City extends deadline for land development proposals

The city of Springfield is extending the deadline for developers to submit proposals for a tract of city-owned land for sale in southwest Springfield.

The original deadline was March 30; it has been pushed to 3 p.m. April 15, according to a news release. The change was made because several interested parties have asked for additional time in light of current credit conditions. No proposals have been submitted, as of today.

The 293-acre tract of land is bound by James River Freeway on the south, Kauffman Road and West Bypass on the east, Farm Road 156/Brookline Road on the north, and Farm Road 119/Hutchinson Road on the west. The land has provided a buffer zone around the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant, but the construction of James River Freeway has changed the buffer area needed and has increased the property's development potential, according to the release.

The city's criteria for proposals include: land acquisition price; applicants' qualifications; viability of the proposed development; quality and detail of the submission; and the development's potential to enhance the tax base and create jobs.

Interested applicants can request a packet of information or submit proposals by contacting Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith by mail at 840 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO, 65802; by phone at (417) 864-1094; or by e-mail at mlsmith@springfieldmo.gov.