ADVERTISEMENT
A rare opportunity for admirers of luxury urban living is for sale inside the historic Liberty Building, one of 16 condominiums hidden within the nearly century-old downtown structure.
Located at 418 6th St., right at the intersection with Grand Ave., the 2,085-square-foot ninth-floor apartment is for sale at $849,000.
ADVERTISEMENT
Completely remodeled since its purchase in 2012, unit 905 features two bedrooms, two full baths, and an outside balcony built into the west side of the building.
The condominium conversion of the Liberty Building was completed in 2006, refurbishing floors 9 through 11.
Plus:$960,000 acreage in Osceola features large home and garage, pond and Morton Building
Stefanie Running Anderson of Fathom Realty represents sellers Kevin Schnell and Josh Garrett and describes the spacious apartment as “a fusion of modern and mid-century design.”
Years of interior space upgrades have created “little flashy touches,” he said, including patches of amber mixed in with the terrazzo flooring.
Natural light is provided by an abundance of large windows on three sides of the apartment, and the interior shares a single wall with its neighbor.
Plus:$2.5m ‘ultra-contemporary’ home looks to wow potential buyers in Salisbury Oaks
The streamlined kitchen was designed in collaboration with Projects Contemporary Furniture of the East Village, adding a built-in espresso machine, quartz countertops, and cabinetry made without external handles to create a smooth finish.
While entertaining guests, the open-plan dining room sits under an imported chandelier from Canadian design firm Bocci.
The master bathroom includes a heated tile floor, a zero entry shower, and a freestanding tub. Running Anderson said, “These are things you don’t find on most other units. It is a very unique property.”
Some furnishings, like the floor-to-ceiling bookcase, will be included with a full-price deal on the space.
Outside the front door of the condo are two walk-in storage units, one set up with a window. “Some people use them for an office or a child’s room,” she said.
Plus:A rare home for sale in Des Moines’ historic Owl’s Head neighborhood is listed for $760,000
Owners can access the building’s movie theater equipped with a mini kitchen and theater-style seating, plus bike storage with a private exit to the street.
Liberty Building residents are allowed access to the gym and pool at the adjacent Hyatt Place Des Moines Downtown hotel and receive a discount if they choose to book a room for friends or family.
Access to the Skywalk is on the second floor, and dedicated tenant parking has been assigned in the garage across 6th Street. But Running Anderson says, “It’s so centrally located that you can walk to Wells Fargo and you can walk to the Farmers’ Market. You really don’t need a car. There are so few places here in Des Moines that don’t.”
Limiting the number of residential tenants has also resulted in “a much tighter community. They all know each other,” she said.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Aside from the replacement of the original windows, little of the exterior has changed since the Liberty Building debuted in 1924 and the property has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2010.
The Historical Register notes that the exterior maintains “a powerful impression of strength and stability, exactly the qualities that the insurance company, which originally occupied the building, wished to convey to the public.”
Between 1924 and 1940, Bankers Life Insurance Company, a predecessor of The Principal Financial Group, was the main tenant, eventually occupying a total of six floors. The OMS radio station broadcast from the 11th floor until 1932, an area that has since been destroyed and replaced by six apartments.
Running Anderson observed, “It looks a bit rough around the edges of the building. It seems a bit simple, perhaps. But then you walk in and think, this is awesome.”
“Overall, it’s an idyllic lifestyle,” he said.
The condo is listed at $849,000. Call (515) 689-1985 for a tour of this home or similar properties.
Plus:$1 million will buy a 6.4-acre sanctuary for bird, butterfly and flower lovers in Ankeny
Richard Lane is the real estate reporter for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at [email protected]