City nabs OMI building for $1.4 mil

Ozark Mountain Interiors closed its doors in late 2004 amid allegations of unfair labor practices and two failed attempts to sell the business.

Officials with the company, which had changed from a national retail infill firm to a commercial millwork firm at the time of its closing, also cited a slowdown in business as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The city purchased from Empire Bank the OMI building and another OMI property across the street at 949 W. Chestnut St. last fall for about $1.4 million, said Phil Broyles, assistant director of Springfield Public Works.

Public Works plans to create offices and shop areas in the new space. The total investment is about $2 million.

“We were able to buy this building for less, even with the renovation, than what it was going to take to build a new building here onsite,” Broyles said.

Broyles expects Public Works will move into the former OMI building by October. The city department is now housed at 827 N. Franklin.

The city’s facilities maintenance department and the construction inspection team also will relocate, he said.

The move involves around 45 city employees.

“That was the beauty of it. We’ll be able to consolidate some things,” Broyles said. “It just gives us more room for storage of equipment and materials, and it lets some people spread out a little bit.”

The other OMI property, Broyles said, will be used to store bucket trucks that are used for work on buildings and storm sirens.

The purchase price for both buildings and renovations was in the city’s budget, Broyles said.

“Council approved funds for this and for the operations center improvements. This was done about a year and a half ago. The first phase of that is funded by level property tax and a transportation tax,” he said.

Construction

MoDoCo is the general contractor for the building’s renovations, and Pellham Phillips is the architect and mechanical engineer.

“We’re putting in mezzanines, second floor – all renovated inside,” said Morris Dock of MoDoCo.

Renovations for both buildings cost approximately $600,000 and include infill for offices, locker rooms and a staff break room in the OMI building, Broyles said. About 25,000 square feet will be used for shop space, with about 9,000 square feet for offices.

Meanwhile, a 33,000-square-foot Public Works operations and training center at 1111 W. Chestnut Expressway is nearing completion. The estimated $2.6 million project is expected to be complete in September.