The Des Moines City Council this week approved selling 14.1 acres the city owns around East Fourth and East Market streets to a consortium of developers who plan to redevelop the light industrial area.

The 6-0 vote came after the council heard four speakers question the relationship between the development group, which includes James Cownie’s JSC Properties, and Mayor Frank Cownie. The two Cownies are distant cousins.

“Basically, everyone on the council is in some way involved in some sort of real estate project going on in the city,” Jaylen Cavil said during public comments.

Said Frank Cownie, after the speakers were done commenting: “While I have never been in business with my distant cousin, I have abstained from any vote that has to do with any project that they’ve been involved with, and I will continue to do so.”

Frank Cownie abstained from the vote to sell the city land to District Developer LLC, a group that includes JSC Properties, MidAmerican Energy Co., Knapp Properties and other local developers. 

The development group has proposed redeveloping 39 acres in the area to include an indoor-outdoor event venue, a hotel, office space, apartments, condominiums and parking.

The land, which is where the city’s public works yards are located, is being sold for $11.1 million. The land will be sold in phases. A portion of money received from the sale will be put toward the costs of building a new public works facility under construction on a site near Southeast 18th and Maury streets.

The council also this week approved the terms of preliminary development agreements with developers who plan on renovating properties at 3523 and 3524 Sixth Ave. in the Highland Park neighborhood.

Related article:Renovation projects in Des Moines’ Highland Park neighborhood could receive $2.2 million in financial aid