City Beat: TelComm seeks standalone branch downtown

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Twelve years after merging with Springfield News-Leader Credit Union, TelComm Credit Union is seeking a stand-alone branch to serve its downtown customers. City Council is considering rezoning less than an acre at the southeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and Chestnut Expressway to facilitate a new structure.|ret||ret||tab|

TelComm operates within the News-Leader building at 651 N. Boonville. Other locations are at 2155 E. Sunshine St. and 2416 W. Battlefield Road.|ret||ret||tab|

"We have a lot of members that are using the News-Leader branch there that are not necessarily News-Leader employees," said Don Ackerman, TelComm president.|ret||ret||tab|

He said demand for a drive-up window led to the property acquisition in February. The public hearing bill would rezone the land from a heavy manufacturing district to a center city district.|ret||ret||tab|

If approved, the new 2,500-square-foot branch will have drive-through and walk-up capabilities, Ackerman said.|ret||ret||tab|

Zoning Administrator Andy Furedy said there is a need to expand financial services in center city and this proposal is consistent with the Jordan Valley Park vision.|ret||ret||tab|

"We were cognizant of the need to stay within the center city area," Ackerman said, adding that he thinks the new branch would add to the beautification of downtown.|ret||ret||tab|

Council votes on the issue on June 2.|ret||ret||tab|

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Junior League acquisition|ret||ret||tab|

A former Springfield public school may become the permanent home of Junior League of Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

Junior League leases space at the former Oak Grove School at 2574 E. Bennett Street for meeting purposes but has a contract to purchase the building. A $90,050 sales contract is expected to close June 3, according to Cherie Alderson, director of financial services for the R-12 school district. The building has been on the market since September 2002, Alderson said.|ret||ret||tab|

The school closed in 1981, and Junior League began leasing space in 1983.|ret||ret||tab|

Junior League is requesting that council rezone the property from a single-family residential district to an office district so that it may obtain a building permit. Upon taking possession, Junior League plans to perform building repairs. The building will serve as its headquarters.|ret||ret||tab|

Junior League member Stephanie Stenger Montgomery told council the permanent home would help the nonprofit women's group continue to provide its philanthropic services in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our common goal is to make a positive difference in the community," she said, by providing volunteer services, networking opportunities and holding fundraisers.|ret||ret||tab|

Since Junior League was chartered in Springfield in 1959, members have given 1.5 million volunteer hours and helped raise $2.5 million for charity, Stenger Montgomery said.|ret||ret||tab|

Junior League, which follows the motto, "Women building better communities," has more than 600 members in Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

Councilman Ralph Manley gave the deal his recommendation: "This distinguished group contributes so much to the livelihood and welfare of the citizens of our city. I am happy to see the cooperation between your group and the city."|ret||ret||tab|

Council votes on the rezoning measure on June 2.|ret||ret||tab|

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Northwest duplex development |ret||ret||tab|

Due to slumping manufactured home sales and the growing popularity of duplexes, council is considering rezoning about 10 acres in northwest Springfield from a manufactured home community district to a residential townhouse district.|ret||ret||tab|

The land is in the 3700 block of West Chestnut Expressway. Developers plan a duplex community.|ret||ret||tab|

"The duplex properties in this area ... apparently are selling quite rapidly and being developed quite rapidly," Furedy told council. "They are in hot demand."|ret||ret||tab|

The duplexes' success is partially due to a higher-than-normal rate of repossession among manufactured homeowners over the last few years, Councilman Bob Jones said.|ret||ret||tab|

Tom Pariseau of TMP Development, owner of Tompken Homes, a producer of manufactured homes, said there are more factors. Chief among them is disinterest in living in manufactured home parks.|ret||ret||tab|

"The park situation has really gone down the tubes in the last several years," Pariseau said. "Most people buying manufactured homes are putting them on private property. I experience this every day we're trying to put people in homes, and they don't want to go in parks."|ret||ret||tab|

Pariseau represented the applicant, Robert Merriman.|ret||ret||tab|

"We really think this is an opportunity here to provide affordable housing for people where there isn't enough," Pariseau said. "It's a growth area, and we believe we're tapping into something here."|ret||ret||tab|

Plans call for two- and three-bedroom duplexes. Council votes on the rezoning on June 2.|ret||ret||tab|

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Weaver and Campbell|ret||ret||tab|

A three-way partnership between the city, Greene County and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission could produce improvements to the Weaver Road and Campbell Avenue intersection.|ret||ret||tab|

Council heard a first reading bill to approve a cost-sharing agreement to acquire right-of-way there for future improvements. City Manager Tom Finnie said the cost would be split three ways, with each entity spending $300,000.|ret||ret||tab|

He said design plans are drawn, but construction money is not available. Buying the land now, he added, will save money in the long run.|ret||ret||tab|

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Five-headed monster downtown|ret||ret||tab|

Downtown revitalization has spawned five public organizations to assist in development. City staff, which also lends its services to the progress, is wondering if that is too many. They are asking council to approve funding a study analyzing the roles of contributing organizations: Urban Districts Alliance, Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District, Springfield Finance and Development Corporation, Downtown Dining and Entertainment Commission and Springfield Regional Arts Council.|ret||ret||tab|

Finnie said a downtown organizational assessment would show overlap between the missions and roles of the organizations.|ret||ret||tab|

"We don't have that many resources that we can afford to duplicate (services)," he said. |ret||ret||tab|

The study would cost $13,500. Council will vote on funding the study on June 2.|ret||ret||tab|

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