The inaugural board meeting for Invest DSM, a nonprofit corporation overseeing revitalization efforts in Des Moines’ neighborhoods, began today with words of optimism and caution.  

Invest DSM, whose members include three Des Moines City Council members and three Polk County Board of Supervisors members, will develop revitalization programs, distribute money to the programs and manage other related activities all based on ideas included in neighborhood plans developed over the past year.

“I read these [plans] … and was thoroughly impressed with the detail and the rich history of these areas,” said Matt McCoy, Polk County supervisor and Invest DSM member. “They are all just pregnant with possibilities.”

Des Moines City Councilman Chris Coleman, however, cautioned that no guarantees exist that all of the proposals in the neighborhood plans will be implemented.   

“It’s important to me that we don’t set false expectations that we’re in 100%,” said Coleman, also an Invest DSM board member. 

County Supervisor and board member Angela Connelly, agreed. “We can’t do every single one.”

Amber Lynch, Des Moines’ neighborhood planner, said residents understand that changes will occur over time.  

“These are our playbooks as we move forward,” Lynch said of the plans. “We’ll find items that don’t work and we’ll walk back away from them.”

A study was released last summer that showed 22 of Des Moines’ 52 neighborhoods had a higher percentage of “slipping or bad” houses than “good or excellent” ones. In 30 neighborhoods, housing values failed to keep pace with inflation, the survey showed. City officials last year decided to take a targeted approach to neighborhood improvements rather than spreading resources citywide.

Last fall, the council selected four pilot areas – Beaverdale, Drake, Oak Park/Highland Park and McKinley School/Columbus Park – in which to begin the concentrated effort of rejuvenating neighborhoods. More recently, the City Council and the Polk County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of Invest DSM. Des Moines and Polk County have each designated $2.5 million toward Invest DSM.

Also today, the board:

• Appointed Lynch InvestDSM’s executive director. Lynch has been heavily involved in creation of the nonprofit corporation as well as expanding the city’s revitalization efforts. Lynch’s salary, which has not yet been set, will be paid by the city through June 2020 and then will be paid through Invest DSM.
• Named Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie the Invest DSM’s board chairman and Polk County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith its vice chairman.
• Set the next meeting for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 26.