Downtown building plans taking shape

An established developer is working on plans to renovate three of Springfield’s “big four” properties, while another notable downtown developer is pressing forward with a three-story mixed-use property connected to the long-vacant College Station.

Matt Miller of Matt Miller Co. – who is known for redevelopment work at Founders Park Lofts, Brick City and Wilhoit Plaza – is busy developing plans for two of Springfield’s most notable downtown structures, the McDaniel and Woodruff buildings on Park Central East. Miller, with his wife, also is working to secure incentives to remodel the historic Landmark building into an affordable housing complex with universal design, accessible to persons with disabilities. The Heer’s building is considered the other “big four” property.

Craig Wagoner – who has redeveloped at least 10 properties in the last 10 years including The Lofts at Jordan Creek at National Avenue and Chestnut Expressway and the Yellow Bonnet building at 323 N. Patton Ave. – is looking now to build from the ground up at McDaniel Street and Campbell Avenue. Wagoner is planning to build a three-story mixed-use development connected to the College Station parking garage through his development and management company Brentwood Management.

Millers’ time
Miller, who declined a formal interview, said he was involved in the purchases of both the McDaniel building, 316 Park Central East, and the Woodruff building, 331 Park Central East. Greene County assessor’s records show both properties were owned by Downtown Springfield Properties LLC, which is operated by Brett and Bart Loethen, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. Miller said he partnered with commercial real estate agent Tim Roth of Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co. to purchase the Woodruff earlier this month under the name Woodruff Historic Building LLC, which Miller organized in May, according to Missouri secretary of state filings. MMW Properties LLC, which was organized in July 2000 by Frank Manzardo, of Springfield, took ownership of the McDaniel in June.

Both Roth and Miller declined to detail the redevelopment plans until they are formalized within in 60 to 90 days.

Miller’s wife, Stacy Jurado-Miller, said the Landmark redevelopment was contingent upon incentives under consideration by Springfield City Council. Council has scheduled to vote on the $9 million redevelopment project at its Nov. 26 meeting.

The Millers started development company Vecino Group LLC in 2010, Jurado-Miller said, to focus on meeting the needs of those seeking affordable housing. Through their research, she discovered a need for more properties with universal design facilities that could accommodate persons with mobility issues, including the elderly and disabled.

“It is not just that there is a lack of affordable housing with universal design in central Springfield, there is a need across the entire country,” Jurado-Miller said.

According to Administration on Aging data presented by the American Planning Association, 42 percent of people ages 65 and older report functional limitations preventing them from performing their daily living activities.

Gary Maddox, executive director of the Southwest Center for Independent Living, said affordable housing with universal design is the top need for people with mobility issues.

“The two key words that go together are affordable and accessible,” Maddox said, adding that many people who have mobility issues also are on fixed incomes. He said he is aware of the Millers’ efforts to convert the Landmark into The Frisco apartments, and SCIL endorses the plans. “When you talk about accessibility and universal design features, these are not some sort of special thing. Everybody benefits from a universally designed facility.”

Jurado-Miller said the Millers consulted with Katherine Staeger-Wilson, director of the disability resource center at Missouri State University, to help develop universal design features for their plans, which include showers with tiled seats. Jurado-Miller said all of the 86 apartment units would be accessible to persons with disabilities.

For me, the opportunity to fill an underserved need was my driving motivation,” said Jurado-Miller, a former stay-at-home mom and advertising copywriter.

College Station Lofts
Doug Acklin, a property manager with Brentwood Management, said the company hopes to begin construction on College Station Lofts in December. He said the three-story structure would have commercial space on the first floor, and 20 apartment units on the second and third floors with direct access to the College Station parking garage.

“We’ll have free use of the parking garage. Our building will attach to the parking garage, and each floor will have an entrance,” Acklin said. “People will have the opportunity to not have to walk any steps, even if they live on the third floor.”

The quarter-acre site, which Acklin said was purchased from College Station developer Scott Tillman for an undisclosed amount, is currently fenced off at the corner of McDaniel and Campbell. The adjacent $12 million College Station development, which opened with anchor tenant Hollywood Theaters in the fall of 2008, has a history of vacancy. The nonprofit Hamels Foundation moved in its 2,400-square-foot College Station space in January becoming the development’s first – and still only – tenant since the theater.

Springfield Building Development Services Director Chris Straw said the estimated construction cost on the 25,000-square-foot College Station Lofts project was $3 million, according to the developer’s building permit application. Acklin said rezoning was not necessary for the lot.

Brentwood Management is serving as general contractor, according to Acklin, and Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. is the architect. The building should be complete by this summer, he said, noting Brentwood already has an undisclosed commercial party interested in leasing the first floor. He declined to disclose estimated lease rates.[[In-content Ad]]