Heer’s Tower to have upscale condominiums

The Heer’s Tower on Park Central Square will feature 23 upscale residential condominiums on its top four floors if Springfield City Council approves a sudden amendment to the development at its Aug. 22 meeting.

Building owner Vaughn X. Prost originally committed to creating office space in the building, but high demand for upscale housing in center city caused him to change his redevelopment plans.

Springfield City Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said the change in plans was really a case of Prost creating supply to meet the demand.

“I think he just had a lot of people ask him about condos – we’ve had a lot of people ask us about condo space, too,” she said at an Aug. 9 council luncheon that addressed the new proposal. “He decided there were a lot more people asking him about that than were interested in office space, so why not?”

The condominiums will occupy 32,000 square feet of the building. Prices begin at $150,000, according to a news release from Carol Jones, Realtors, which is marketing the condos. Carol Jones was responsible for selling the fully occupied One Parkway Place project, the only other downtown condominium development.

Each unit will come standard with large historic windows, 12-foot high ceilings, granite kitchen countertops and original hardwood floors. The building will have secured access, a workout room, storage lockers, a covered parking garage, balconies and a rooftop common area.

A condominium on the top floor will include the building’s tower space.

The amendment also would extend Prost’s agreement with project financier Great Southern Bank by six months to allow plans for the new residential space to be finalized.

SBJ Reporter Jeremy Elwood contributed to this story.

For past coverage of the Heer's building development, click here.