Page 103 - Reflect DSM (City of Des Moines, IA)

• What is your preservation concern and/or what do you fear could be lost in Des Moines?
» Smaller commercial areas that can be difficult to make work financially
» Finding necessary financing for preservation work
» Structural issues with historic buildings
» Worry if community members feel that this is their home and that they belong
» Condition of neighborhoods
» Inconsistent code enforcement
» Intersection of historic preservation and affordability
» Demolition of homes that leads to vacant lots in neighborhoods
» Language barriers
» Rise of corporate ownership of rental housing in neighborhoods
» Rental housing regulation
» Vinyl siding
» Skyrocketing land costs

A second Advisory Committee meeting was held on August 17. Between the first and second in-person
Advisory Committee meetings, the consultant team and staff conducted virtual meetings with the three
additional Committee members added to the group since the kickoff meeting. These individuals were
invited to the second in-person Advisory Committee meeting. During this second Advisory Committee
meeting, the consultant team provided a summary of the feedback heard to-date from stakeholders
and community members. They also introduced the concept of an equity audit, a key component of the
analysis of the existing historic preservation program. The equity audit is discussed more on page 5 of this
document, as city staff plays a key role in conducting this audit.

After hearing a summary of the input received to-date, the consultant team posted the question “Is there
anything we are missing?” to the Committee members. Three key points that were added during this
conversation were:
• It’s important to recognize that a place or a story may have a positive experience for some and
negative for others. Finding a way to recognize these differences in how we preserve is crucial to
ensuring an equitable program.
• When creating new programs or adjusting existing programs, it’s important to be careful about
potential unintended consequences that may add more complication and more time to a system that
may become more difficult for residents to access.
• Since historic preservation programs differ in every community, people that are new to the
community may not know what the procedures and programs are in Des Moines. Focusing on
education will be important to ensuring the success of the historic preservation program.

Historic Preservation Commission
The consultant team attended a Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting on August 17th. Following
the typical agenda items where the HPC reviewed applications for Certificates of Appropriateness, the
consultant team had an opportunity to discuss the existing historic preservation program with the group.
As the HPC regularly uses established historic preservation procedures and applies the tools available for
historic preservation, they are a key group to understanding the existing program and its successess and
shortcomings. Commissioners provided information on the typical application types received, changes
that would help make the process more efficient, potential edits to the guidelines, and ways to reach new
residents in historic districts. Commissioners also shared their highest priority action items for the program
moving forward which included conducting a citywide survey, providing incentive and grant programs,
considering an awards program, and working on stabilization of properties in the near-term.

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Adopted Plan (September 2023) 97