Samek, Fritz and Magers Enterprises build east

Two commercial building projects are coming out of the ground in east Springfield.

Samek, Fritz & Company is getting ready to leave 1615 S. Ingram Mill for a more visible spot at Sunshine and Ventura.

The 21-year-old accounting company is building an approximately 7,500-square-foot office space for itself, said Ed Samek, one of the company's two shareholders. About 1,800 square feet of the new office will be leased to another tenant, while the rest will be for the company's own use, said Deborah Fritz, the company's other shareholder.

The office the company now occupies is 2,400 square feet, which is "a little crowded," Fritz said.

"We've got people doubling up in offices right now, and we try to avoid that," Samek said.

The company has a staff of 13, most of whom do accounting work and four of whom are certified public accountants. Both Fritz and Samek are CPAs. Samek founded the company and Fritz joined in 1991 and became a shareholder in 1995, she said.

The additional space, nearly double what the company has now, will be used to add staff and expand services, Samek said. The building is set to be complete by the end of summer.

"It will be completed during tax season, but we have no intention of moving until after tax season," Fritz said.

The building will sit on a 1.26-acre lot, part of which may be sold, Samek said.

Samek owns the building the company is now in, and he will sell it once the move is complete, he said. The move should be a good one for the company's growth, he added.

"I think we'll be more visible, and we'll certainly have more space. I hope it will attract more customers and make us more accessible for the customers we already serve," Samek said.

Samek, Fritz & Company specializes in accounting work for small- and medium-sized businesses and also for individuals.

The architect for the project is The Wischmeyer Architects and its builder is MoDoCo Inc.

Magers Enterprises is constructing two office buildings on East Battlefield Road, said Randy Magers, owner of Magers Enterprises.

One building will be 11,000 square feet and the other will be 6,500 square feet, Magers said. Both are under construction now at 2910 and 2942 E. Battlefield.

The area is zoned for office, Magers said.

"I think East Battlefield is one of the most recognized areas in the city and an ideal place for an office complex," Magers said.

Magers bought the land about a year ago. The company has other property in town including shopping centers, motels and apartments.

The two new buildings are being built simultaneously and should be ready by the first of June, Magers said.

"We don't have any tenants signed yet though we have a number of prospects. We're getting a lot of positive response," Magers said.

The architect for the project is Slone Architects and the general contractor is Springfield Builders Inc.