Argonaut Midwest breaks ground in Hollister

Argonaut Midwest Holdings broke ground Sept. 22 on its new development in Hollister, The Sanctuary. The project comprises two developments – The Sanctuary on the Lake and The Sanctuary on the Greens – that are expected to cost roughly $1 billion.

Argonaut Midwest Holdings LLC is a division of Argonaut Group, based in Key West, Fla.

The Argonaut project is just one of several new developments happening in and around the town south of Branson. Other projects include:

• Landing View, which will have condominiums, retail and convention space located off Knox Avenue with a view of Lake Taneycomo;

• A project by Hollister 33, which will have 400,000 square feet of retail space housing national and regional retailers;

• The new Harter House grocery and Cody’s Convenience Store just off Highway 65;

• Ozark Mountain Bank’s new branch, set to open in June 2006;

• First Community Bank’s new branch, set to open by year’s end; and

• Branson Creek’s expansion, which will add a second golf course and a new clubhouse.

The growth is part of Hollister’s plan to develop as its own community, separate from neighboring Branson, while still aiding Branson’s growth, according to Assistant City Administrator Vonnie Mathiesen.

“We know that anything that happens for the city of Branson is good for Hollister,” Mathiesen said. “We’re not constructing theaters – we don’t want to be a competitor – but we do want to provide all of the goods and services that will be needed as Branson grows.”