Equitable Building (Des Moines) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa Building
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The Equitable Building in 2008
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 Location in Iowa
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| Location | 604 Locust Street 316 6th Avenue Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Built | 1924 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000154 |
| Added to NRHP | April 21, 2015 |
The Equitable Building is a tall building, also known as a high-rise, located in Des Moines, Iowa. It gets its name from the insurance company Equitable of Iowa, which first owned the building. You can find it on Locust Street in the downtown area of the city.
This 19-story building, found at 604 Locust Street, was finished in 1924. Standing at 318 feet (97 meters) tall, it was the tallest building in Iowa for 49 years! It held this record until the Financial Center was completed in 1973. Today, the Equitable Building is the eighth tallest building in Iowa.
The building has different kinds of spaces inside. There are shops, offices, and places where people live. Since 2006, a company has been working to turn many parts of the building into condominiums, which are apartments that people can own. In 2007, a well-known jewelry store, Joseph's Jewelry, moved out after being in the Equitable Building for 83 years. They moved to a different building in 2008.
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Protecting Our Environment: Asbestos Safety
Asbestos is a natural material that was often used in older buildings, including the Equitable Building. It was popular because it was strong and resistant to fire. However, if asbestos is disturbed, it can release tiny fibers into the air. Breathing in these fibers can be harmful to people's lungs and can cause serious health problems over time. Because of this, there are strict rules about how to handle asbestos when buildings are being renovated or torn down.
Renovation Rules and Safety Measures
When the top 13 floors of the Equitable Building were being renovated between 2005 and 2008, there were concerns about how asbestos was handled. It's very important to check for asbestos before starting any renovation work. If asbestos is found, it must be removed safely by special contractors who are trained to do this. They also need to tell the state's environmental department before they start work.
During the renovation of the Equitable Building, some people believed that these important safety steps were not followed. This led to an investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR is a state agency that helps protect our environment and natural resources.
Working Together for a Safer Environment
The Iowa Attorney General's Office, which is the state's main legal office, got involved to make sure environmental rules were followed. They worked with the DNR to address the situation. In 2009, a court order was put in place. This order required the company that owned the building, Equitable L.P., to pay a large amount of money. This payment was a penalty for not following the rules about asbestos during the renovation.
The goal of this action was to show how important it is to handle asbestos safely. Officials like Attorney General Tom Miller and DNR Director Richard Leopold emphasized that these rules are in place to protect people's health. They wanted to make sure that similar problems would not happen again in the future. This case was a reminder that environmental safety rules are taken very seriously.
Who Owns the Equitable Building?
In 2005, a local developer named Bob Knapp bought the Equitable Building for $5 million. He planned to turn some of the floors into fancy apartments. He used a loan from a bank called Vantus Bank to buy it.
However, in 2009, another bank called Great Southern Bank took over the loan after Vantus Bank had problems. Great Southern Bank then took ownership of the building because the loan was not being paid back. This process is called foreclosure. The Equitable Building was supposed to be sold at a special auction in September 2010.
Later, on February 15, 2012, the Equitable Building was sold to a company called Equitable Lofts LLC. This company has successfully turned the building into upscale apartments, which means they are high-quality and modern places to live.
Images for kids
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The Equitable Building in 2008
