Developer gains traction for Hickory Hills Marketplace

After receiving unanimous approval for zoning and road improvement plans from Springfield City Council on Jan. 24, developer Paul Larino says he’s working to sell 16 lots near Chestnut Expressway and Highway 65 to retailers and restaurants who will comprise the Hickory Hills Marketplace.

Larino, president of Nixa-based Larino Properties LLC, has spent the last nine months getting plans in place for the 46-acre development that will include the demolition of the former Hickory Hills school.

“There were a lot of minor technical things to get over that really prevented the project from moving forward,” Larino said, citing a road relocation and the location and height of a retaining wall.

A major issue that Larino has been tackling with the help of local and state officials is the extensive relocation of Eastgate Avenue to accommodate the planned diverging-diamond interchange at Chestnut Expressway and Highway 65.

Phil Broyles, co-interim director of public works, said the Missouri Department of Transportation is drawing plans for the $8.8 million intersection, which will be funded by $3.67 million from Greene County, $2.67 million from the city of Springfield and $1 million from MoDOT. Larino said he’ll contribute up to $1.5 million to move Eastgate to the east and widen it to five lanes. The project has yet to go to bid.

Larino said he has multiple businesses, including a retail anchor, committed to the development, but he declined to disclose names citing confidentiality agreements. He said it would be up to individual businesses to announce their plans.

“There are 16 lots that will eventually be sold to various users, and we’ll have our restaurants out in front,” Larino said.

“As far as the back portion, the anchor users and the anchor that we have will build their own facilities.”

Larino most recently developed Chestnut Crossing, a 37-acre development at the corner of Chestnut Expressway and West Bypass featuring Ace Hardware, Arby’s, KFC and Long John Silver’s, and a Price Cutter Plus Supermarket. Larino started that project in 2005.

He’s also busy with Wilson’s Creek Marketplace at Republic Road and West Bypass, where a 52,000-square-foot Price Cutter Supermarket is the planned anchor.

The 32-acre development took an investment of $6.5 million financed through Springfield First Community Bank, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Larino declined to say how much he’s spending on the Hickory Hills Marketplace. He purchased the Hickory Hills school and adjoining 15.5 acres for $4.45 million.[[In-content Ad]]