North of Grand Neighborhood Association

North of Grand Neighborhood Association

Facts About NOG

North of Grand (NOG) Neighborhood’s total geographic population, based on the 1990 U.S. Census, is 4,417 residents. Our population size has remained fairly static. NOG residents consider a strength to be our population’s cultural and ethnic diversity, and include it as one of the reasons they choose to live in the area. There is a wide mixture of ages, with youth, families and elderly in our neighborhood. Statistics show this neighborhood also possesses one of the City’s highest concentrations of college graduates. In comparison to 26% for the City, 43% of NOG residents are college graduates. In 1990, NOG’s median income was 82% of the City’s median income.

Housing structures in NOG are generally in normal-to-excellent condition, with a low vacancy rate compared to the entire City. NOG has a unique mixture of housing styles and densities. The majority of the neighborhood structures is single-family dwellings, at 87%. The median year for housing construction in the neighborhood was 1943, with 60% of the units constructed before 1949.

NOG History

The North of Grand Neighborhood Association was organized in 1995 and has a current membership of over 120 families, individuals and businesses. It’s a young organization, and it is building on a wonderful history of the area.

Starting in 1879, the Iowa State Fair was held in the NOG neighborhood. The main Fairground entrance was on West Grand Ave., several blocks east of 42nd Street. Close to the Fairgrounds was a lake, located just north of Woodland Ave. and west of 39th Street. The lake was subsquently drained and developed for housing.

Back in 1881, the area between Center Street to the north, the Racoon River on the South and 42nd Street on the west was incorporated as the City of Greenwood Park. This suburban community was described in the 1889-1890 City Directory as, “One of the most beautiful of Des Moines’ suburban towns...a very popular place of residence where people vie with each other in the beauty and elegance of their homes.” The entire area was annexed by Des Moines in 1890.

The development and extension of the streetcar spurred growth in two very different areas. Around the turn of the century, Grand Avenue was a residential corridor with large mansions and beautiful homes. After 1910, apartments or flats were constructed along the streetcar line on Grand, and Ingersoll Avenue became a commercial area concentrated at street intersections, which gradually spread to fill out the length of the Ingersoll Corridor. This area retains much of that character today. After 1910, the area to the North was platted and developed with both large and modest houses, many in the historically significant style of bungalows and foursquare houses, which were easily affordable to construct after World War I.
Circa 1900-1915, our area had the Ingersoll Amusement Park, located south of Ingersoll and east of Polk Boulevard. Trolly cars came west on Ingersoll from downtown, bringing people to this attraction, which housed many rides, including a four-story wooden roller coaster (one of the tallest structures for miles) and the “Double Whirl” (looking like an early version of the modern “Tilt a Whirl”). There were lovely flower gardens, gazebos, and an outdoor theatre where top name actors performed.

Our area has one of Des Moines’ earliest organized neighborhoods that can be traced back to the 1920’s. The purpose of this organization, which came to be called the Center-Soll Club, comprised of residents living between Ingersoll Avenue and Center Street, 35th and 40th Streets, was to become better acquainted with each other and make the neighborhood a better place to live. These goals remain in the North of Grand Neighborhood.

Historic Landmark
A large plat area called “Middlesex”, developed in the 1910-20’s, located in the east section of NOG, in the area north of Woodland, west of 31st and east of 35th Streets, has been declared a National Historic Landmark area. The architecture in this area is primarily comprised of either bungalow or square-house construction. Just after World War I, these structures were affordable and this development contributed to the quick outward expansion of the City and the quick growth of the City. It was planned that a street had to show a diversity of structures - so you will not see a row of the same structures like you see in modern developments. The result is that each street in our neighborhood is unique and has its own flavor in both geography and architecture.

A Central Location

NOG located between 31st & 42nd Streets, and south of I-235 and north of Grand Ave., is a convenient location: you’re near to the unique shops and businesses on Ingersoll, to I-235, to downtown, to award-winning restaurants, suburbs, art and science centers, theaters, houses of worship, schools, Greenwood Park, the airport, and to MTA bus routes. There’s a feeling of easy access to anywhere you want to go.

About our association

NOG Welcome Flyer

Facts About NOG
NOG’s total geographic population, based on the 1990 U.S. Census, is 4,417 residents. Our population size has remained fairly static. NOG residents consider a strength to be our population’s cultural and ethnic diversity, and include it as one of the reasons they choose to live in the area. There is a wide mixture of ages, with youth, families and elderly in our neighborhood. Statistics show this neighborhood also possesses one of the City’s highest concentrations of college graduates. In comparison to 26% for the City, 43% of NOG residents are college graduates. In 1990, NOG’s median income was 82% of the City’s median income.

Housing structures in NOG are generally in normal-to-excellent condition, with a low vacancy rate compared to the entire City. NOG has a unique mixture of housing styles and densities. The majority of the neighborhood structures are single-family dwellings, at 87%. The median year for housing construction in the neighborhood was 1943, with 60% of the units constructed before 1949.

NOG Saves You $$
We have recently undergone sidewalk, curb, storm water intakes and street paving renovations, at no charge in assessments made to residents, thanks to the monies made available in large part to the efforts of NOG’s membership in organizing to the extent that we became a recognized and then designated neighborhood by the City. NOG has an active planning committee, which helped formulate a plan to bring about improvements and money to our neighborhood. Thanks to the designated status of NOG, residents can apply for special financial loans for home purchase or improvements, through the Neighborhood Finance Corporation (ph 246-0010). Parts of the loans are forgivable, based on income.

