Ozark board approves Torgerson Design Partners HQ

The Ozark Board of Aldermen yesterday gave the green light to a downtown development by a narrow margin.

Mayor Don Currence broke a 3-3 tie to approve the design of the building, the new planned headquarters for architecture firm Torgerson Design Partners LLC. The board meeting was livestreamed on the city of Ozark's YouTube page.

"I want to do what's best for the city of Ozark. This has been a tough decision," Currence said after around two hours of discussion.

Torgerson Design Partners, which currently operates at 116 N. Second Ave. in Ozark, is planning to develop a nearby vacant lot the company owns at 101 W. Church St., according to past reporting. The Ozark board – which rejected a previous design last month over concerns that the building wouldn't fit with other structures on the historic square – had oversight of the design since the property is located within the historic overlay district and the C-4 central business district zoning codes.

Speaking before the vote yesterday, firm founder and principal architect John Torgerson said changes made to the design since the meeting last month resolved concerns associated with the project. Changes focused on the compatibility of the new building to fit with other structures on the historic square.

"I don't know how to be more compatible, honestly," Torgerson told board members.

A former building on the Church Street lot collapsed in December 2022, according to past reporting, and demolition of that building was completed in January 2023.