Office, retail projects rising on south side

As Springfield continues to grow, so do speculative and custom-built office and retail projects. Most new developments are planned south of Sunshine. However, Springfield's center city area is getting serious looks by some out-of-town developers.

A Dallas-based developer is considering a multi-use development plan for the now vacant Heer's building on Park Central Square. Uses for the building would include retail, Class A offices and residential lofts. Properties commanding Class A rents of $16 to $17 per square foot would be difficult to find in the Park Central Square area at this time.

Expanding the boundaries of the strong retail district located at Kansas Expressway and Kearney, Golden Hills Shopping Center is nearing completion on West Kearney. This 12,500 square foot retail strip, developed by Morelock-Ross Builders, is being eyed by various national retail tenants. A nail salon has recently secured space in the shopping center. This project is expected to bring a new scope of retail businesses to this west leg of the Kearney thoroughfare.

South Springfield remains the primary growth area as evidenced by these new or ongoing projects:

Primrose Office Plaza: 2131-2135 E. Primrose

Phase II of this 72,000-square-foot office project is now being completed. Current tenants include Quintus Marketing, The Principal Financial Group and Jack Henry & Associates. Phase II contributes 33,500 square feet of area to this project, which includes 24,000 square feet of contiguous space. The Risdal Enterprises is the developer.

Aundria Plaza: 4300 block of South National

National Avenue south of Republic Road is under construction. Eoff and Associates is developing the future Aundria Plaza. This 35,000-square-foot office/retail development will house Guaranty Federal Bank and is estimated to be completed in the fall. (See related story on page 26.)

French Quarter Plaza: 1700 block of East Republic Road

This 35,000-square-foot retail and office mixed-use plaza utilizes one of the remaining highway commercial-zoned tracts on Republic Road. This Bill and Nancy Jester project will incorporate their penchant for detail and design by use of decorative rod iron, fountains, lush landscaping and deck areas. Breaking ground by summer, this new project occupies the previous Maplewood Gardens site on Republic Road.

Battlefield Towers: 2800 block of East Battlefield

Bill and Nancy Jester are planning a 22,000-square-foot retail service and convenience center at the northeast corner of Lone Pine and Battlefield.

By working with the neighborhood and Ozark Greenways, this development will be a complementary addition to this vacant Battlefield corridor.

Sunshine New Technology Center: 3534 E. Sunshine

Formerly known as the Sunshine Tennis and Racquetball Club, this 75,000-square-foot refurbished building previously housed MCI Telemarketing. Since MCI vacated the structure in 1998 it has been subdivided.

In February, a nationally recognized insurance company signed for 45,000 square feet of office space in the building. With this new lease, this facility is now 95 percent occupied.

Fox Grape Plaza: 3343 E. Montclair

With the merger of BancTec and Jack Henry, 12,500 square feet of office space is available in this southeast development. Adjacent to the Highway 65 corridor, this large block of space should lease quickly.

Twin Oaks Office Park: 909 E. Republic Road

Plans for this location call for seven buildings and a total of 72,000 square feet of office space. Three buildings are completed, including The Law Offices of Gary Green and Beltone Hearing Aid Center. This is a MoDoCo development.

Kansas Expressway & Republic Road: 4100 block of South Kansas Expressway

With the completion of the 65,000-square-foot Albertson's and the widening of Republic Road west of Kansas Expressway, many new office and retail projects are rumored, including a new Signature Bank facility and furniture store, as well as adjoining retail strip areas.

Builder's Square: 3300 S. Glenstone

This 78,000-square-foot space, previously occupied by Builder's Square, is offered in its entirety in the Primrose Marketplace. Because of its location in this strong retail area, numerous national tenants are considering this large block of space.

As in the past, Springfield has been lacking in large contiguous space (20,000 square feet and up), making it difficult for large office or retail users to have options when shopping for new locations. This new round of construction should offer more choices in the upcoming months.

(Ken Schwab is a Springfield real estate professional specializing in the sale and leasing of commercial and investment property.)