City buys MFA Mill; ready for private developers

An abandoned feed mill in the heart of Jordan Valley Park is now in the possession of the city of Springfield, but the city is seeking private developers to transform the structure for new uses.

City officials, including Mayor Tom Carlson and City Manager Tom Finnie, and U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt announced May 28 the city's acquisition of the former MFA mill at 524 Boonville Ave.

The city purchased the mill for $100,000 from MFA Milling Co., which ceased operations there in 2000. Blunt last year helped secure $1.99 million in HUD Economic Development Initiative appropriations to fund property acquisitions, such as this one, in the Jordan Valley Park area.

The acquisition may be a shot in the arm the area needs for revitalization, Blunt told a crowd at the announcement.

"In Washington we talked about this project a lot," Blunt said. "The city now has the opportunity to look for other areas to be bought that enhance the future of Jordan Valley Park."

The city's next step at the mill site is to court the private development sector. City officials are meeting with the International Economic Development Council later this month to assess the site and determine the best potential uses. Following the meetings, city officials will ask private developers for proposals. Center City Coordinator Vern Morgan expects the city to begin accepting proposals and a wide array of them by late summer.

"The plant has almost unlimited possibilities for reuse," Morgan said.

The concrete mill comprises 100,000 square feet among five connected buildings that range from two stories to eight stories. Its potential uses include housing, retail, office, arts, entertainment and recreation. There are numerous grain elevators that also could be turned to new uses.

"This building offers unique architectural characteristics that allow tremendous potential for different styles," said architect Michael Sapp of Sapp Design Associates Architects.

Sapp was hired by the city to perform initial architectural studies and is responsible for stabilizing the building "so a developer can start with a clean slate," said Steve Telscher, project architect.

City leaders discussed about retaining the silos for use as observation towers, restaurants, hotels or condos whatever developers can dream up. Mural opportunities exist on their exteriors, Finnie said.

If the market does not support immediate development, Morgan said, the city will clean and stabilize the property until a developer comes along. The federal money will fund those costs.

Adjacent developments

City officials hope redevelopment activity adjacent to the mill will speed up an overhaul of the area along Boonville, which Finnie called "worn out." Ultimately, the property, known as the Central Green section of Jordan Valley, will connect the city square with the government complex at Chestnut Expressway, according to the Jordan Valley Park plan. The Boonville streetscape project, which the city will be accepting bids for "any day," also will benefit the area, Morgan said.

Developer Jason Murray closed May 22 on the 31,000-square-foot property at the corner of Phelps Street and Jefferson Ave., immediately east of the mill. Murray, who already has developed about 35 downtown lofts, plans to create 28 lofts in the two-story building. He expects to spend $1.5 million in renovations, which he hopes are complete by June 2004.

Murray purchased the building from Willowbrook Foods, which had planned to tear it down, he said. He hopes the development will help rejuvenate the area.

The property to the north of the mill also is pinned for redevelopment. Brothers Craig and Joe Hosmer have proposed 26 lofts and 22,000 square feet of office space for the former D.M. Oberman Manufacturing Co. at 600 Boonville Ave. Joe Hosmer estimates nearly $4 million of renovations to the building.

History

The MFA property traces its roots to Springfield's early commercial development, dating as far back as 1884, according to city documents.

Missouri Farmers Association Milling Company operated it from 1929 until 2000.

"This mill is part of our city's heritage," Carlson said, noting a time in 1961 when MFA was producing more than 12 million, 100-pound bags of feed resulting in sales of $34 million a year.

MFA continues to operate 13 feed mills in Missouri under the leadership of a 14-member board of farmer/owners.

Finnie credits the 350 participating citizens of Vision 20/20 for realizing the property's potential.

"They saw a different vision of this area," he said. "They saw an opportunity."