Once empty after 5 p.m. and on weekends, downtown Des Moines has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past half-century. Nearly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic reached Iowa, is it in the throes of another big change? Downtown office vacancy rates around the country have soared as more employees opt to work from home. Des Moines' rate, with over a fifth of office space vacant, remains about 10 percentage points above the pre-pandemic pace. But Deputy City Manager Matt Anderson, the desmoinesgov's primary economic development adviser, remains upbeat. Mayor Connie Boesen is concerned about the future of retail downtown. But both she and Anderson point to momentum from hundreds more apartments and other residences already in the works. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #DesMoines #Iowa #DSMUSA #DowntownDesMoines