By DONNA FARLEY
Associate Editor
Two major development projects for the downtown area were discussed Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council.
Downtown Poplar Bluff could see nearly a $1 million investment in the 400 block of Vine Street under a proposal that would use grant money and private funds, while the council voted to hire a firm to help with a new city complex project along Second Street.
Vine Street funds would come from a $427,000 state grant, matched dollar-for-dollar by private investment funds. The grant money would help improve the 400 block of Vine Street with new sidewalks, the burying of electric lines and lighting upgrades.
A public hearing was held prior to the council’s regular meeting to discuss an application for a community development block grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. It could be several months before a decision is made on the grant award.
“I think this is a great project,” city manager Mark Massingham said during the hearing, explaining it would impact a two-block area.
A private investor is interested in purchasing buildings in this section of Vine, according to the discussion. Plans are to renovate and bring the buildings up to code first, said Downtown Poplar Bluff Director Jerrica Fox. The organization frequently has requests by businesses that want to rent space in the downtown area, but no properties already available, she explained.
Poplar Bluff resident Dylan Acevedo is the private investor who would work on the project, the council was told.
The CDBG grant requires an equal amount of private investment, explained Crystal Jones, of the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, which is overseeing the grant application.
“It will really help to kickstart the downtown revitalization,” said Jones.
Council member Ron Black said he was thrilled to see things like this coming to pass.
Attorney Robert Smith, who has an office in the downtown area, agreed, adding this is a step forward for downtown.
Work would occur along Vine, between Fifth Street and Broadway Street. Private investment would be used at 405, 407, 408, 409, 411 and 413 Vine Street.
The total project cost is expected to be $896,200. The city would provide $42,000 of in-kind work.
During the regular meeting, the council voted to pursue this grant. They also agreed to include downtown revitalization as one of their top five city priorities.
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The council unanimously approved an agreement with Navigate Building Solutions, which will serve as an owner representative for city hall and police department projects.
Navigate will spend the next three months looking at what the project should include, such as size, location and cost, company representative Todd Sweeney said during a meeting May 6.
By August, the company should be able to present information to help the council decide the direction of such efforts, according to city manager Mark Massingham.
The work done before August would represent phase 1 of the project, for which Navigate will receive a lump sum of $14,500, according to council documents.
It would include review of information related to: preliminary site plans, current building and utilization, project concepts, proposed buildings, determining needs for the new facilities and other items.
Phase 2 of the project would include overseeing design and construction services. The fee for this would be agreed to prior to the start of phase 2, and not exceed 5% of the project costs.
This phase would include assisting with the selection and retaining of professionals for the project, contract negotiations, coordinating items such as project budget and schedule, and other items.
Earlier this year, the council purchased 115 Pine St., near the closed former site of city hall and the police department. The city also owns a condemned parking garage at that location on Second Street.
The former police department and city hall were vacated in 2016 and are now in rented facilities.