Ozark looks for new Finley River project proposals

The district comprises 47 acres of land near the downtown area that the city’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority has declared blighted and wants to redevelop.

The city has parted ways with Finley River Development LLC, headed by designer Bo Hagerman of Hagerman New Urbanism. Ozark had been working with the Springfield design firm since 2005.

Now, the city is preparing to send out a new request for proposals, which could go out as early as Friday.

The decision to end the development agreement with Hagerman was based on financing issues, according to Ozark City Attorney David Collignon. Private financing lined up by Hagerman left about $1 million that the city would have to cover. The first part of Phase I of the project would cost about $4 million, with all of Phase I carrying a $30 million price tag.

The Ozark Board of Aldermen at its March 3 meeting voted to terminate the development agreement, at the same time that Hagerman was sending a letter to the city withdrawing from the contract, Collignon said.

Hagerman, who owns a portion of the development area, said he’s not sure how he will proceed in regards to the city’s RFP, because he is still in negotiations with the city to determine what will happen with his property.

“It basically depends on whether or not the city buys us out of our position,” he said. “We hold a lot of cards in the development still; we’ll decide how to proceed based on our current negotiations with the city.”

See SBJ’s March 24 issue for more on the Finley River Neighborhood District.