A Des Moines church has lost its legal battle against the state Department of Transportation and the City of Des Moines. Kingsway Cathedral is located along the Des Moines freeway corridor. The church contends the city’s nearby street work and the state’s work on the Des Moines freeway caused vibrations that substantially damaged the church.
It would cost at least four-million dollars to restore the building, and Kingsway demanded that the state and city either pay to repair the building or condemn it, and pay the church the value of the property. The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled the case should be dismissed. The court’s ruling, though, seems to suggest the church might find success by filing another lawsuit, laying out the cost of the church’s damages and seeking compensation from the state and the city to cover those damages.