The Townhall
A mixed-use community anchor on Des Moines' 6th Avenue Corridor — affordable apartments, a ground-floor restaurant, and a neighborhood café in the restored historic storefront.
The Townhall is a neighborhood anchor designed to bring people together. Located along Des Moines’ 6th Avenue Corridor, this mixed-use project blends affordable housing with a ground-floor restaurant and a neighborhood café — fostering belonging, entrepreneurship, and everyday connection.
With locally inspired design and sustainable building practices, Townhall reimagines what it means to live, work, and gather in the heart of the city.
The Townhall won the first Innovation set-aside ever awarded by the Iowa Finance Authority — a pitch competition in which finalists present at the Iowa Housing Conference and a single project is selected. It was awarded federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in 2024. More on how that program works in How the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Works.
The historic storefront
A two-story brick commercial building anchors the corner of the site. Rather than clear it, the project restores it — its storefront becomes a neighborhood café, keeping the block’s history in place.
Restaurant & café space
The new building includes space for a single restaurant tenant, and the restored historic storefront will house a neighborhood café. Interested in the space? Reach out at info@ntontan.com.
