Magers Properties plans mixed-use project near Bear Village

Randy Magers’ Magers Properties III LLC went to Springfield City Council last night seeking to rezone 1 acre across from his brother Bryan’s Bear Village development.

The company plans to build a mixed-use development with five retail spaces on the first floor and 20 microefficiency apartments on the second floor, according to Magers Properties representative Derek Lee of Lee Engineering and Associates LLC. Magers Properties III already owns the property located at 806, 810 and 816 S. Kimbrough Ave. and 614 and 616 E. Madison St. It is currently zoned as a high-density, multifamily district and holds five structures within its boundaries, including two apartment complexes, a house and office space for the apartments. City officials said the buildings would need to be demolished to make way for the new project.

If council approves the proposal, the land would be rezoned to a planned development district.

The development would span a maximum 8,000 square feet of general retail space behind the proposed site for a new Missouri State University residence hall at the corner of Madison and Holland Avenue. The earliest anticipated completion of the dorm is 2019, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

“There’s a lot of foot traffic there. That dorm is going to be a tall, seven-story structure,” Lee said. “I think those people are going to need a place to buy a cup of coffee.”

Lee said H Design Group LLC is the architect for the project. He was unable to confirm what company would head up construction, the project’s costs or its completion date. Randy Magers also could not be reached by deadline.

Magers also is currently developing the second phase of Magers Crossing, a south-side shopping center designed for 10 retail storefronts, 10 offices and seven restaurants.