Written by, and featuring Jo Hill!

 

I have lived downtown for almost two years and plan to remain downtown as long as possible. I live at Ligutti Tower.

I had worked as a volunteer at Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso, and planned to stay there much longer.  But when my youngest grandchild was born I felt it was time to come back to Iowa. I asked my daughter to check out apartments, and she found the one I live in now, and a few weeks later when I returned to Des Moines and saw it, I knew I had come home.

 

I live on the 18th floor and have the best view in Des Moines. My guests usually walk to the window and just stand there for a while. Each morning I wake to look out at Grand Ave., the East Village and the Capital. It is even more beautiful at night. Besides my apartment and the view; I love all the walking trails. I try to get out as often as possible and walk and take photographs as I walk. My grandsons tease me about being a bird watcher, but I find I love anything that I can photograph.

I have found that within Downtown Des Moines and the nearby trails, there is a world of beauty. Today another person stopped and told me she sees me all around the area with my camera. I seem to be known as the picture taking Grandma.

I’m pleased to be one of the downtown residents. I have good friends and neighbors here and would tell other people to join us living here.

The big problem I see with the area is that there is still not a good grocery store near by. I understand three are opening, but only one is close enough for many older people to shop easily.   As people come here to live I hope that there will be more places open later in the afternoon and evenings. That would be helpful.

Hope to see you as I wonder around looking for pictures to take.