City breaks ground for Heer’s parking garage

Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson, Urban Districts Alliance Board President Kyle McClure and architect Tim Rosenbury of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Carlson said the car park would continue to strengthen downtown and “act as a catalyst for future growth.”

The city is funding the 143,000-square-foot parking deck – scheduled for completion in March 2008 – through a combination of sources that include the level property tax, 1/8-cent transportation sales tax and special obligation bonds.

The structure was designed by Esterly, Schneider & Associates Inc. and is being built by Carson-Mitchell Inc. Both firms are based in Springfield.

The five-story deck will provide 375 parking spaces for patrons of College Station and Heer’s Tower, according to a news release.

College Station is a $20 million mixed-use urban entertainment development under construction on two city blocks just west of the Heer’s Car Park. The project – led by developer Scott Tillman – is expected to be complete in early 2008, and will feature a 14-screen, first-run movie theater.

The city also is working with St. Louis developer McGowan|Walsh to draft a redevelopment agreement for Heer’s, which would likely be renovated as an upscale boutique hotel above a Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood Restaurant.

“It’s going to be a very busy summer downtown,” McClure said. “As people come downtown, we hope you’ll pardon our progress.”