Des Moines City Council voted to approve a $24 million corporate headquarters project for the historic city hall site, selecting the plan over a $200 million performing‑arts center proposal, according to KCCI. The decision places the new headquarters across the street from the historic building and is being led by Heart of America, the owner of Machine Shed restaurants and several downtown hotels and a key developer in the East Village.

Council member Josh Mandelbaum called the vote “not an easy vote,” but expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “I’m very excited about the prospect of having their corporate headquarters relocated into downtown. I think that is fantastic for us and for the city and for moving forward.”

Heart of America’s proposal promises to bring additional office space and jobs to the downtown core, reinforcing the city’s economic base and supporting families who rely on stable employment. The council’s choice aligns with a broader effort to attract private investment and maintain a vibrant, family‑friendly downtown.

The performing‑arts center, championed by developers Harry and Pam Bookey, would have transformed the old city hall into support space for a 1,200‑seat venue and created a “world‑class 21st‑century performing‑arts facility on the Des Moines River,” according to MD Isley of the Des Moines Metropolitan Center for the Arts. While council member Rob Barron described the arts plan as “a good proposal,” he noted the need for more time to develop it.

Although the council’s vote favors the corporate headquarters, supporters of the arts project indicated they may pursue an alternative plan, signaling that the conversation about the historic building’s future is not yet closed.

What’s next: The council will now work with Heart of America to finalize design and implementation details for the headquarters, while arts advocates say they will explore other options for preserving and repurposing the historic city hall.

Sources: kcci.com