From 2014-2015 I served on the Mayor’s Task Force on Demolition and Historic Preservation.  This citizen board was tasked with providing feedback to City staff and the City Council as they developed a “demolition review ordinance” for the City of Des Moines.

Ultimately, the ordinance was adopted and provides some additional review and protection for identified historic buildings throughout the City.  There are still holes, and salvageable significant buildings may continue to be neglected or demolished, but it was a good first step.