The Situation
Rice Field, located in Beaverdale of Des Moines, Iowa is in the hands of Ewing developer with a proposal to build a senior cooperative housing building.
WHAT WE HAVE IN BEAVERDALE:
- SIX SENIOR HOUSING FACILITIES
- ONE GRADED RECREATIONAL FIELD AT RICE FIELD THAT IS SLATED TO BE DEVELOPED.
- ONE PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT SITS ACROSS FROM RICE FIELD.
- TWO BUSINESS CENTERS SEPARATED BY THE CITY'S PROTECTED RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR ON BEAVER AVENUE IN WHICH RICE FIELD IS LOCATED.
Issue: 75% of Beaverdale Residents want Enhanced Park at Rice Field
The last time a scientific polling took place regarding Rice Field, Beaverdale residents were polled by Essam research about Rice Field.
1st Polling: 67% of Beaverdale residents want to preserve the field.
2nd Polling: 75% of Beaverdale residents want an enhanced park.
Issue: Protecting and Preserving Rice Field in Ward I lacking Green space and Parkland
Greenspace / Parkland by Ward
Issue: Rice Field the Big Green Sponge sold "as is"
Former Des Moines Public Works director, Bill Stowe--currently Des Moines Water Works General Manager, called Rice Field "a big green sponge" while describing how Rice Field left alone as green space prevents water run-off and drainage issues to the surrounding neighborhood.
Soil testing on Rice Field shows that the permeable soil is 9 feet deep and then it becomes clay.
Occasionally there is standing water on some parts of the field after heavy rains or snow melt before it is absorbed naturally into the permeable soil.
The cost of a drainage system for run-off of the development is substantial for the developer.
The condition of the sale of Rice Field by the school board is "as is".
Soil testing on Rice Field shows that the permeable soil is 9 feet deep and then it becomes clay.
Occasionally there is standing water on some parts of the field after heavy rains or snow melt before it is absorbed naturally into the permeable soil.
The cost of a drainage system for run-off of the development is substantial for the developer.
The condition of the sale of Rice Field by the school board is "as is".
Issue: Developer 's proposal
Ewing Developer Senior housing proposal was flatly rejected by the DMPS Site Review Committee with the reason that senior housing at Rice Field is not a good fit for the community. In 2006, Ewing Developers proposal did not make it to the final three proposals.
Communications with Developer
A letter to Ewing President of Development
Aug 30
Dear Mr. Cowman,
My name is Matt Culp. I live at 1507 Germania Drive in Des Moines. We moved to Des Moines from Iowa City in 1993 and have raised two children through the Des Moines School district. I proudly pay taxes in Des Moines.
I would like to start by thanking you for your presentation. I understand how difficult if it to make a presentation at public meetings having done so myself. It is especially hard to do it when the subject is so sensitive. I also understand the growing need for senior housing. My 93 year old mother in law lives at 3801 grand senior living apartments. She has a very strong supportive group of friends there. She’s fiercely independent, even at 93. I did not rise to speak at the public meeting on the 29th because I did not want to subject you to prolonged, factual, public opposition.
Having said that, I have to confess that I am absolutely, categorically, philosophically, economically, opposed to development of Rice Field in any way, shape or form. I coached youth sports for over ten years in Beaverdale. Soccer, baseball and used Rice Field for practice and games. I also served as the director of fields for the Northwest Youth Soccer Club of Beaverdale and during my tenure witnessed green space after green space disappear from the area as developments gobbled up all the available open land in Ward 1.
The fact that Ewing has developed and presented this plan can mean only one of two things to me. That you have not done your homework on the history and likely adverse impact of the development and the importance if Rice Field to the community or that your motivation is actually insincere and you really don’t care as long as you can develop and profit from it. My experience in life with development corporations has left me with the image of the shark, a truly efficient evolutionary feed machine. They must feed and move forward on die. They seemly have no other choice. But you do.
You mentioned how Ewing wants to be a “good neighbor”. And you might truly believe that but let me ask you some questions. Do you live in Beaverdale, if not do you plan to move there? If not do you ever plan to live in the coop? If the answer to these questions is no, then you are not my neighbor.
I know that the storm sewer upgrade is going to be expensive and as a tax payer I have no interest in seeing my taxes spent on an infrastructure project for a development that is going degrade the quality of life in MY neighborhood.
I could go on and I know that you have probably received other letters both in support and opposition to the development plan that you presented. It’s a difficult position in which you find yourself. You want to do service to a community of people (that’s laudable) but you lack the sensitivity to appreciate the damage you are going to inflict. There is an appropriate saying that I think captures the situation. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. I ask you and your business associates to search your hearts. This is the wrong thing to do in this neighborhood, to this neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Matt Culp, Spokesperson for Friends of Rice Field
Aug 30
Dear Mr. Cowman,
My name is Matt Culp. I live at 1507 Germania Drive in Des Moines. We moved to Des Moines from Iowa City in 1993 and have raised two children through the Des Moines School district. I proudly pay taxes in Des Moines.
