Demolition work begins at vacant Ho-Jo

Demolition work began last week at the vacant Howard Johnson hotel slated to open next year as a newly developed retail center.

The 3333 S. Glenstone Ave. site, which also formerly housed a Clarion Hotel, is being torn down by Central Missouri Excavation Contracting Inc., said commercial real estate broker Brad Thessing, who along with Kevin Guffey of central Missouri-based American Realty & Development purchased the property in May for an undisclosed price from Jim D. Morris.

In June, Springfield City Council approved $2.25 million in incentives for over $10 million in retail development, creating the Glenstone Marketplace Community Improvement District to reimburse developers for removing blighted conditions. Thessing said remediation work, such as removing asbestos, is nearly finished.

Once demolition work is complete in the next couple months, Thessing said the developers would start work on Glenstone Marketplace LLC, which is estimated to generate $30 million in taxable revenue and over 100 jobs, include 80,000 square feet of retail space targeting stores between 10,000 square feet and 30,000 square feet. The project is slated for completion by late summer next year.

Declining to disclose names, Thessing said several national tenants have signed on for development along the busy strip of Glenstone Avenue. He said the names of the tenants likely would be released in the next couple weeks.

Thessing said Sapp Design Associates Architects PC would design Glenstone Marketplace, and the developers are shopping for a general contractor.

Tomorrow, Thessing said the Springfield Police Department would conduct SWAT team training at the property, which would include controlled explosions.

“It’s a good will gesture,” he said.