September 04, 2025

GSA Concludes First Accelerated Disposition Sale with Des Moines Courthouse

$2.6M sale saves taxpayers $891,000 annually, avoids over $27M in capital repairs  

DES MOINES, Iowa — Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the completion of a $2.6 million sale of the historic U.S. Courthouse located at 123 E. Walnut Street. This marks GSA’s first sale under the accelerated disposition initiative, saving taxpayers more than $891,000 annually in operating and maintenance costs and avoiding over $27 million in estimated capital repairs over the next 10 years.

Initially listed March 3, the sale advances the agency’s ongoing efforts to shrink the government’s real estate footprint, reduce ongoing costs, and generate revenue while optimizing its real estate portfolio.

“Beyond saving costs and reducing our real estate footprint, this sale also reinvests in our communities,” said Jeff Smith, Acting Public Buildings Service Regional Commissioner for GSA’s Heartland Region. “By proactively managing our assets, we free up resources to modernize facilities, like the new Locust Street courthouse, and spur economic development in Des Moines. This sale demonstrates our commitment to maximizing taxpayer value while fostering vibrant, thriving communities.”

The 97,470-square-foot property, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, received 20 bids and sits on a 1.63-acre lot in a prime downtown location.

GSA is focused on executing President Trump’s agenda to rightsize the federal real estate portfolio and reduce the burden on hardworking taxpayers while also delivering the space needed for agencies to achieve their missions. The accelerated disposition initiative aims to engage the market, attract interested parties, and inform strategies that will expedite the disposition of federal assets, consistent with all applicable laws.

The sale follows the new federal courthouse’s June opening located at 111 Locust Street, which supports judicial needs with cost-effective, modern and efficient facilities that maximize taxpayer value. The new courthouse consolidates court functions and other federal tenants from leased space into one building.

For more information about GSA’s property disposition efforts, visit: https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/real-estate-services/real-property-disposition/assets-identified-for-accelerated-disposition.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.