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Master developer will be hired soon for MSP plan
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By Michelle Brooks
mbrooks@newstribune.com
If the infrastructure is built, the redevelopment will follow.
That's the attitude the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) Redevelopment Commission is taking as the federal courthouse materializes and a master developer should soon be hired to add momentum to the process.
Thursday, the commission was disappointed to hear no funding was earmarked to act on the findings from the Whitton Expressway Environmental Impact Study.
Mike Dusenberg, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) District 5 manager, discussed the study's access possibilities from the expressway to the MSP site.
Most of the possibilities would be detrimental to several historic and residential neighborhoods.
But the study did plan for any access possibility to tie in with the existing roadway plans for the MSP site, whether at Lafayette or Chestnut streets.
Commissioner Mike Berry asked Dusenberg's opinion of what would be the best access plan for the MSP. Dusenberg suggested a single access at Lafayette Street with five lanes might have too many impacts to “put all your eggs in one basket.”
“Although it looks good on paper, you might have serious public issues trying to do that,” Dusenberg said. “We ran into that already just showing this plan.”
Many public proponents have pushed the single Lafayette access for years. However, that would include razing the last remnants of the historic Foot area near Lincoln University and an historic church, plus widening the street up to the residential porches along the five blocks between the expressway and the MSP site.
For now, the commission will make a list of important infrastructure needs, including Lafayette Street extended into the site as MSP Parkway for access to the federal courthouse, along Capitol Avenue from Lafayette to Chestnut or State Street from Lafayette to Marshall.
Then they will prioritize where best to spend the dedicated funds from the city and county for infrastructure improvements.
Mike Ryer, General Services Administration project manager, updated the commission on the federal courthouse design process, which is 35 percent complete. Once the land is transferred some time this summer and designs are completed by October, Ryer said he hoped to begin digging before the end of 2008.
Room will be allotted on the north edge of the federal courthouse site to accommodate a future greenway trail, which would link with the city's long-term greenway system plan.
And the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) formally requested reservation of buildings in the historic district on MSP site's master plan. Although they have no funding or resources in the near future, DNR wanted to make their interests known before the commission finalizes an agreement with a master developer.
In the future, DNR would like to create a museum in Housing Unit 4 and rehabilitate Housing Unit 1 as a visitor's center. The MSP master plan also includes restoration of Housing Unit 3, which is constructed of the historic limestone and holds the death row cells.
“They have historical significance to the state of Missouri, so they have their eye on them,” said Charlie Brzuchalski, senior project manager for the Office of Administration's design and construction.
The commission has received six responses to its request for qualifications for a master developer.
Interviews will be held the first of March and a final selection should be made by May.
That's the attitude the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) Redevelopment Commission is taking as the federal courthouse materializes and a master developer should soon be hired to add momentum to the process.
Thursday, the commission was disappointed to hear no funding was earmarked to act on the findings from the Whitton Expressway Environmental Impact Study.
Mike Dusenberg, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) District 5 manager, discussed the study's access possibilities from the expressway to the MSP site.
Most of the possibilities would be detrimental to several historic and residential neighborhoods.
But the study did plan for any access possibility to tie in with the existing roadway plans for the MSP site, whether at Lafayette or Chestnut streets.
Commissioner Mike Berry asked Dusenberg's opinion of what would be the best access plan for the MSP. Dusenberg suggested a single access at Lafayette Street with five lanes might have too many impacts to “put all your eggs in one basket.”
“Although it looks good on paper, you might have serious public issues trying to do that,” Dusenberg said. “We ran into that already just showing this plan.”
Many public proponents have pushed the single Lafayette access for years. However, that would include razing the last remnants of the historic Foot area near Lincoln University and an historic church, plus widening the street up to the residential porches along the five blocks between the expressway and the MSP site.
For now, the commission will make a list of important infrastructure needs, including Lafayette Street extended into the site as MSP Parkway for access to the federal courthouse, along Capitol Avenue from Lafayette to Chestnut or State Street from Lafayette to Marshall.
Then they will prioritize where best to spend the dedicated funds from the city and county for infrastructure improvements.
Mike Ryer, General Services Administration project manager, updated the commission on the federal courthouse design process, which is 35 percent complete. Once the land is transferred some time this summer and designs are completed by October, Ryer said he hoped to begin digging before the end of 2008.
Room will be allotted on the north edge of the federal courthouse site to accommodate a future greenway trail, which would link with the city's long-term greenway system plan.
And the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) formally requested reservation of buildings in the historic district on MSP site's master plan. Although they have no funding or resources in the near future, DNR wanted to make their interests known before the commission finalizes an agreement with a master developer.
In the future, DNR would like to create a museum in Housing Unit 4 and rehabilitate Housing Unit 1 as a visitor's center. The MSP master plan also includes restoration of Housing Unit 3, which is constructed of the historic limestone and holds the death row cells.
“They have historical significance to the state of Missouri, so they have their eye on them,” said Charlie Brzuchalski, senior project manager for the Office of Administration's design and construction.
The commission has received six responses to its request for qualifications for a master developer.
Interviews will be held the first of March and a final selection should be made by May.
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chi-town wrote on Feb 28, 2008 6:38 PM: " We have one. Its called JCCC and it is located next to the one at Algoa. " |
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sumtimesiwundr wrote on Feb 29, 2008 12:05 PM: