Hello Historic West Des Moines! Big News…
We’re elated to share that on Monday, December 5th the West Des Moines City Council approved and adopted the Historic West Des Moines Design Guidelines as presented, which includes the (1) Valley Junction Historic Business District, (2) Transitional Residential District, (3) Railroad Avenue District, (4) Mixed Industrial District, and (5) Commercial District. Prior to Council’s review, the Design Guidelines had received unanimous recommendation by the Planning & Zoning Commission on September 26th, 2022.
As we head into the winter holidays we’d like to send a heartfelt thanks to all members of the dedicated Steering Committee noted below, Chair Meredith Wells and Co-Chair Nate Hon, the Historic Valley Junction Foundation and Director Steve Frevert, the wonderful neighborhood organizations, residents, businesses, and community stakeholders. Your collective perspectives, passion and participation were instrumental and invaluable in shaping the Historic West Des Moines Design Guidelines – a detailed tool and guidebook unlike any other!
Adopted December 5th, 2022
Better Together · Special Thanks
Thank you for every insight shared, question asked, topic raised, meeting attended, survey completed, and hour spent discussing the past, present, and future of Historic West Des Moines. Your collective contributions told a story of historic past-times, railroad roots, and identity; they painted a picture of community character, both charming and kitschy; and they shaped a vision of what the future should look and feel like in Historic West Des Moines.
Steering Committee
- Mitchell Callahan · Resident, Mayor Appointed
- Scott Cutler · Business, Historic Valley Junction Foundation
- Nan Earll · Resident, Historic WDM Valley Junction Neighborhood Association.
- Julie Eliason · Business Representative, Historic Valley Junction Foundation
- Steve Frevert · Business Representative, Historic Valley Junction Foundation
- Renee Hardman · City Councilmember (ex-officio, non-voting member)
- Katherine Harrington · Business, WDM Chamber of Commerce
- Ralph Haskins · Resident, Historic WDM Valley Junction Neighborhood Association
- Scott Hatfield · WDM Planning & Zoning Commission Member
- Nate Hon · Resident, Historic WDM Valley Junction Neighborhood Association
- Renae Johanningmeier · Resident, Historic WDM Valley Junction Neighborhood Assoc.
- Vicky Long Hill · Resident, Valley Junction Resident Association
- Aaron Sewell · Resident, Mayor Appointment
- Steph Trannel · Business, Historic Valley Junction Foundation
- Kevin Trevillyan · City Councilmember (ex-officio, non-voting member)
- Cleo Underwood · Resident, Valley Junction Resident Association
- Vincent Valdez · Resident, Valley Junction Resident Association
- Mark Veiock · Business, Historic Valley Junction Foundation
- Meredith Wells · Business, Historic Valley Junction Foundation
- Debbie Westphal Swander · Business Representative
Staff
- Clyde Evans · AICP, Director of Community Development
- J. Bradley Munford · Business Development Coordinator
- Christine Gordon · AICP, Housing Planner
Consultant Team
- Mike Hoffman · AICP, Project Manager, Teska
- Erin Cigliano · AICP, Principal Planner & Designer, Teska
- Emma Swanson · Associate Planner, Teska
- Ed Torrez · Historical Support, Bauer Latoza
Please visit the documents page to see a detailed overview of the meetings, input, outreach and presentations that informed the Design Guidelines and individual districts.
