Pair of sales to bring hotel, dental practice to Ozark development

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A hotel and a dental practice are planned in newly purchased lots at the County Government Plaza development in Ozark.

One lot, which the Show Me Christian County website advertises at just under 2 acres, was sold to B&M Real Estate Investments LLC, which plans to build an 80- to 85-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites with an outdoor pool and common area, according to a news release from the office of the Christian County Commission. The lot is designated as Lot 3 and is shown on the Show Me Christian County map fronting 25th Street.

The other lot, Lot 5, was sold to Riverpointe Dental, a private dental partnership that intends to create a group of related offices to cover a broad spectrum of comprehensive dental care, the release states. Lot 5 measures in at nearly 3.5 acres and fronts Missouri Highway 14.

The sales were brokered by Heintz & Nunn Group of Murney Associates, Realtors, which one year ago told Springfield Business Journal the prices of the available lots ranged $367,000-$746,000. The agents did not disclose the amounts paid in the separate sales, both of which closed on April 25.

Show Me Christian County shows three other lots still available in the development, which is located just west of U.S. Route 65, past James River Ford and B&B Theatres Ozark/Nixa 12. The project is part of a 39-acre tract being developed for Christian County government operations.

The announcement says the county commission made the decision to purchase the tract in 2021 to secure space for a new center of county government; however, they later determined that road frontage from the land purchase could be made available to serve as an economic development site.

“A large part of this project has been about economic development, and I believe these first two property sales are definitely steps in the right direction,” said Commissioner Bradley Jackson in the release.

The remaining tracts, which surround the government building site to its east, are Lot 6, fronting Highway 14 and measuring 3-plus acres; Lot 4, fronting 25th Street and measuring 1.5 acres; and Lot 2, fronting 25th Street and measuring 3-plus acres.

The Show Me Christian County website describes the available sites as a prime commercial development opportunity in Ozark, with all utilities available and sites level and ready for development. The listing continues to show the newly purchased sites as available.

“This strategically located property presents an excellent opportunity for businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in the Ozark area,” the site states. “With 13.36 acres of prime real estate, investors have the flexibility to create their vision in a rapidly growing community.”

Work continues on an 18,000-square-foot operations building that is being constructed on-site, according to Christian County officials. The county is retaining just over 24 acres within the development and plans to consolidate many of its county offices and services on the site over time.

Also planned are quality-of-life amenities, including a walking trail and a small outdoor performance venue. Additionally, Green Bridge, a 113-year-old truss bridge that carries Smyrna Road over the Finley River in Ozark and is now in the process of being replaced by a concrete bridge, will be relocated to the site, according to the release.

Commissioner Johnny Williams said the project site is shaping up nicely.

“We look forward to this becoming a great place to visit and a jewel our community can be proud of,” he said in the release.

In past SBJ coverage, Todd Wiesehan, director of resource management for Christian County, said the historic courthouse on the Ozark square is a great space, but he noted there was a need for both additional space and updates for offices in a county officials believe is now a first-class one.

“Once it’s done, it will help the county present a progressive, current image to folks from outside the area,” he said at the time.

He added that the historic three-story courthouse will continue to house most county officials well into the future.

Christian County’s population grew by 8.1% from 2020 to 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by Show Me Christian County on its website. The 2024 population was approximately 96,000 with a labor force participation rate of 67%.