Branson reflects on year of development

“The end of the year traditionally is the time for reflection, and 2005 has been an outstanding year,” said Mayor Lou Schaefer in a news release. “We’ve got every reason to be optimistic.”

City officials broke ground Oct. 25 for the Branson Convention Center and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, both scheduled to open in summer 2007. The $420 million Branson Landing project along Lake Taneycomo also remains on track and is slated for completion in May.

Those two projects contributed to the city’s record-breaking year in construction, with work valued at more than $122 million. The previous single-year record was $119.5 million in 1993, during Branson’s first big building boom.

Development began in 2005 on Branson Hills Plaza, a 141-acre tax increment financing district at the northwest corner of U.S. 65 and Bee Creek interchange. Retailers in the district so far include Home Depot, TJ Maxx and Target.

Also in 2005, the 44,000-square-foot Branson Rec/Plex opened along Branson Hills Parkway. The facility features a fitness center, gymnasiums, an aerobics and exercise room, an indoor track, locker rooms, community rooms, a game room, a concession area and offices.

A 12,000-square-foot water park next door to the Rec/Plex has water slides, diving boards, a lap pool and a children’s area. Four baseball and softball fields, two soccer fields, a one-mile asphalt walking path, a playground and covered pavilions will open at the park this spring.

As a result of the new Rec/Plex, Branson was selected to host a national youth basketball tournament in 2005 and was chosen to host others for 2006, each bringing thousands of visitors to the community.

To serve Branson Landing and the downtown area, Branson Hills Parkway and a new water tower on Pacific Street were finished in 2005.

The tower will be infilled to provide four floors of space for public works administrative offices.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Jan. 3 e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.[[In-content Ad]]