Sherman Hill - Des Moines, IA Area Guide

During the late 1870s, Des Moines banker Hoyt Sherman constructed a brick Palazzo on the side of a hill overlooking the Raccoon River. Until Sherman's project, Des Moines' residential development was scattered over the city. A building boom resulted in a high concentration of late Victorian mansions and gabled-roof vernacular homes that formed the first neighborhood in Des Moines.

The varied types of housing attracts disparate demographics, from white-collar executives to aspiring musicians. Sherman Hill sponsors several house tours during the year, and the Christmas tour provides neighborhood visitors with a stunningly beautiful combination of dazzling lights and meticulously decorated properties. Sherman Hill residents live close to the Civic Center, Wells Fargo Arena, and several art galleries located downtown and on Ingersoll Avenue. The Civic Center hosts Broadway productions, and Wells Fargo Arena regularly attracts national recording artists.

In less than five minutes, Sherman Hill residents can access the Ingersoll business district, which houses some of the most popular restaurants and bars in the Des Moines area. Hungry diners in the mood for healthy Mediterranean-inspired dishes book reservations at Eatery A, the stylishly designed upscale restaurant that features an extensive wine-by-the-glass list.

Begin your culinary adventure by ordering the dates stuffed with bleu cheese, and then expand your culinary horizons with one of the signature wood-fired pizzas. Eatery A serves a brunch on weekends, and the restaurant maintains a spacious patio for dining during warm weather.

As a Des Moines culinary landmark for over 50 years, Jesse's Embers covers the other side of the restaurant spectrum. Hand-cut prime steaks and dry-rubbed pork chops highlight a menu that attracts lifelong patrons who enjoy the subdued ambiance and renowned menu. Ted's Coney Island brings New York-style hot dogs to the Des Moines area. The restaurant feeds hungry Sherman Hill residents a quick bite at an affordable price.

The Gas Lamp, which books local and regional bands, sits less than a mile from the first Sherman Hill doorstep. Revelers who need to burst out of the Sherman Hill serenity get their grooves on at one of the nightclubs that form the Court Avenue District in downtown Des Moines. Sherman Hill does not have any bars within its borders, but Carl's Place furnishes a dive bar ambiance just outside the neighborhood's southern perimeter.

Uber entered the Des Moines market in late 2013 and instantly conducted brisk business in the Sherman Hill neighborhood. Since many of the carpooling company's cars travel downtown, Sherman Hill residents do not wait long for transportation that allows them to forgo paying high parking rates. A few parking meters line Woodland Avenue near the hospital. Cabs rarely take more than five minutes to arrive in Sherman Hill as many cabbies wait for fares along downtown streets.

Cyclists enjoy a wide bicycle lane that stretches along both sides of Ingersoll Avenue. However, the narrow tree-lined streets inside Sherman Hill do not provide cyclists with safe passage. Pedestrians walk on well-kept sidewalks that the city has placed on every street in the neighborhood.

With Interstate 235 to the north of Sherman Hill, residents have quick access to the primary highway that cuts through the heart of metropolitan Des Moines. The Des Moines Area Transit (DART) system has its hub in downtown Des Moines. This means Sherman Hill residents can catch the number 52 Merle Hay or number 60 Ingersoll to travel to the bus hub in less than five minutes. From there, explore what Des Moines makes available by taking one of the dozen or so lines that operate in the city. Most residents enter and exit the neighborhood via Woodland Avenue or Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway.

For those who would find a neighborhood located close to dozens of acres of green space appealing, Sherman Hill's Gray's Lake and Water Works Park make it undeniably attractive. The two most visited parks in the Des Moines area provide nature lovers with secluded areas to get away from it all. They also operate several recreational venues that include boating and fishing facilities. A less than five minute drive on the MLK Parkway puts you right at Mother Nature's front door. Both parks cost nothing to enter, but many of the recreational activities cost a small fee. A bike trail encircles Gray's Lake and slices through Water Works Park. Gray's Lake hosts an annual slow pitch softball tournament that draws some of the best players in the Midwest.

While kid-centered parks provide Sherman Hill residents with a respite from the hustle of urban life, the neighborhood also accommodates dog owners. The closest dog park in Windsor Heights provides plenty of room for furry friends to get exercise and mingle with their buddies. Windsor Heights built the dog park next to a walking and cycling trail, expanding the opportunities for residents to exercise alongside their pets.

DART bus fares cost $1.75 for one transfer over a two-hour period. Savvy riders purchase monthly bus passes to enjoy unlimited rides on board any DART bus.

With an average rental rate of $583.51, you can enjoy a spacious one-bedroom apartment in one of the majestic Victorian homes that grace Sherman Hill. The cost of living in Sherman Hill sits 11 percent below the national average and about on par with the cost of living in other Des Moines neighborhoods. Because of high demand and the quality of the architecture, Sherman Hill has some of the highest real estate values in the Des Moines area.

Draw domestic beer prices can go as high as $3 at watering holes along bustling Ingersoll Avenue. Budget-conscious drinkers can enjoy frosty 12-ounce draw beers for $1.50 at Carl's Place during the extended happy hour.

Commuters who must take I-235 to and from work must pump gas outside of the neighborhood because the closest service station sits about a half-mile away. Sherman Hill residents who pump gas close to home pay 8 percent less than the national average price for a gallon of gas.

The closest shopping center lies more than 15 minutes away from the Sherman Hill neighborhood. However, Sherman Hill residents have a world of shopping at their fingertips. High-end stores downtown cater to refined tastes, but the boutiques and specialty stores that line Ingersoll Avenue represent the best shopping options for Sherman Hill residents. Badowers sells a wide range of men's high-end fashion that includes executive suits and handcrafted denim jeans. Women take a walk on the chic side of fashion by shopping at Repeat Consignment Boutique, located just down the street from Badowers. Sherman Hill restaurants also have quick access to several specialty stores that do business in the city's East Village.

Perhaps the best reason for moving to Sherman Hill sits at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Gateway Market specializes in selling locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, free-range meats and just off the farm dairy products. Artisan cheeses and rare wines make the market a one-stop grocery shopping spree for those planning gourmet meals. The market also prepares hot, freshly prepared entrées to go or for dining in the small café.

Sherman Hill residents can easily access the Des Moines Farmers Market by walking a few blocks to the south. The market typically runs from early May to late October.