At the request of the neighborhood, and with the support of the DMPS Board and City Manager’s Office, Matt Anderson of the City of Des Moines’ Office of Economic Development and Duane Van Hemert, Des Moines Public Schools’ Executive Director of Facility Management, developed and distributed a request for proposal (RFP) inviting developers to submit projects for the former Byron Rice School site.

The school district voted last year to sell the site as part of an effort to eliminate excess real estate and that the appraised value of the land proved it to be too valuable to remain as open space.  The school district recognized the concerns of the neighbors and responded by agreeing to work with the City to develop an RFP and to sell the site based on a project by project comparison, with respect to the Comprehensive Plan prepared by RDG Planning & Design.  The third chapter of this plan, titled Rice School Site, was dedicated to addressed potential development options.

The RFP was submitted to the City’s list of qualified developers.  The RFP does not contain design or land-use requirements.  The goal of using a general RFP is to allow developers the latitude to create a project that they feel best suits Beaverdale.

The community will see presentations from developers about each viable project.  These presentations will occur at a public meeting in late September 2006 with details to be advertised later. There will be a question and answer forum after each presentation.

There is a recommendation committee made of three neighborhood members, two City members and two school district members. The Beaverdale appointees are:

Neal Westin, Beaverdale Neighborhood Association

Jamie Wornson, Beaverdale Business Coalition

Emily Lawson, Beaverdale Main Street Initiative

This committee will observe the community’s response to each presentation and will seek comments about desirable projects.  The committee will make a recommendation to the Superintendent, who will pass along that recommendation, along with her own, to the school board.  The school district will make the final decision regarding the sale.  If you have any questions about this process or would to ensure you are invited to the public presentation of the proposed projects, please contact Emily Lawson.

Click here for more information on Beaverdale's revitalization effort.