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Zenith Conditional Demolition Permit Decision Made
Last night’s City Council meeting included a thorough presentation on this project and the final environmental impact statement, and the history of the property—as well as prior efforts made to preserve the property. I encourage you to watch last night’s meeting to learn more. It includes valuable information.
Many community members are invested in the outcome of the Zenith Property, previously the Masonic Home. Though I have been City Manager in Des Moines for less than a year, I have come to understand how deeply this place is valued in our community. I want to share a significant update.
As you may know, the property was put on the market in 2013. Over the past 12 years, a number of public or private entities have tried to find a way to preserve the main building and grounds, but none has come up with a viable plan. I frequently have been asked about McMenamin’s--this group looked at the property for possible restoration and reuse but ultimately declined to invest in the project.
In 2019, prior to the property being sold, the Masons applied for demolition of the building. Later that year (2019), the property was sold to the developer Zenith Properties LLC, and the pending demo application was assumed by the new owner. In response, the City ordered an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that spanned three years. The process included several rounds of public input, and included additional data analysis in response to specific inquiries made by the public.
The EIS, released last week, concluded that preservation was not financially feasible. It called for mitigation measures for demolition, including a public space commemorating the history of the site when the property is redeveloped.
EIS findings and more information are posted on our City website
These findings have led the City to the difficult decision to issue the demolition permit decision, conditioned upon the owner satisfying all of the mitigation measures prescribed in the EIS. While this is not the outcome we hoped for, it is the financially responsible decision.
The law limits the City’s control over what owners can do on private property. We have followed the law carefully, and based our decision on the findings within the EIS. Additionally, our legal counsel has advised us that refusal to approve the permit would invite costly litigation that would likely still end with demolition of the building.
It is my responsibility to make sure our City is fiscally sound and that this community has the services it most needs. Spending taxpayer dollars on a lawsuit would lead to cuts in services residents need and expect, like public safety and youth and senior programs. And we would still be left without a plan or means to preserve the site.
I ask you to recognize that this is not a choice between preservation and demolition, but rather a responsible alternative to a dilemma that has remained unsolved despite more than a decade of effort.
Finally, I share the community’s frustration that we do not know the property owner’s future plans for the property. Unfortunately, the City cannot compel a private property owner to share any plans they may have outside of the scope of the requested action. We lack legal grounds to withhold a permit decision due to the absence of future plans. However, the developer will have to submit detailed plans for any future development, and those plans will be subject to City regulations and a full approval process that includes the opportunity for public input.
Please review the information on our website to learn more about the considerations for this decision. In addition, you are invited to a community meeting on August 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Beach Park Auditorium.
Appeals must be filed with the City Clerk in writing by August 18, 2025. You can contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@desmoineswa.gov
Questions can be sent to ZenithEIS@desmoineswa.gov. We will post answers on the Zenith FAQ section of our website.
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