Rogersville: a small city with large plans

Rogersville has seen its growth stunted for years by a sewer system that could not support additional development.

But that is all changing.

The addition of a new water treatment plant will enable the city to accommodate American Equities of Missouri's $11 million Jamestown development and a new high school.

The new $2.7 million water treatment facility increased the city's sewer capacity from 118,000 gallons per day to 300,000 gallons per day with the ability to expand to 500,000 gallons per day.

"Rogersville has had their hands tied by their infrastructure, their water and their sewer, but I think they've got it under control right now. I think it is ready to explode," said Tim Pedigo, president of TLC Development Inc., and Pedigo Construction Inc, which is developing the 99-lot Pine Ridge Estates subdivison, in Rogersville.

City Administrator Frank Schoneboom said the sewer facility is key to the city's growth.

"Without the ability to accommodate people through our plant there is no way that we could expand. With that infrastructure in place to serve the citizens entrepreneurs see this as an expanding market," Schoneboom said.



Jamestown

In October 2002, city leaders in Rogersville annexed 200 acres increasing the size of the city by almost 25 percent for a mixed-used development called Jamestown. The development is on the west side of Rogersville just south of U.S. Highway 60.

Springfield-based American Equities of Missouri Inc. will develop 100 acres for commercial use, 60 acres of single-family housing, 20 acres of multifamily housing and 20 acres of infrastructure and greenspace.

Stephen Cope, president and COO of American Equities, said the company plans to start construction in the next six months and the project will be completed in three phases over a period of about seven years.

Phase I, estimated to be complete within a year of groundbreaking, includes construction of 50 single-family homes, a 100-unit apartment complex with two-bedroom, two bathroom apartments and 16 commercial lots on 50 acres, including one large lot set aside for a major retailer.

Phase II encompasses another 50 homes, a second 100-unit apartment complex and 30 acres of commercial development.

Phase III will comprise up to 63 more homes and the remaining 20 acres of commercial property along Highway 60.

American Equities is talking with MoDOT about changing access from Farm Road 247 and Business 60. If rerouted, Business 60 would lead directly into Jamestown on the south side of Highway 60 and the Farm Road 247 exit would close.

Commercial lots will be sold for $2.50 to $5 a square foot. Residential lots will sell for $19,900 to $29,900 and homes will range from $120,000 to $150,000.

Currently, no retailers have committed to the commercial space, but Preston Peterson, CEO of American Equities, said there are many options.

"We have a list of 50 to 60 potentials all the way from Sonic to Wal-Mart and anything in between," Peterson said.

Both Cope and Peterson agree Rogersville could easily bring in larger retailers.

"Just like every other small town, Nixa, Ozark, we feel eventually Rogersville is going to have a Wal-Mart. Whether or not they choose to come into our project is nothing we can be sure on or guarantee, but we feel that if they are coming we can accommodate them," Cope said.



Logan-Rogersville High School

A joint project between American Equities and the Logan-Rogersville School District will provide a 2.25 mile sewer line for the new high school, now under construction, and the old high school to hook in to. Peterson said the addition will cost around $1 million but will save the school district the financial burden.

"We really appreciate (American Equities') help in prorating out these costs because if not we'd have to go all the way to the treatment plant and that would certainly have been a much higher expense," said Logan-Rogersville Superintendent Doug Hayter.

The new system will allow the existing high school and the new high school to hook into the city system, allowing these two schools to not worry about managing their own systems. With this change, only one elementary school would not be on the city system.

In January 2003, 1,840 students were enrolled in the Logan-Rogersville School District that covers 123 square miles in Greene, Webster and Christian counties.

Once the new high school is completed the former high school will be turned into a middle school.

Funding for the new high school and district-wide air conditioning is being provided by a $14.9 million bond issue that voters approved in April 2002. Construction on the new 180,000-square-foot high school is expected to be completed by fall 2004. Chris Ball with Jack Ball and Associates is the architect and Donnie Crawford is the general contractor. The current high school, which opened in 1968, is 100,000 square feet.

Designed to accommodate future growth and expansion, the new high school will hold 800 students in core-classroom areas. Common areas including the cafeteria, gym and auditorium will accommodate up to 1,000 to 1,200 students. Hayter said the existing high school has exceeded its limit.

"If you go back the last 10 years, just on the average, we've grown about 40 students per year, which basically is a little over a classroom a year. ... I don't see that changing much," Hayter said.



Other developments

Current development in and around Rogersville has the city planning for a large increase in residents. The number of building permits has nearly doubled since last year. In 2002, only 28 permits were filed; so far in 2003, 50 permits have been issued. Four major housing developments under way inside the city limits are Lea Brooke Estates, Pine Ridge Estates, Greenbrier and Sawyer Creek.

This development is due to the city's improved infrastructure.

Pedigo said Pine Ridge Estates is a three-year project that is in phase I, with 23 of 54 lots sold and under construction. Lot prices range from $19,900 to $26,900 for a quarter-acre lot with homes ranging from the upper $90,000 range to more than $150,000.

Pedigo said reasonable land values make the Rogersville area a wise choice economically.

"(Development) is cheaper than what we can do in Springfield by a long shot," Pedigo said. "I'm doing a development similar to this in Springfield, and lot costs are right around the $30,000 price range and the average price of our lots (in Rogersville) are about $22,900."

Another large development is under way north of Rogersville on Highway B. Developer Ron Lea of Lea Brooke Estates said the subdivision consists of 155 lots. Phases I and II are nearly complete, with 76 homes finished or under construction. Another 79 homes will be added in three phases. Currently homes in Lea Brooke range from $150,000 to $275,000.

Greenbrier Estates, developed by Russ Withers with R.L. Withers Construction will add 21 more lots on 10 acres of land valued at $80,000. Eventually Greenbrier will connect with Sawyer Creek Estates which is being developed by Jay Underwood.

More development will continue as people continue to gravitate toward the small town, Pedigo said.

"If you look at Springfield, a lot of the upper-income homes are being built east and southeast of Springfield and Rogersville is that direction."