The Equitable Building

Once the pinnacle of luxury in downtown Des Moines, the current management is now running this beloved community into the ground. Months of no air conditioning in the units, resigning gifts left unfulfilled, and management’s gaslighting of residents On building repairs have left this property a shell of its former self.

AC is consistently down with apartments reaching 80 degrees for days straight. From the ownership's explanations it sounds like they cheeped out on maintenance/replacements for too long and now they are having trouble keeping up with needed fixes to make the building less dangerous to survive in. Hot water keeps going down which makes showering before work torture. If you are visiting the building, make sure to take a lap around the block so that you are able to see the homeless camps that have moved to surround the building. They add new members to their flock daily. This makes walking home at night from the inconvenient parking structures dangerous, especially when you have to step over people on your walk. The skywalk near the building is consistently filled with human droppings. The air at times smells like an unflushed toilet. This is likely due to the nearly abandoned buildings surrounding the Equitable. The staff is extremely nice and try their best to help but ownership and the city of Des Moines have failed and the building is becoming unlivable. I am now safely moved away and you should stay away.

I recently moved to Des Moines from across the country. All of my possessions had been seriously delayed and I had nothing. The building management lent me numerous items until my belongings are delivered. I am honestly not sure what I would have done without them. They have gone above and beyond. I am so grateful to have found The Equitable Building. The apartments are large and comfortable. The building is beautiful!

I signed the lease without actually touring it and never regretted doing so. The tenants are super friendly. The convenience walking to anywhere downtown is great. The view is great I get a lot of sun in my unit. I really think this is the best apartment you can ask for in downtown.

I had multiple tours here and Angela was so resourceful, friendly and patient. I'm still deciding between this and another place but from my tours which were rather thorough thanks to Angela this place definitely has a good price/value unlike many places in downtown. I've also had friends/colleagues who've lived here who had great experience and were able to work productively and also study at the same time for further certifications so that speaks to the quality of the structure/building, neighbors and management here.

The Equitable is a great place to live if you want to be in the heart of the city's goings-on. The other tenants were friendly, the convenience of walking to coffee shops or the grocery store was fantastic, and the rooftop was absolutely spectacular. If someone wants to live downtown, I will tell them to live here.

Angela really takes care of the tenants.

The expectations of the residents apartments and it's amenities are a top priority and they do their best to fix things as quickly as possible.

We love living here already. It is close to work and close to bars & restaurants, its the best location

Friendly community atmosphere Quality of unit

Superior customer service in every aspect.

Carla was wonderful to work with. She knew everything about the building and was happy to show us everything. I loved the space and excited to hear from the leasing company on an approval.

My time at the Equitable was exactly what I was looking for. I was downtown, could walk to work, entertainment, food, and shopping. I had just moved from a large city overseas and the Equitable was what I needed to transition back. Everyone on staff were incredible to work with and My move is not reflective of the people, place, or community. Rather it was time for a change and I am so thankful I got to spend a few years at the Equitable. I have recommended the place to others and will continue to do so!

The truly pet friendly atmosphere makes it a really fun place to live.

The management are always receptive to needs and helpful. There are a lot of nice residents. People are friendly here.

it' a great value for the costs.

It' a great place. I love living at the Equitable. Staff is awesome and the residents are great.

It is just about perfect and seems to be run very professionally.

The staff at The Equitable is always responsive, professional and provides excellent service.

I would recommend if I thought they could afford downtown. It' not for everyone depending on their income. It is an experience though that I feel we are paying for to some extent.

We love the everything and the apartment community!!!

Everything about this building is amazing and well worth the price.

Great location, Great access to everything downtown.Nice Place.

The Community is quiet, clean and friendly.

Perfect downtown location, great construction, historic building, nice floor plans.

We love the sense of community.

Nice modern feel, great location, large apartment spaces with everything included. The moving carts are invaluable and everything just seems very well thought out.

I love the historical character of the building and I especially love the amenities such as DGX, Mama Mia's, and Potbelly.

The building is awesome. The rooftop terrace is incredible. The move in process was simple thanks to the freight elevator and carts available. Everything about it so far has shown that the property cares about making life easier for its residents.

Great space, amenities friendly and considerate neighbors. So glad I tried ‘Urban living’

Quality, location, size of apartments, historical parts of building that have remained and well cared for, skywalk, windows, view from apartments, maintenance seems important, sun deck, to mention a few.

This is a wonderful place to live, and the staff is responsive, friendly and professional.

We really enjoy the building, management and living downtown but the area does not seem as safe as it once did.

The building and the staff are great! Definitely would recommend.

I'm always thrilled with the quick, friendly service we receive here!

The only thing that is odd is the side door - it's a weird vestibule and sliding door thing. Seems like it could break at any second.

It is one of the nicest places in Des Moines. I think cost of living in downtown is too high - there are not enough interesting events to justify the premium.

The team does a wonderful job keeping the building clean and free of problems. It's a great place to call home.

It feels more like home. Everyone is so nice and the other residents make you feel welcome. Also extremely dog friendly which is a bonus.

Proficient and attentive staff. High quality facility. Slap in the middle of town. Affordable. High Standards of rules and conduct set by Angela. Nice neighbors. Ease of access to and from work. Walkability to East Village, Sculpture Park and Farmers Market. Great Place.

The only reason that I would not recommend it is the lease rate. It is one of the highest rates for downtown yet still offers the same amenities as comparable properties. I also did not like that there was a flat rate for utilities. I never watched TV yet I was having to pay a cost for this service.

You should be so proud of your staff on this property. They are phenomenal!!!

Angela and her team do a terrific job and it is a great building.

Friendly management and maintenance staff. Requests have been handled quickly and professionally.

Ammenities are lacking and parking is a real issue. A decent place but other options could stand out more.

I have recommended it many times and will continue to do so!

The office staff, including maintenance are top notch. The appliances and fixtures are upper end. The property is very well maintained.

Parking expense is very high for retirees and square footage is pretty small for people trying to downsize.

I recommend it all the time. I LOVE living at the Equitable and hope to stay for many years to come.

I have only had a great experiences since living here. I've only had to call maintenance twice and they were quick and fixed the problems.