$6.5 million Eagle's Gate development under way

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A golf course carved out of the hills of southern Greene County more than 60 years ago is being carved into a new residential community.|ret||ret||tab|

Developer Bill Jester purchased the 94-acre Siler's Shady Acres in May 2002 for $2.4 million. The Herman D. Siler-designed golf course, which opened in 1940, closed in April 2002.|ret||ret||tab|

In its place, Jester is creating a $6.5 million residential community named Eagle's Gate after the bald eagles known to soar through the James River valley.|ret||ret||tab|

Kennedy Contractors began infrastructure work in May for 228 lots that will mix single-family and villa homes, some exceeding $500,000.|ret||ret||tab|

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National Avenue widening|ret||ret||tab|

The bigger picture of the development may be a cooperative developer's agreement signed by Jester and county officials. The deal means South National Avenue will expand from two lanes to as many as five lanes south of Plainview Road, according to Dan Smith, assistant administrator for the Greene County Highway Department.|ret||ret||tab|

While National's widening was on the county's major thoroughfare plan, Jester's development accelerates the process.|ret||ret||tab|

"It is something that we ultimately planned to do," Smith said. "With Eagle's Gate going in, and seeing development beginning to occur and knowing there is plenty of room for more to occur to the south, we thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and start the design of the roadway."|ret||ret||tab|

Under the terms of this agreement, Jester donates the land for the right-of-way to the county. He also is providing $50,000 to pay for design fees. "He did that voluntarily to help speed up the improvements," Smith said.|ret||ret||tab|

Funding for the road improvements is secured, Smith said, through the county highway department's general fund. The general fund is made up of county property, sales and fuel-tax dollars.|ret||ret||tab|

The initial cost estimate is $2.5 million. Mathews & Associates is serving as project consultant. Construction isn't expected to begin until 2005, as bidding should open in fall 2004.|ret||ret||tab|

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Details|ret||ret||tab|

Of the 228 lots at Eagle's Gate, 114 are villa lots and 114 are single-family residential lots. Phase I will build out half the lots, a mixture of villa and single-family, as well as a community center, pool and three lakes. Phase I is expected to be complete by September, Jester said. Lots can be purchased this summer, and will be listed with Carol Jones, Realtors.|ret||ret||tab|

There are three different lot categories: villa lots, which range from $40,000 to $50,000; manse lots from $60,000 to $85,000; and one-acre manor lots are $85,000 and up, Jester said. Villa home values are expected to be about $200,000, with manse home values between $250,000 and $500,000. The bigger manor homes will exceed $500,000, according to Jerry Hill, Jester's legal counsel.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've modeled this off of other planned developments we've seen in other cities," Jester said, noting communities in Kansas City and Dallas.|ret||ret||tab|

While Jester has been involved in other subdivision developments, including Century Place in Republic, Eagle's Gate is the first residential project he has taken on of such magnitude, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's been an interesting learning experience," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Original concepts called for a gated community, but Jester reconsidered after learning of the responsibilities placed on residents.|ret||ret||tab|

"If you gate your community, you don't dedicate your streets to the city or county. Your residents are responsible," he said, for things like street maintenance and snow removal.|ret||ret||tab|

Jester chose to use an electronic security system at the entrance.|ret||ret||tab|

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Public-private partnerships|ret||ret||tab|

Partnering with private developers for road improvements is nothing new for area public officials. Springfield planners have an agreement with developer Mark Eck that he builds the first leg of an east-west arterial from U.S. Highway 65 and Evans Road to the planned extension of Kansas Expressway. Eck is building a 150-acre residential and commercial planned development west of Highway 65 and Evans Road called Granite Springs.|ret||ret||tab|

Jester also has partnered with Springfield officials to build the $30 million Civic Plaza in the governmental complex west of the Busch Building. Civic Plaza comprises a six-story office complex and parking garage, partially for government employee use. Jester is largely financing Civic Plaza through Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority bonds approved by the city, while the city is leasing the land and contributing up to $1.1 million for parking.|ret||ret||tab|

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