Discovery Center to use Everest building for child care

The Discovery Center of Springfield Inc. will utilize the former Everest College building at a discounted rate from landlord Gordon Elliott.

The 1010 W. Sunshine St. property will be one of the sites for the Discovery Center's learning support care program, which was announced late last month in response to Springfield Public Schools' reopening plan. Discovery Center Executive Director Rob Blevins this morning said Elliott offered the space at 50% of market value. He declined to disclose lease terms for the 20,000-square-foot building. He said the five-month lease has an option to end early if SPS goes back to full-seated classes.

"When Gordon found out that we needed a lot of classroom space to help a lot of kids, he made our community’s problem his problem — and he solved it," Blevins said in a news release. "That’s the kind of leadership and kindness we need during this crisis."

A hotelier and real estate investor, Gordon owns the former Everest building via Sunshine Office Center LLC, according to Greene County assessor and Missouri secretary of state filings. Blevins said Everest was the last tenant; it vacated the property in 2017, according to past reporting.

Blevins last month said developer Curtis Jared is donating the use of a former learning center for the Discovery Center program near Golden Avenue and Republic Road. The Discovery Center is seeking other sites for the program, which will provide child care and education for students.

This morning, Blevins said the learning support program would have no more than 140 students. Registration opened to the public yesterday. He previously said the center had more than 200 SPS students in the queue.