Drake University - Quax Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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Droke's new development rests on o solid foundation. bronching out New fooe for The old neighborhood t was a gray and rainy day ear- ly in May, 1986 when J. Mi- chael Earley, president of Hawkeye Bank and Trust, helped other dignitaries break the ground for construction on four sites east of Drake's campus. He told the crowd the groundbreak- ing ceremonies were the compre- hensive revival of a great neigh- borhood with a great future. Many did not think the future of the neighborhood would be that rosy. William Knapp, chief executive officer of Iowa Realty, said of the neighborhood, Some- thing had to be done in the Drake area to make a turn around be- cause it had been going down and down for several years. Today, the area east of campus between 23rd and 25th Streets, formerly known as Dogtown, is the site of more than S12 million in new development. Now called University Square, it is the new home for Old Main Apartments, Drake Diner, the Neal and Bea Smith Legal Clinic, Drake Uni- versity Inn and Zander's Cream- ery. Our goal was to make the area one of the best places in town, not one of the poorest. We wanted it to be a place where it's much more comfortable to walk and feel se- cure, said Richard Peebler, presi- dent of the non-profit Drake-Des Moines Development Corpora- tion, which was formed in 1984 to coordinate the revitalization ef- forts. Wilbur Miller, Drake Presi- dent until 1985, and Ken Austin, a Drake trustee who served as the development corporation's first president, originated the idea. The first project constructed was the 108 unit Old Main Apart- ment complex, completed at a cost just over S4 million. The Drake University Inn opened in March of 1987, but had been filled to ca- pacity for Relays weekend since February. Drake was a partner in this project costing an estimated 3152.2 million. In November of 1987, the Drake Diner opened. Peebler said he thinks the Art Deco style diner will give a cos- mopoliton flavor to the Drake area. Another major development to open in the, area was Drake's legal clinic. Made possible by a S4 mil- lion grant from the U.S. Congress, the clinic was dedicated at a cere- mony held in October of 1987, and attended by former U.S. Su- preme Court Iustice Warren Burger, Congressman Neal Smith and his wife Bea. The building is staffed by Drake law school stu- dents and faculty, who handle cases for those who are unable to afford other legal services. All the development has at- tracted new business and made lenders more willing to loan mon- ey for projects in the Drake area. From accounts of all those in- volved, the revitalization effort has been a cooperative one with all sides reaping the benefits. Debbie Entine, owner of Zander's Creamery, summed up the rela- tionship when she said, Drake has a lot to offer and we've got a lot to offer. It's going to be a long- term, wonderful relationship. Drake Development 5

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The Des Moines communiTy and Drake sTudenTs savor burgers and fries wiTh a new TwisT as The Drake Diner oops back To The 5O's. Ii- Awnings ana a fresh c:oaT of painT give a faoelifT To The once haggara Beggar's Banauel. Room shorTage'? No problem, jusT sTay aT The A Drake DevelopmenT Drake UniversiTy lnn, 11... .....u ...- -mn -1---.. -nu --...- , Dhfllxk UNN ER IN N uflh Txw'eI1WI'O FuTure lawyers reach ouT To The oommuniTy and offer Their services Through The medium of The Drake Legal Clinic.

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Torn Kinseilo QED goes book to noture for his Bio. 4 cioss ot the Botoniccil Center. The Droke University Metro Center: downtown's mini odrnissions office. The Des Moines Art Center: beouty inside COG out. Ee.. 2 3 . si C hair.. - :wk -a