DES MOINES- The downtown Des Moines Hyvee development is officially underway with the Fourth Street and Court Avenue parking lot blocked off.
The $30 million Hyvee will be built by Knapp Properties and will have 81 or 82 available apartments along with a two story tenant-only parking ramp. The store will also have 100 parking spots available for shoppers. The project is set to be done in November of 2016.
Downtown residents told Local 5 they are having mixed, but mostly good, feelings.
“It’s a mixed bag because people use the area a lot in the evenings. More and more people are living downtown with no options for grocery stores, so there’s the good and the bad of it,” said Charles Hoffman, Des Moines.
“For me it’ll be easy to get to and a lot more convenient and I’m excited for that,” said Adam Shannon, downtown Des Moines resident.
The development is also slightly affecting the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market vendors.
“Just last week, we handed out flyers and information, saying, “Ok it’s actually happening!” said Kelly Foss, Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. “We’re letting them know that the fence will be up and parking won’t be available and where they’ll park now.”
Foss said market directors have been working closely with Hyvee, Polk County and Knapp Properties through the transition since last year.
Instead of the usual parking lot, vendors will park a block away near the Polk County Courthouse. Rather than that, all of the vendors get to stay in their spots this year.
When asked about 2016 farmers market, Foss said they’re not looking to expand very much but may have to reconfigure if the construction needs the space.
