2007 The Year in Business, No. 1: Downtown Springfield goes on roller-coaster ride

Nothing in center city compared to the journey of the Heer’s building.

At the close of 2006, the building’s previous owner, Vaughn Prost, had just ceded ownership to the city of Springfield to avoid foreclosure. As the structure’s former developer, he had missed a series of financing deadlines for the project, and the city had opened the field to other developers.

By April, three of the four interested firms had dropped out of the running, leaving St. Louis firm McGowan|Walsh to tackle the long-awaited renovation. The company’s principal, Kevin McGowan, agreed to buy the building from the city for $3 million, the terms of which spent the summer before Springfield City Council.

The sale closed Nov. 8, and just more than a month later, McGowan revealed his intentions for Heer’s: 41 for-sale condominiums above a Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood Restaurant. He anticipates beginning construction in June, opening the eatery in May 2009 and finishing the five floors of condos by fall 2009. (See the cover story, “Lofts less risky for Heer’s” for more on McGowan’s plans.)

Meanwhile, the parking garage next to Heer’s began to take shape, and officials are targeting an April 1 opening.

Around the corner at Campbell Avenue and College Street, College Station Car Park lifted its gates to motorists in November, helping to ease a downtown parking crunch that had been escalating throughout the year.

The neighboring College Station entertainment district turned dirt in August – an event that Urban Districts Alliance Executive Director Rusty Worley at the time called a “long time coming – blood, sweat and tears for everyone.”

The development originally was slated to open in fall 2006, but delays with the nearby parking decks pushed back the schedule. Now, officials are aiming for a late summer or early fall debut. The project’s marquee tenant is Hollywood Theaters, a first-run cinema with 14 screens.

Despite giant steps forward for both Heer’s and College Station, it wasn’t a year without setbacks for downtown.

A slew of tenants shut their doors for reasons ranging from too-little foot traffic to an oversaturation of restaurants. Closed eateries included Agrario, Rasta Grille, Harpo’s, Papagiorgio’s Pizza and South Avenue Pizza, though that will reopen in 2008 under new ownership. South Peer Antique Mall & Flea Market also closed, making way for lofts in its place by Jerry and Bo Hagerman, Jason Harris and Keith Acuff.

Offsetting the downtown exits were several debuts: Bailey’s American Grill opened in Rasta Grill’s spot and The Coffee Ethic in the first floor of the square’s Kresge building, which developer Craig Wagoner has been morphing into lofts and a downtown library site.

The loft-building craze did not slow in 2007. Developer Matt Miller broke ground for his Six23 Condos on West Walnut Street, set to open in June, and Wagoner also is turning the second floor of 323 E. Walnut into lofts.

While a flurry of downtown development spanned 2007, the center of it all – Park Central Square – may very well be the highlight of 2008.

The city spent 2007 gathering input from the public on a $1 million redesign of the square, and design firm Butler, Rosenbury & Partners is finalizing its plan to submit to council in January. Initial concepts call for either a park or a plaza; both are aimed at increasing activity.

Construction on the square’s first phase could begin as early as August.[[In-content Ad]]