City plans purchase of Boonville Avenue property

The city of Springfield is planning to purchase property on North Boonville Avenue near Commercial Street to house its workforce development services.

The city's proposal is slated to be heard by the Planning & Zoning Commission on June 20, followed by City Council for a first reading on June 24 and an anticipated second reading and vote on July 8, according to a news release. Communication surrounding the relocation of the city's workforce operations, including its Missouri Job Center office, recently was cited by the Ozark Region Workforce Development Board in removing the city as its fiscal agent.

City staff are recommending approval of a real estate contract for 1660 and 1661 N. Boonville Ave., a facility most recently used as offices for Convoy of Hope that's just south of C-Street. The agreed-upon purchase price is $3.7 million, below a recently appraised value of $3.95 million, and city officials expect $2.6 million in improvement costs will be needed, according to the release. Current furnishings in the building also are included in the proposed purchase price.

“This proposed new location is in Zone 1, which will help eliminate barriers to employment within our community by providing better access to skill attainment,” said Ericka Schmeeckle, interim director of the Springfield Department of Workforce Development, in the release.

The over 50,000-square-foot North Boonville property is currently owned by Burning Tree Consulting LLC, according to Greene County assessor records. Burning Tree Consulting is organized with the Missouri secretary of state's office by developer Titus Williams. At its April 8 meeting, City Council approved a plan by Williams, through his Commercial-Pacific Street Redevelopment Corp., to develop the historic Missouri Hotel property and 7.5 acres surrounding it on the south side of Commercial Street, according to past reporting. The development area is located a few blocks east of the Boonville building.

The Boonville property purchase and improvements would be funded by $4.4 million in general fund carryover and $1.9 million in bond proceeds, according to the release. The city's Workforce Development Department would lease the building from the city, and the property also is expected to accommodate the city's plans to consolidate the Workforce Development and Economic Development departments.

A June 6 news release from the city said the building would be located near the City Governmental Plaza. The Boonville building is located four-fifths of a mile north of the Busch Municipal Building that is the seat of city government.