Springfield’s O’Reilly Development Co. LLC plans to rebid on a senior-living project in Joplin, following a decision the city’s governing body made months before the loss of its master developer.
In November, Joplin City Council voided the contract with O’Reilly Development and master developer Wallace Bajjali Development Partners LP to straighten out a technical error. According to the
Joplin Globe, the project had to be rebid to account for $4.5 million from the city's Community Development Block Grant funding to be used toward the facility’s $34 million construction, a requirement for funding through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development administration.
Now, with Wallace Bajjali out as master developer of Joplin, O’Reilly Development plans to pursue the project alone when the city issues requests for proposal in the next couple weeks, said Denise Heintz, partner and director of operations for O’Reilly Development.
“We are committed to see it through,” Heintz said. “The senior project is still something that we believe in. We feel like (in Joplin) there’s a demand for it.”
Heintz said the rebidding process is unrelated to Wallace Bajjali’s sudden exit.
On Monday, Joplin City Council said the city was notified that Wallace Bajjali had pulled out due to internal struggles, including what appears to be a successful takeover and plans to merge with another firm. After the 2011 EF5 tornado struck the city, Joplin officials contracted with Wallace Bajjali to lead its redevelopment work.
Owned by Pat O’Reilly, a member of the O’Reilly Automotive Inc. family, O’Reilly Development received state approval in September 2013 to partner with Wallace Bajjali to build the transitional senior living community in the city’s redevelopment area. The certificate of need approved by the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee includes an 80-bed assisted living center and 100 independent living units on 20 acres.
Heintz said O’Reilly Development continues to hold the certificate of need, which she believed would well-position the company to secure the contract.
“We’re confident. We believe we have a strong ability to be awarded that, but there’s no guarantee. It’s a competitive process,” she said.
If awarded the contract, Heintz said O’Reilly Development would plan to start construction by the third quarter and wrap up the project within 15 months.[[In-content Ad]]