I would like to start by thanking you for your presentation. I understand how difficult if it to make a presentation at public meetings having done so myself. It is especially hard to do it when the subject is so sensitive. I also understand the growing need for senior housing. My 93 year old mother in law lives at 3801 grand senior living apartments. She has a very strong supportive group of friends there. She’s fiercely independent, even at 93. I did not rise to speak at the public meeting on the 29th because I did not want to subject you to prolonged, factual, public opposition.
Having said that, I have to confess that I am absolutely, categorically, philosophically, economically, opposed to development of Rice Field in any way, shape or form. I coached youth sports for over ten years in Beaverdale. Soccer, baseball and used Rice Field for practice and games. I also served as the director of fields for the Northwest Youth Soccer Club of Beaverdale and during my tenure witnessed green space after green space disappear from the area as developments gobbled up all the available open land in Ward 1.
The fact that Ewing has developed and presented this plan can mean only one of two things to me. That you have not done your homework on the history and likely adverse impact of the development and the importance if Rice Field to the community or that your motivation is actually insincere and you really don’t care as long as you can develop and profit from it. My experience in life with development corporations has left me with the image of the shark, a truly efficient evolutionary feed machine. They must feed and move forward on die. They seemly have no other choice. But you do.
You mentioned how Ewing wants to be a “good neighbor”. And you might truly believe that but let me ask you some questions. Do you live in Beaverdale, if not do you plan to move there? If not do you ever plan to live in the coop? If the answer to these questions is no, then you are not my neighbor.
I know that the storm sewer upgrade is going to be expensive and as a tax payer I have no interest in seeing my taxes spent on an infrastructure project for a development that is going degrade the quality of life in MY neighborhood.
I could go on and I know that you have probably received other letters both in support and opposition to the development plan that you presented. It’s a difficult position in which you find yourself. You want to do service to a community of people (that’s laudable) but you lack the sensitivity to appreciate the damage you are going to inflict. There is an appropriate saying that I think captures the situation. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. I ask you and your business associates to search your hearts. This is the wrong thing to do in this neighborhood, to this neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Matt Culp, Spokesperson for Friends of Rice Field
Response to President of Ewing Developers
To Josh Cowing, President of Development
ELDS Senior Living Communities
909 W 16th Street
Pella, Iowa 50219
I have considered your gracious invitation.
I think it would be an interesting conversation for us to compare our views on the future and most beneficial use of Rice Field. My concern however going into any discussion on this matter is if there is even a small chance that Ewing could be persuaded based on our information to consider not pressing forward with this development plan. Or if you are as determined to build the development as many of us in Beaverdale are to prevent it? If this is the case then we are at loggerheads before we even begin and it would be a waste of both our time to attempt to persuade each other differently.
Please understand that our position is not anti-senior or even anti-development when located in the correct place and does not cause an overly-developed (lost green space) environment as it is becoming in Beaverdale with multiple senior housing facilities. This development actually pushes Beaverdale toward a very sad future of looking like the “Retirement Ward” of Des Moines with young families turning away and looking elsewhere to live, and with a continued loss of open space for their kids to play. Josh, as you know there is already a senior housing facility right across the street from Rice, and many others throughout Beaverdale and the NW Ward. The vision that many have for Rice is an enhanced park. Which of these images sets off your imagination for possibilities:
--A senior housing facility that sits half empty when the seniors depart for the winter?
--A place of versatile, multiple outdoor events and activities for the community and young people and their families?
So, If you still want to meet and there is a possibility that Ewing might come to share this vision then call me if not then best of luck to you and I look forward to seeing you at all the future public meetings.
Regards
Matt Culp, Spokesperson for Friends of Rice Field
To Josh Cowing, President of Development
ELDS Senior Living Communities
909 W 16th Street
Pella, Iowa 50219
I have considered your gracious invitation.
I think it would be an interesting conversation for us to compare our views on the future and most beneficial use of Rice Field. My concern however going into any discussion on this matter is if there is even a small chance that Ewing could be persuaded based on our information to consider not pressing forward with this development plan. Or if you are as determined to build the development as many of us in Beaverdale are to prevent it? If this is the case then we are at loggerheads before we even begin and it would be a waste of both our time to attempt to persuade each other differently.
Please understand that our position is not anti-senior or even anti-development when located in the correct place and does not cause an overly-developed (lost green space) environment as it is becoming in Beaverdale with multiple senior housing facilities. This development actually pushes Beaverdale toward a very sad future of looking like the “Retirement Ward” of Des Moines with young families turning away and looking elsewhere to live, and with a continued loss of open space for their kids to play. Josh, as you know there is already a senior housing facility right across the street from Rice, and many others throughout Beaverdale and the NW Ward. The vision that many have for Rice is an enhanced park. Which of these images sets off your imagination for possibilities:
--A senior housing facility that sits half empty when the seniors depart for the winter?
--A place of versatile, multiple outdoor events and activities for the community and young people and their families?
So, If you still want to meet and there is a possibility that Ewing might come to share this vision then call me if not then best of luck to you and I look forward to seeing you at all the future public meetings.
Regards
Matt Culp, Spokesperson for Friends of Rice Field