Nixa IMAX project hits sinkhole snag

D.J. Christie Inc., which has 27 acres under contract along U.S. Highway 160 near the proposed State Highway CC extension, has found several sinkholes on the property that make it more difficult to develop, according to Nixa City Administrator Brian Bingle.

D.J. Christie first announced the plans to the Nixa Board of Aldermen during a Dec. 20 presentation.

While the sinkholes do create issues in developing the property, Bingle said the developer is still planning to move forward with the project.

“What they have indicated, at least to us, is that they are pursuing additional property adjacent to the land – I think it’s about 11 acres,” Bingle said. “So that would add to the (ability to develop) the land by adding more land that isn’t as negatively impacted by the sinkholes.”

Bingle said he has not heard from the developer regarding the progress of negotiations for the additional land. D.J. Christie Inc. representatives did not return calls for comment.

D.J. Christie Special Projects Manager Andy Mitchell told SBJ in January that the preliminary plans call for a 12-screen movie theater, including an IMAX screen, flanked by restaurant and retail tenants.

The fate of the Highway CC extension also is indirectly tied to the development; city officials have said that if the development proceeds, a tax increment financing district or transportation development district could be established to help fund the $2.5 million project. No state money is available for the project.

Bingle told SBJ in January that if the development does not happen, the city would likely ask taxpayers to approve bonds to finance the road work.