DES MOINES, Iowa — It’s one of the age-old standoffs: developer vs. neighbors.

“I just don’t think it’s appropriate,” says Channing Swanson, who lives in the Westwood neighborhood on Des Moines’ west side.

“This is what the city wants,” says developer Adam Sieren of Premier Construction.

They could both be right.

Sieren found the neglected lot at 5702 Grand Avenue, and envisioned a group of new townhomes. It’s what he does.

“Any of these major corridors,” he explains, “I’m looking for a half-acre or more that I can put five to 15 units on and gently impact the neighborhood and make it blend while creating more housing and more density that the city wants.”

Neighbors say it won’t blend, and won’t fit.

“It’s proposed for 15 townhomes on a single lot right next to single-family homes,” says Bill Ludwig, another Westwood neighbor, “and adjoining other single-family homes and backing into single-family homes.”

While it may not seem to fit the neighborhood, Sieren says the development does fit the city’s needs. He’s asking for the property to be rezoned to medium-density.

“There’s a nine-year tax abatement for a reason,” he says, “We’re going to be 50,000 housing units short over the next 20 years, and the city wants all-electric, medium density, in-fill missing middle.”

The Westwood Neighborhood includes architects Bill Ludwig and Channing Swanson. They say they know this business and know Sieren’s plan is wrong for the area.

“You can tell from looking at the drawings,” Swanson says. “These are not expensive buildings.”

“As a developer,” Ludwig says, “I’d say if you proposed a house or two you might get some reaction that might be acceptable.”

Sieren says he’s willing to compromise on size, but disagrees with those who want to draw comparisons to his other developments — like the recently completed row of townhomes just west of 63rd street on Hickman Road. He says this will fit Westwood.

“I’ve let it be clear to the city and clear to the residents that I want it to be right for the character of the neighborhood.”

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