DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie says the old Younkers building ravaged by a fire early Saturday was a downtown landmark and a key part of a downtown revitalization project.
But Cownie tells Des Moines television station WHO-TV reports (https://bit.ly/1lcZXei) that the fire is simply a setback in the Walnut Street revitalization project.
The seven-floor Younkers building, which dates to 1899 and was in the process of being renovated when it went up in flames, was the focus of a $36 million project to revitalize the downtown area. The project included 120 new residential units along with retail on the ground and the skywalk.
___
Information from: WHO-TV, https://www.whotv.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.