Page 69 - Reflect DSM (City of Des Moines, IA)

preservation standards and approaches.
These serve, almost exclusively, to
document and preserve the design,
materials, and craftsmanship of tangible
man-made resources such as buildings,
landscapes, and artifacts. In addition,
they are preoccupied with resources that,
over time, have retained a high degree of
architectural integrity, are exceptional in
one way or another, or are associated with Figure 31. A recently constructed apartment building. Although
the design of the building is successful in many ways, the
Des Moines’ majority population. prevalence of this type of development begs the question of
whether more and more of this development type will maintain
What is not documented and preserved Des Moines’ character. (Source: Google Earth)
under this system are intangible cultural and
historic resources, nor buildings, landscapes,
and artifacts that have not met these
traditional standards of integrity and worth.
The program as it is currently conceived
is also unable to document, protect, and
steward cultural practices such as music,
art, and culinary practices; nor events,
commercial uses, and other assets. In
effect, whole swaths of Des Moines’ built
environment and the city’s prolific cultural
diversity is not within the purview of the
preservation program. This has resulted
in a significant loss of historic and cultural
resources associated with indigenous
people and communities of color.

Fortunately, many new approaches
are being pioneered. Des Moines can
learn from and customize these, and/or Figure 32. 706 20th Street, a small apartment building that
could be rehabilitated to preserve existing housing types often
develop its own approaches to be more considered part of the “missing middle.” (Source: KKC)
representative and to serve to support the
widest range of resources.

Affordability

Des Moines joins other cities in grappling
with rising real estate costs. It seeks
to find ways to provide high-quality
affordable housing as well as spaces that
can accommodate small or nascent
business enterprises. At the same time,
it recognizes that renovations of historic
buildings, increasing property values, and Figure 33. Stockdale Double House, a local landmark, is an
the cost of construction, among other example of a multi-unit historic structure. (Source: Google Earth)

Adopted Plan (September 2023) 63