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Building stronger Des Moines neighborhoods with thoughtful commercial real estate development
- choosewhiteoak
- Jun 27
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 8
At White Oak Realty, real estate development delivers more than property value. We're investing in the fundamental building blocks of community resilience -- the kind of neighborhoods that weather economic storms, support local businesses, and create genuine wealth for residents over generations.
After eight years of developing and brokering commercial real estate in Des Moines, we've affirmed that strong neighborhoods are cultivated through intentional, incremental investments that respect the existing community fabric while creating new opportunities for growth. Like the Iowa native white oak tree, truly strong neighborhoods grow slowly, put down deep roots and stand the test of time.
The Foundation: Incremental Commercial Development Over Grand Plans
The most resilient neighborhoods share a common trait: they grew organically through small-scale, incremental development rather than massive redevelopment projects. This philosophy aligns perfectly with Strong Towns principles, which emphasize building wealth gradually through productive land use patterns.
Consider our work underway at The Ingersoll (3711 Ingersoll Avenue) on The Avenues. This 1939 movie theater sat vacant for years after closing and could have become a parking lot. We're approaching the redevelopment with respect for its historic character, adapting it for contemporary use while preserving an architectural anchor that gives the neighborhood its distinctive identity.
This approach mirrors what we've seen work throughout Des Moines. The Neighborhood Development Corporation has been masterful at this kind of incremental development, as evidenced by their partnership with the Wherry Block at 1600 6th Avenue in the River Bend neighborhood. By working within existing building stock and maintaining affordability, they've strengthened the neighborhood's foundation rather than displacing its character.
Mixed-Use as the Backbone of Community Life
Strong neighborhoods need what urban planners call "third places" -- spaces that aren't home or work but serve as community gathering spots. Our Ingersoll Hub project at 3619 Ingersoll Avenue exemplifies this concept. By housing Bartenders Handshake, Enchanted, and Loyal Sons under one roof, we created a destination that draws people from across the metro while serving as a daily gathering place for local residents.
The magic happens when commercial and residential uses complement each other in close proximity. French Way at 413 Euclid Avenue in Highland Park demonstrates this beautifully. The former French Way Cleaners building now houses Kalon Bridal Studio and "The Chandelier" event venue, bringing celebration and commerce to a walkable neighborhood corner. These businesses don't just serve Highland Park residents, they attract visitors who discover the neighborhood's other assets, from Bar Martinez down the street to the tree-lined residential blocks nearby.
This mixed-use approach creates what Strong Towns advocates call "productive" land use. Rather than single-purpose buildings that generate activity only during specific hours, mixed-use developments create continuous foot traffic and multiple revenue streams that support local economic health.
The Power of Adaptive Reuse
One of the biggest mistakes I see in neighborhood development is the rush to demolish and start fresh. This approach not only wastes the embodied energy and character of existing buildings but often results in development that feels disconnected from the neighborhood's history and identity.
Our renovation of the former Tanglefoot Dance space into Renovation Jungle at 607 37th Street in The Avenues shows how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into a building while honoring its past. The space maintained its creative DNA while adapting to serve contemporary needs, creating continuity that residents can feel and appreciate.
The economics of adaptive reuse often make more sense for neighborhood-scale development too. Lower upfront costs mean smaller, local developers can participate in neighborhood building rather than being priced out by the capital requirements of new construction. This creates opportunities for businesses with community connections to establish roots, rather than neighborhoods being dominated by national chains that extract wealth from the community.
Building Social Infrastructure
Project for Public Spaces teaches us that great neighborhoods are built on strong social infrastructure -- the informal networks and gathering places that help people connect with their neighbors. Commercial development plays a crucial role in creating these connections.
When starting on Bar Martinez at 515 Euclid Avenue, we weren't just creating another bar. We're creating a place where Highland Park residents can celebrate milestones, conduct business meetings, and run into neighbors. These casual encounters build the social capital that makes neighborhoods resilient during challenges and opportunities alike.
The city's 47 recognized neighborhood associations provide the formal structure for community organizing. But it's the informal gathering spaces -- the coffee shops, bars, and small retail businesses -- that give residents reasons to be out and about, creating the conditions for spontaneous community building.
The Role of Public-Private Partnership
Strong neighborhoods require coordination between public and private investment. The city's Invest DSM initiative demonstrates how public infrastructure improvements can leverage private development that strengthens neighborhoods. When the public sector improves streetscapes, sidewalks, and green spaces, it creates conditions that make private investment more viable and impactful.
Our projects have benefited from this approach. The Avenues neighborhood's walkability improvements have made our Ingersoll corridor investments more successful by creating a pleasant environment for pedestrians. Similarly, City investments in Highland Park's tree-lined streets and regional parks make commercial investments like French Way and Bar Martinez more attractive to both businesses and customers.
This partnership approach acknowledges that neighborhood strength requires both public goods (infrastructure, parks, schools) and private enterprise (businesses, housing, services). Neither sector can create strong neighborhoods alone, but together they can create conditions for long-term prosperity.
Looking Forward: Building on What Works
One advantage to neighborhood development in Des Moines lies in recognizing and building upon the assets that already exist. Our River Bend, Highland Park, and Avenues projects succeed because they enhance rather than replace the character that makes these neighborhoods distinctive.
This doesn't mean resisting change or new development. It means being thoughtful about how new investments can strengthen existing community assets. When we evaluate potential projects, we ask: Will it support local business ownership? Will it respect the architectural character that residents value? Will it increase the long-term property value?
The strongest neighborhoods are those that have built wealth gradually, through small-scale investments that compound over time. They're places where residents can start businesses, where children can walk to school, where neighbors know each other's names. They're neighborhoods that grow like oak trees -- slowly, steadily, and with deep roots that can weather any storm.
That's the kind of neighborhood strength Des Moines deserves, and it's the kind of development White Oak Realty is committed to supporting, one thoughtful project at a time.
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