Brookline Business Park breaks ground

Brookline Property Development LLC, a partnership of four area businessmen, is developing an 82-acre piece of property at Highway MM and Farm Road 144. The developers broke ground Feb. 19.

The development, called Brookline Business Park, will feature 29 lots ranging from one to eight acres, according to co-developer Keith Roberts, who also runs Empire Realtors in Nixa. Roberts is partnering with Steve Stufflebam, a Springfield accountant; Salvatore Marino, owner of an Ozark construction and landscape company; and Brent Yates, a Nashville, Tenn., doctor.

The land contains multiple zonings, from light and heavy manufacturing to general business, which Roberts said should attract a variety of business types.

“The (general business) zoning will be closer to the MM highway frontage, and then as you get back into the park, the manufacturing will take over,” Roberts said, noting that land prices will range from $2.50 to $3.40 a square foot.

Roberts added that the property’s location between Interstate 44 and James River Expressway, along with its proximity to the Springfield-Branson National Airport midfield terminal site, makes it a prime candidate for businesses with warehousing or distribution needs.

“You have a couple of corners and four-way stops in the subdivision, so we have access for slower-moving traffic and bigger-grade access for companies that may need that,” he said. “They’ll also be boulevard-style streets – 40 feet wide – so they’ll be accessible for bigger truck traffic.”

Roberts said he hopes to fast-track the development. Infrastructure work should, weather permitting, begin immediately, in the hopes of having land ready for sale by summer.

Gail Noggle, economic development director for the city of Republic, said the development could be a huge boon for the city.

“We all know that if we can bring job-related industry to the community, the retail and service jobs follow,” she said, noting that several unnamed companies have approached the city about relocating. “This development is going to really benefit everybody in the surrounding area.”

Brookline Business Park is not the only industrial development planned for that area.

Immediately to the west of Brookline Property Development’s parcel is land owned by Drury Properties; that company plans to create an industrial and warehousing center, according to developer Mitch Drury. He added that no tenants have yet been determined for the 99-acre parcel, for which he plans to install infrastructure and sell parcels or build to suit. Drury said there is no timeline for his plans.

Springfield itself has several major industrial parks, including Partnership Industrial Center and PIC West. But Greg Williams, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce senior vice president of economic development, said the new development in Republic doesn’t adversely affect the offerings in Springfield.

“Our regional economic development program, which is housed at the chamber, makes recommendations to prospects on a very regular basis of ground other than at PIC West,” Williams said. “The Brookline folks will be able to do mixed use – they can do distribution and warehousing as well as manufacturing, whereas we do manufacturing only. I think these developments are very complementary.”