Younkers building can't be salvaged after fire, Des Moines official says

The former Younkers building, which was engulfed in flames early Saturday, will have to be demolished, but the site -- a half city block on a prominent downtown corner -- could be redeveloped, a city official said Saturday.

"The building, from what I understand, is a loss and cannot be salvaged," Des Moines' assistant city manager Matt Anderson said.

Flames bellowed from the windows of the five-story building for several hours after midnight. Once Younkers' flagship department store, the 115-year-old building was being renovated into 120 apartments -- a $37 million project that figured to be a cornerstone of the efforts to bring housing to downtown's core.

The Alexander Company was leading the project. Officials from the Madison, Wisc.-based company will be at the site later today to evaluate the damage, city officials said.

It's too early to know what will happen to the site, at 713 Walnut St. The Alexander Company owns the land and could develop it after the building is demolished or sell it to another developer, Anderson said.

Well-loved by Iowans, the Younkers building was especially regarded for its Tea Room, which the Alexander Company had planned to restore and integrate into the renovation project.

"The history is definitely something we can't bring back," Anderson said.

As of Saturday morning, city officials had not been able to assess the damage to the skywalk, which spans the eastern side of the Younkers building, providing access to the Hub Tower, EMC Insurance Companies' building and the Greater Des Moines Partnership building.

For more than a decade, city officials have been working to see the Younkers building redeveloped. Anderson said it was the first project he lead when he started with the city in 2002. He found out about the fire Saturday morning when he woke up to a voicemail from the mayor.

"It was tough to hear," he said. "I've worked on that project for a long time. I love that building."