Real Estate Roles and Responsibilities
The functions of the Engineering Department’s Real Estate division are to:
(1) support City projects and programs requiring the purchase or disposition of real estate and to coordinate with other City departments to accomplish this function,
(2) provide for orderly relocation of individuals and businesses displaced as part of the City's acquisition activities, and
(3) provide property management services for City-owned properties. During fiscal year 2008, the Park and Recreation Property Management function was merged with Real Estate.
Contact info
Engineering’s Real Estate Division
City Hall – 2nd Floor
400 Robert D Ray Drive
Des Moines IA 50309
(T) (515) 283-4561
(F) (515) 237-1766
Email Us
Urban Renewal Business Parks
The City's Office of Economic Development markets and negotiates the sale of City-owned land located in the City's urban renewal business parks. Several City-owned parcels are currently available for sale for commercial development, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Excess Property Sales Types
Excess Land Overview
The City of Des Moines owns individual parcels of land and right-of-way, which are needed for a many municipal purposes, such as municipal buildings, streets, alleys, airport, parks, urban renewal and storm water management. When a parcel of land is no longer needed for municipal purposes, the City classifies the parcel as "Excess Land" and attempts to sell it. The sale of excess land provides an opportunity for the City to generate revenue from the sales price, as well as increasing the tax base. Future maintenance costs and liability are also eliminated when excess land is sold. Excess land sales are categorized as either "Project Related" or "Non-Project Related" for accounting and maintenance purposes.
Project Related Sales
Project Related sales are defined as the sale of parcels that were acquired as part of a specific public improvement or urban renewal project, or parcels that are identified and negotiated for sale or exchange as part of property acquisition requirements for the project. The proceeds derived from the sale of Project Related parcels are deposited back into the appropriate Capital Improvements or Operating Budget program accounts, which are used to offset the original land acquisition cost and to support the ongoing goals of that project. Many Project Related parcels were also originally purchased with state and/or federal funding, and those funding guidelines require the City to return any land sale proceeds back to the project.
Non-Project Related Sales
Non-Project Related sales are defined as the sale of parcels that are owned by the City, but were not acquired with project related funds. Most of the City's Non-Project Related parcels are street and alley right-of-ways that were dedicated by platting. Some of these dedicated street and alley right-of-ways were never paved and have no anticipated or known future public need. Other street and alley right-of-ways were used at one time, but are no longer needed for public purposes.
Property Maintenance Endowment Fund
The proceeds derived from the sale of Non-Project Related parcels are deposited into the Property Maintenance Endowment Fund. The purpose of the endowment fund is to provide financial support for ongoing property maintenance costs for Non-Project related excess land, other City-owned property and emergency needs.
Excess Property for Sale
The City's excess property is classified as buildings, commercial zoned land, residential zoned land, and alleys and right-of-ways. For a complete listing of properties for sale click here.
For further information about the sales process, email your questions or call (515) 283-4561.
For a complete listing of past excess property sales see our Sales Revenue History page.
Alleys & Right-of-Ways
Vacation and Conveyance of Alley and Street Right-of-Way
Right-of-way includes the paved portion of a street and a "border area" between the pavement and the adjoining property. The "border area" refers to the area which is also typically occupied with utilities, fire hydrants, street signs, sidewalks, etc.
Requests for the vacation and conveyance of alley and street right-of-way are reviewed by the City staff and the requests are presented to the City's Plan and Zoning Commission and City Council for approval or denial. If the request is approved by the City Council, then the Real Estate Division completes the conveyance process. If an alley or street right-of-way has already gone through this process and is vacated by ordinance, then you only need to submit your request to the Real Estate Division for consideration by sending an email. Residential zoned rights-of-way are sold at nominal value and Commercial zoned rights-of-way are sold at fair market value.
Complete the Right-of-Way Vacation & Conveyance Request form to initiate a request for vacation and conveyance of alley or street right-of-way.
For further information about the sales process, email your questions or call (515) 283-4561.