Two vacant buildings on the same block as the former Gas Lamp in downtown Des Moines will soon be demolished to make way for renovation of the building that contained a music venue and a neighboring structure.
The revamp of what is officially known as the Butler Building, 1501 Grand Ave., would provide space for a restaurant where Gas Lamp was. The use of the building’s upper three floors is still to be determined.
First reported by the Des Moines Register, the project also calls for restoring the also-vacant Jefferson Apartments at 1519 Grand Ave. to their original use.
Before work begins on the two structures, listed among Des Moines Heritage Trust’s Most Endangered Buildings, the two other buildings on the block bounded by Grand and Ingersoll avenues and 15th and 16th streets will be demolished to provide parking spaces for the proposed redevelopment.
The former Sherwin-Williams Paint store at 515 16th St. and a smaller building at 1511 Grand Ave. that once housed five apartments are set to be razed on or around July 14, according to Krause+, owner of the properties.
Whether for residents or music listeners, parking has long been an issue for the property. Removing the buildings would free roughly 14,000 square feet, according to the minutes of a preliminary permit meeting on April 28.
15th & Grand LLC, a company connected to Krause+, the development arm of Krause Group, owns all four properties in downtown’s Western Gateway district, just east of the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden. The headquarters of the Krause Group, the former owner of the Kum & Go convenience store chain, occupies the 1400 block of Grand, just across 15th Street from the Butler Building.
Krause’s extensive holdings in the area also include the former Crescent Chevrolet building on Ingersoll, home to the Des Moines branch of Big Grove Brewery. In addition, the group has plans for extensive development centered on a professional soccer stadium and events plaza slated for construction just south of the Western Gateway on a remediated Superfund site.
“The Jefferson and Butler buildings have long been part of Downtown Des Moines’ story, and we believe this project is an opportunity to honor that legacy while creating much-needed housing and contributing to the continued revitalization of the Western Gateway for generations to come,” Kyle J. Krause, CEO of Krause Group, said in the news release.
What’s next for the former Gas Lamp and Jefferson Apartments?
While still in the planning process, both buildings have potential to serve as mixed-income housing, according to the Krause+ news release.
The four-story Butler Building would get an elevator to serve its new restaurant and possible tenants, according to the April meeting minutes. Office space was among the possibilities for the upper stories, according to the minutes, but a spokesperson for Krause+ told the Register on July 8 that the development company is still exploring options.
Constructed in 1892, the building served roughly five decades as a bar and performance space before it was emptied in 2023. Its condition is “normal,” according to the Polk County Assessor’s Office.
The Jefferson Apartments building, which would be renovated and remodeled, has fallen into poor condition, assessor’s records show. An estimated 60 apartment units could reopen in the four-story, 111-year-old building, which was previously subdivided into 70 small, substandard units, development firm Simonson + Associates told the Register in April.
Over the next six months, Krause+ will work with the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office and the city of Des Moines on the architectural plans for the Jefferson and Butler buildings, according to a news release from Krause+.
“Historic preservation is about more than restoring buildings; it’s about preserving the character and history of our community while thoughtfully investing in its future,” Krause said in the release.
Kate Kealey is the growth and development reporter for the Register. Reach her atkkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on X at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What’s happening to Gas Lamp? 2 neighboring buildings slated for demo
Reporting by Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
