heights downtown. People who live just east of Marine View Drive, including Sherman, are worried about what will happen to their views if taller buildings are built.

Besides the possibility of blocking people's views, Sherman said he does not believe taller buildings are what is needed to revitalize downtown.

"There are reasons why businesses have not thrived in Des Moines, but building height is not it," Sherman said.

Sherman said Des Moines needs more cohesive storefronts and pedestrian corridors. Those ideas are included in the new zoning codes the council is currently discussing.

Sherman said downtown should be looking smaller, not bigger.

"Small downtowns in the shadow of metropolitan cities are not what they were 15 years ago and they are never going to be," Sherman said. He said he would like to see residential use allowed in the downtown.

"I believe one of the reasons people have not developed downtown is because we demand buildings must have commercial on the first story," Sherman declared. "Slowly there have been more and more empty store fronts, because of the change of shopping patterns, which we have to accept. Not because of a lack of tall buildings."

Sherman said the tall building solution should be used on Pacific Highway South.

"Some people are thinking the building height is going to solve our problem and it is simply not," said Sherman. "I want to maintain the small town experience and maintain the visual connection to the Sound."
Sheckler said he does not see the same small town charm in downtown other council members do. He said the Marina District is not what it was when he moved in.

He said what you see in downtown are a lot of empty buildings, which are not being kept up by their owners, and he would like to see that change.

"If you don't go up, you've got nowhere to go," Sheckler said. "because it is a small downtown."
Sheckler said he has talked to developers and they have said in order for a project in Des Moines to not be cost prohibitive for them they have to be able to go up.

As for whether the increased height would impact homeowners' views he admitted he had no idea.
"We don't know right now. We don't know what developers want so we can't make a statement about what happens to homeowners' views," Sheckler said.

"We represent close to 30,000 people in the city," Sheckler said. "The marina discussed belongs to everybody, so we want to hear from everybody."