Council Picks $24M Headquarters Over Arts Center
Des Moines City Council favored a corporate headquarters plan for the historic city hall site over a $200 million performing arts center proposal.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in City Hall
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The Des Moines City Council selected a $24 million corporate headquarters plan for the historic city hall site, favoring it over a $200 million performing arts center proposal. The corporate headquarters will be located across the street from historic city hall.
Why it matters
The decision determines how the historic city hall site is used and redirects a major downtown redevelopment away from a proposed performing arts venue. City leaders said the performing arts center proposal needs more time to develop, leaving its future uncertain.
The council weighed a $24 million corporate headquarters plan against a $200 million performing arts center proposal for the historic city hall site. The proposed arts venue would have seated 1,200, but the alternative plan's specifics have not been disclosed.
The players
Des Moines City Council
The Des Moines City Council is the elected governing body of Iowa's capital city, responsible for approving major decisions on city-owned property such as the historic city hall site.
Harry and Pam Bookey
Harry and Pam Bookey are Des Moines developers who led the performing arts center proposal for the historic city hall site.
Heart of America
Heart of America is a Des Moines-based company that owns Machine Shed restaurants and several hotels and has been a major player in multiple East Village developments.
The details
The performing arts center proposal, led by Des Moines developers Harry and Pam Bookey, aimed to convert city hall into support space for a 1,200-seat venue. Plans to renovate the old city hall for that use fell through, clearing the way for the council's preference for the corporate headquarters plan.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Council vote favoring the corporate headquarters plan reported.
Local Development Track Record
Heart of America has been a major player in multiple East Village developments, and the council's choice extends that footprint to the historic city hall site. The decision places a corporate headquarters at the center of downtown redevelopment rather than a cultural venue.
Des Moines residents will see the historic city hall site redeveloped as a corporate headquarters rather than a performing arts venue. The decision removes a proposed 1,200-seat arts space from the downtown plan for the foreseeable future.
The takeaway
Downtown redevelopment decisions can shift quickly when competing proposals stall, so residents who care about the future of the historic city hall site should follow future council agendas. The outcome shows how a single vote can determine the use of a major public building.
Further reading
For more on how local leaders are shaping downtown, see City Hall coverage for Des Moines.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KCCI.
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