Center city adds coordinator, improves streetscape

Downtown development has a new "point person" with the city of Springfield.

Vern Morgan has been appointed center city coordinator by City Manager Tom Finnie.

"(He's) the key city person in terms of center city issues," said Fred May, director of Planning and Development. Morgan, a senior planner in that department, will focus on plan implementation for ongoing and future projects in both the downtown area and Jordan Valley Park.

"We needed somebody as kind of the point person to work on the development and redevelopment projects downtown," said Bob Cumley, assistant city manager. "He brings experience to the table."

Morgan said his department is conducting focused market analyses of retail and housing options downtown. He'd like to develop a picture that details block-by-block proposals for each building that is not in use.

Also under consideration is a "way-finding system" involving signs, banners and directional indicators to facilitate better navigation of downtown streets and parking locations, Morgan said.

Ultimately, such a system would include Springfield as a whole, he added. He likened the plan to a city menu where "when you go to one attraction, you then learn about the others."

While Morgan is getting started, the revitalization of downtown Springfield is proceeding at high speed.

Well-Fed Head

Downtown's newest general used bookstore, Well-Fed Head Books, is scheduled to open in the next two weeks, said store owner Mike Sowers. Located in the 110-year-old building at 331 S. Campbell Ave., formerly the Dungeons of Doom. The store will carry 10,000 titles initially with plans to increase that to about 50,000 after the first year.

Sowers, who leases the 3,500-square-foot shop with his wife, Beth Buczynski, said they moved in with a three-year lease but would not disclose the rent amount.

Seeking the "urban traditional bookstore mold," Sowers wants the store to provide an atmosphere conducive to reading and relaxing where people might find a sought-after selection that's out of print.

Rasta Grill

The property at 319 W. Walnut St., most recently home to The Lighthouse Caf and Coffeehouse, is now under contract for purchase by Mark Cotner, owner of Rasta Grill, according to building owner David Kellett.

Cotner said tight in Rasta Grill's 900-square-foot location at 434 S. Jefferson Ave. is prompting the move. He will open Big Kahuna Burger, featuring burgers, shakes and fries, at the Jefferson Street location in December, Cotner said Rasta Grill should be offering its menu of Jamaican fusion food in its new quarters on Walnut Street by mid-November.

The cost of Rasta Grill's new home is $310,000, Cotner said, and the deal should close by Sept. 26. He is a partner with Pat Sweeney in the venture.

The Lighthouse Cafe and Coffeehouse, formerly located in the 5,600-square-foot property, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in early September. Attorney Ted Tinsman, who represents Lighthouse owner Steve Nichols, said he has not been given permission to release any details.

The Daily Events

The Daily Events, a 120-year-old daily public record newspaper serving Greene and Christian counties, left the John W. Williams Building at 301 W. Walnut St. the end of May. It had been there since 1975, said Jeff Schrag, owner of the paper since 1995. The paper employs 10.

The Daily Events doubled its square footage to 2,800 square feet by moving across the street to 310 W. Walnut St. The 14,000-square-foot building that comprises 310-314 W. Walnut is owned by Squires Properties Inc., which is made up of Schrag, Lori Miller and Ron Walker.

Other tenants in the building are the Downtown Dining and Entertainment Commission, headed by Miller's husband Matt Miller, at 312 W. Walnut St., and a new restaurant to be added at 314 W. Walnut St. in the future. The building also has eight loft units of less than 1,000 square feet each that rent for less than $400.

Great Adventure

Great Adventure Architects Inc. moved from 300 E. Sunshine St. into the space vacated by The Daily Events at 301 W. Walnut in early September. It was the quality and character of Springfield's downtown buildings that clinched the decision to move there, said owner Joseph Dungan.

Dungan opted for an older property because it's a great location for taking clients to lunch or coffee, plus "a lot of the newer buildings ... are built by competitors." He rents for about $9 a square foot with an initial lease period of three years.

Great Adventure Architects has a five-person staff and works three primary markets: custom residential, resort and hospitality facilities and themed retail.

On the Ball

Jack Ball & Associates PC Architects, a 28-year-old firm, is pulling stakes from its 1,700 square-foot location at 220 E. Chestnut Expwy. to new digs at 444 S. Campbell Ave. totaling 4,400 square feet. Chris Ball, owner and president of the firm, purchased the building in July. The 10-person company specializes in educational facility and church design throughout Missouri, Ball said.

Ball said the building is owned by Archway Development Company, a company he established in June with the intention "to buy and redevelop downtown buildings." Ball plans on moving into his new address in late October. Two 1,450-square-foot loft apartments he is finishing at the rear of his building will lease for $900 to $1,000 per month and will be available in early November.

Paving the way

The Urban Districts Alliance has set the boundaries and scope of downtown area sidewalk repairs. Bill Compere, executive director, said roughly $500,000 has been allocated from community development block grant money and quarter-cent sales tax funds to do the work.

Work will be done in three phases. Phase one is on South Avenue between Pershing and McDaniel streets. It will cost $179,127 and be finished in about three weeks, said Doug Thomas, an engineering technician for Springfield Public Works. Overall disrepair and several reported "trip and falls" made the work necessary, he added.

As part of South Avenue's renovations 12, 14-foot, old-style pedestrian street lamps and five streetlights are being installed for about $50,000, said Chris Jones, director of electric transmission and distribution for City Utilities.

"The next phase will be Walnut Street between South Avenue and Jefferson," and should be completed in three to six months, Compere said.