Springfield City Council last night unanimously approved plans to create a community improvement district supporting an over $10 million retail center at the former Clarion and Howard Johnson hotel property.
Before the vote, four council members spoke in favor of the project that would replace a deteriorating vacant property at 3333 S. Glenstone Ave. with 80,000 square feet of retail space dubbed Glenstone Marketplace, which is estimated to generate $30 million in taxable revenue and over 100 jobs.
Councilman Justin Burnett said he was excited to support the proposal that would remove blighted conditions at the former hotel.
“When the conditions are appropriate, a CID can lift an entire area as we’ve seen downtown and with the Branson Landing. So, this is an appropriate use of this mechanism. It is one of many tools we have for economic development, and I will be supporting it,” Burnett said just prior to voting.
According to information city staff filed with the proposal, blighted conditions on the property include broken and boarded windows, extensive water damage, vandalism and the presence of asbestos.
During the
May 26 public hearing, Springfield Planning and Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said the proposal amounts to a $2.25 million incentives request hinged on council’s determination that blighted conditions exist on the 8.2-acre property.
Councilwoman Jan Fisk said the CID and development plans were important to the city.
“This is the last eyesore in a very visible shopping area between the Battlefield Mall and James River Freeway, so I am so excited to be able to support this,” Fisk said at the meeting.
Council members Kristi Fulnecky and Ken McClure also expressed their support for the project before casting their votes.
The project developer is Glenstone Marketplace LLC, which was organized May 14 by Kevin Guffey of central Missouri-based American Realty & Development, according to secretary of state records. Guffey and commercial real estate broker Brad Thessing, who moved to buy the property for an undisclosed amount in August 2013 from Morris Group Properties Inc., are the developers behind the plans, said Baird Lightner Millsap PC attorney Brett Roubal. Roubal, who represented the developers at the May 26 council meeting, said there are leases in place with tenants he described as “junior-box” retailers, but he declined to name expected or potential occupants.
The development would comprise stores between 10,000 square feet and 30,000 square feet, and construction is slated to begin this summer, Roubal said.[[In-content Ad]]
