College Station needs city involvement, tenants

Developer Scott Tillman’s grandiose College Station plans require Springfield City Council’s help. At its Nov. 15 meeting, council considered an ordinance allowing the city to enter into an agreement with College Station LLC and Tillman. The $17 million project, which Tillman said could begin construction as early as spring 2005, would house up to 150,000 square feet of retail space and a multiscreen, first-run movie theater.

But first Tillman needs to acquire a city-owned parcel along Campbell Avenue west of Park Central Square on which to build the movie theater and retail or restaurant space. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, Tillman would buy the land for $445,384, its highest appraised value.

The city would then invest that money – combined with an assortment of city sales tax dollars – into constructing an estimated $5 million multilevel parking deck on College Station’s south tract, with retail space on the first level to be purchased by Tillman.

Other city financing for the parking deck would come from community improvement district and transportation development district 1 percent sales tax and the city’s 1 percent general revenue tax. Additionally, a Missouri Chapter 353 Redevelopment Plan would abate property taxes on the development in lieu of that money going toward construction costs, according to the bill.

The city has a similar deal with developer Vaughn Prost, who is redeveloping Heer’s, to construct a parking deck for Heer’s Tower.

City Manager Tom Finnie told council that College Station is critical for the area’s continued development.

“This is clearly a very significant proposal,” he said. “I believe it’s one of the most significant, if not the most significant, proposals about the downtown area to come before the council.”

The proposed development covers a two-block area divided by College Street. Plans for the north tract comprise the movie theater and retail or restaurant space, while the parking deck and retail space occupy the south tract.

For the city to uphold its end of the deal, Tillman must first pre-lease half of the retail space or ink a deal with a movie theater tenant.

“In the event that doesn’t happen, the property would revert back to the city with a penalty for the developer,” Finnie said.

Project leasing agent Sam Freeman said he won’t be approaching potential tenants for the space until council finalizes the deal. Council is expected to vote Nov. 29.

Tillman said the project should be a boost for the continued revitalization of the downtown area.

“The way it’s laid out, a first-run movie theater will generate thousands of trips down here every week from people outside of downtown, and that should have a huge spillover on the other business downtown,” he said.

Additional plans include an overhead pedestrian walkway over College Street, from the south retail area, and another walkway over Campbell Avenue, connecting the parking deck to the planned Heer’s parking deck to the east.

Other action at the meeting:

• Council adopted the 2004 Vision 20/20 Strategic Plan for Springfield and Greene County. The plan, the idea for which was first created in 1994, was the result of thousands of hours of work from members of the planning committees and volunteers, according to Carol Williamson, coordinating committee co-chair.

Council also recognized Williamson and Brian Fogle for their work as chairs of the coordinating committee, along with the work of the members of the coordinating committee and the eight planning committees.

• Council considered a rezoning request by Airport Plaza Development Group LLC for land in the 3300 block of West Kearney Street.

Rezoning would change the 65-acre parcel from a highway commercial district to a planned development district.

The group is constructing Airport Plaza, a mixed-use development of office, commercial, hotel, restaurant and multifamily residential space.

• Council also passed a resolution recognizing the city’s elected officials, city management, public works and park board staffs for being named Springfield Contractor’s Association Developer of the Year.

Finnie told council the “most appropriate part was that the first people named (in the resolution) were the citizens of the community, for the extraordinary amount of support that they have provided for us.”