The city of West Des Moines voted Tuesday to approve a plan that could pave the way for a major redevelopment of Valley West Mall, including the possible demolition of the aging building.The proposal, which passed Tuesday by a 4-1 vote, increases the city’s potential incentives for the project from $95 million to no more than $110 million, supporting a developer’s plan to buy the property and transform it into a walkable district with restaurants, retail, entertainment, residential space, trails, waterways and green spaces.“It will be restaurant, retail, entertainment with residential mixed in,” Mayor Russ Trimble said, describing the plan. Renderings for the development have not yet been released.Trimble said the city views the site as too important to allow the decline to continue.“At one point, Valley West Mall was really happening. That mall has since gone bankrupt, there are not very many tenants in that mall, and the area is continuing to rot and decay,” Trimble said.Councilman Kevin Trevilyan said the city would be putting too much money up front and would not see tax revenue return for at least a decade. He also raised concerns about approving the plan before lawmakers at the Iowa statehouse decide what to do about property taxes.Trimble said funding would be spread over about 10 years and could include general obligation bonds, local option sales tax dollars and tax increment financing.One of the biggest hurdles is the few existing tenants, especially long-term leaseholders such as JCPenney. Trimble said if agreements cannot be reached with the anchor store, redevelopment could be delayed until 2032.“If we can’t redevelop this site until 2032, that is going to be tragic, because the area will continue to decay, will continue to rot, and it’s going to start bringing down other businesses and causing other problems for the city,” Trimble said.JCPenney said it is 100% committed to staying in the community.The final development agreement is still being negotiated, and Tuesday’s council vote does not finalize the deal. It only updates the urban renewal plan so the city can move forward if negotiations are successful.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —

The city of West Des Moines voted Tuesday to approve a plan that could pave the way for a major redevelopment of Valley West Mall, including the possible demolition of the aging building.

The proposal, which passed Tuesday by a 4-1 vote, increases the city’s potential incentives for the project from $95 million to no more than $110 million, supporting a developer’s plan to buy the property and transform it into a walkable district with restaurants, retail, entertainment, residential space, trails, waterways and green spaces.

“It will be restaurant, retail, entertainment with residential mixed in,” Mayor Russ Trimble said, describing the plan. Renderings for the development have not yet been released.

Trimble said the city views the site as too important to allow the decline to continue.

“At one point, Valley West Mall was really happening. That mall has since gone bankrupt, there are not very many tenants in that mall, and the area is continuing to rot and decay,” Trimble said.

Councilman Kevin Trevilyan said the city would be putting too much money up front and would not see tax revenue return for at least a decade. He also raised concerns about approving the plan before lawmakers at the Iowa statehouse decide what to do about property taxes.

Trimble said funding would be spread over about 10 years and could include general obligation bonds, local option sales tax dollars and tax increment financing.

One of the biggest hurdles is the few existing tenants, especially long-term leaseholders such as JCPenney.

Trimble said if agreements cannot be reached with the anchor store, redevelopment could be delayed until 2032.

“If we can’t redevelop this site until 2032, that is going to be tragic, because the area will continue to decay, will continue to rot, and it’s going to start bringing down other businesses and causing other problems for the city,” Trimble said.

JCPenney said it is 100% committed to staying in the community.

The final development agreement is still being negotiated, and Tuesday’s council vote does not finalize the deal. It only updates the urban renewal plan so the city can move forward if negotiations are successful.