Branson seeks grant to demolish tornado-damaged hotel

The city of Branson yesterday submitted a grant proposal to the state of Missouri to seek funding for the demolition of one of the last buildings visibly damaged by the 2012 Leap Day tornado.

The submission came a day after the Branson Board of Aldermen held a public hearing on the issue, which was required to move forward on the request to the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.

The funding would be used to tear down the former Leisure Country Inn along Highway 76; the property has been vacant since the Feb. 29, 2012, tornado caused significant damage, according to the board’s April 28 agenda.

Branson Director of Economic Development Garrett Anderson said the project cost would be $190,000, including demolition, asbestos testing and remediation, grading and grant administration. Under the CDBG program, the state would pay 80 percent of the cost, with the city picking up the remaining tab, Anderson said, noting Branson would file a lien against the property for its portion.

Because the property is deteriorating, the city on March 19 ordered it be torn down. However, since neither the property owners - Carl and Margarita Smith, of Derby, Kan. - or the city have the available funds, the grant process was necessary.

Anderson said the property has a 13,000-square-foot footprint and roughly 40,000 total square feet.