Good Schools
Children in the neighborhood have great choices for a quality education at close public schools with award-winning programs, such as Greenwood Elementary, Hubbell Elementary, Callanan Middle School, Smouse Opportunity School (for physically handicapped children, grades K-8), Ruby Van Meter School (for severely retarded), and Roosevelt High School.

Great private schools are also close, including Drake University, founded in 1881, and the University of Des Moines (Osteopathic Medicine & Health Sciences), and St. Augustin’s Elementary (Roman Catholic).

A Central Location
NOG is a convenient location: you’re near to the unique shops and businesses on Ingersoll, to I-235, to downtown, to award-winning restaurants, suburbs, art and science centers, theaters, houses of worship, schools, Greenwood Park, the airport, and to MTA bus routes. There’s a feeling of easy access to anywhere you want to go.

A Charming Area
We have good, friendly people in our neighborhood - there’s someone you can find to help you.

It’s a quiet, nice neighborhood with an older charm, abundance of old trees, inviting
sidewalks, and a great history for the reading!

Meet our residents by attending NOG’s Quarterly Meetings or social functions such as Picnics, Scrub Days (where you can throw away stuff for free), I-235 Volunteer Freeway Cleanups, National Night Outs (against crime), Home Improvement Workshops, etc.

So, don’t be shy - go for a walk, meet people, and see the great parts of NOG!

NOG History

The North of Grand Neighborhood Association was organized in 1995 and has a current membership of over 120 families, individuals and businesses. It’s a young organization, and it is building on a wonderful history of the area.

Starting in 1879, the Iowa State Fair was held in the NOG neighborhood. The main Fairground entrance was on West Grand Ave., several blocks east of 42nd Street. Close to the Fairgrounds was a lake, located just north of Woodland Ave. and west of 39th Street. The lake was subsequently drained and developed for housing.

Back in 1881, the area between Center Street to the north, the Raccoon River on the South and 42nd Street on the west was incorporated as the City of Greenwood Park. This suburban community was described in the 1889-1890 City Directory as, “One of the most beautiful of Des Moines’ suburban towns...a very popular place of residence where people vie with each other in the beauty and elegance of their homes.” The entire area was annexed by Des Moines in 1890.

The development and extension of the streetcar spurred growth in two very different areas. Around the turn of the century, Grand Avenue was a residential corridor with large mansions and beautiful homes. After 1910, apartments or flats were constructed along the streetcar line on Grand, and Ingersoll Avenue became a commercial area concentrated at street intersections, which gradually spread to fill out the length of the Ingersoll Corridor. This area retains much of that character today. After 1910, the area to the North was platted and developed with both large and modest houses, many in the historically significant style of bungalows and foursquare houses, which were easily affordable to construct after World War I.

Circa 1900-1915, our area had the Ingersoll Amusement Park, located south of Ingersoll and east of Polk Boulevard. Trolley cars came west on Ingersoll from downtown, bringing people to this attraction, which housed many rides, including a four-story wooden roller coaster (one of the tallest structures for miles) and the “Double Whirl” (looking like an early version of the modern “Tilt a Whirl”). There were lovely flower gardens, gazebos, and an outdoor theatre where top name actors performed.

Our area has one of Des Moines’ earliest organized neighborhoods that can be traced back to the 1920’s. The purpose of this organization, which came to be called the Center-Soll Club, comprised of residents living between Ingersoll Avenue and Center Street, 35th and 40th Streets, was to become better acquainted with each other and make the neighborhood a better place to live. These goals remain in the North of Grand Neighborhood.

Part of NOG is an Historic Landmark
A large plat area called “Middlesex”, developed in the 1910-20’s, located in the east section of NOG, in the area north of Woodland, west of 31st and east of 35th Streets, has been declared a National Historic Landmark area. The architecture in this area is primarily comprised of either bungalow or square-house construction. Just after World War I, these structures were affordable and this development contributed to the quick outward expansion of the City and the quick growth of the City. It was planned that a street had to show a diversity of structures - so you will not see a row of the same structures like you see in modern developments. The result is that each street in our neighborhood is unique and has its own flavor in both geography and architecture.

Any Questions? Contact:
NOG President: Kimberly Hansen, PH 279-2684

NOG Member Application

NOG Member Application
JOIN NOG TODAY!
NOG is an all-volunteer neighborhood organization, with boundaries between I-235 and Grand Ave., and 31st and 42nd Streets. We’re organized to: enhance the quality of life of the people who live and work in the neighborhood; preserve and enhance the residential character of the neighborhood; strengthen communication between and among residents, property and business owners in Polk County and the City of Des Moines; preserve/enhance the historic character and aesthetic qualities of the built and natural environments, both public & private; ensure all existing and projected infrastructure systems are managed or developed to enhance the physical, visual and spatial qualities of the neighborhood; promote a healthy climate for area businesses and public and private properties; and provide opportunities for its citizens to celebrate and promote the neighborhood.

Name____________________________
Address__________________________
City______________ State__ Zip_______
Phone____________________________
E-mail____________________________

__New membership __Renewal membership

Membership Type: General Membership is open to everyone. Voting members must live, work, rent, or own property within NOG boundaries.
__Individual - $12/yr __Household-$22/yr
__Business - $30/yr __ Patron - $50/yr

(Check all that applies.) I:
__Live in NOG __Own a Business in NOG
__Work in NOG __Own Property in NOG

I am interested in serving on the following NOG committees:
__Newsletter __Welcoming
__Public Affairs __Block Captain
__Membership & Publicity __History
__Beautification & Special Events

Make checks payable & mail to:
North of Grand Neighborhood Association
PO Box 12027, Des Moines IA 50312

Email us
kimberlymhansen@aol.com