Plans for a residential project at 22nd Street and University Avenue in Des Moines have been revised to include live-work units on the ground level of the proposed three-story building, the executive director for Neighborhood Development Corp. said.

“We’re excited to bring a concept to the [Drake University] neighborhood that doesn’t exist there now,” said Abbey Gilroy of the redevelopment group supported by the city of Des Moines and Polk County. “We’ve seen the concept downtown, but not in the neighborhoods.”

Originally, a neighborhood grocery store was planned on the street level of the project called UA Station. However, the owner of the grocery decided not to be part of the development, Gilroy said.

“We had to go back to the drawing board and redesign the project,” Gilroy said. “The goal of my board was to create space that would accommodate various incomes, not just low-income and not just market-rate. They want true workforce housing on that site.”

The live-work units will be on the first level of the project at 2211 University Ave., Gilroy said. “The units will allow smaller-scale businesses to use space that fronts University Avenue. They would be able to live there also.”

The three-story building will include 34 units. The second and third levels will include a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units. The project has been estimated to cost $6.5 million.

The live-work units provide owners of small businesses an opportunity for a store front but without the expense of leasing space in another location, Gilroy said. “I think a project by [Neighborhood Development] is a great way to introduce the concept to a neighborhood.”

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