If passed, Transformation would contribute $10 million to help fund a conference center in the city, as well as renovate and repair areas of the old Missouri State Penitentiary. Through five projects, including two tied to construction of a conference center, the initiative seeks to reform the MSP site into a major attraction, continuing tours through the area, but adding new infrastructure and the potential for private development.
City staff is currently in the process of deciding a definite site for a potential conference center, choosing between the MSP site and the 200 block of West McCarty Street, which is being referred to as the Broadway site.
• Conference Center, exhibit hall funding
What would it do? It would supplement funding provided through the city and the lodging tax to fund construction of an exhibit hall with any conference center plans pushed forward by the city. The Transformation initiative has proposed that, for any conference center constructed, some sort of exhibition space is critical to allow for exhibitors and shows, as well as provide flexibility in terms of available meeting space.
What would it cost? $5 million
• Conference Center, facility enhancement funding
What would it do? It would supplement funding provided through the city and the lodging tax to ensure any conference center constructed provides more than simple meeting space, but is built with style and beauty to attract people to the structure. The proposal has stated that any facility built must be built with character.
What would it cost? $5 million
• MSP, Chestnut extension and parkway
What would it do? It would seek to improve existing infrastructure around the MSP site by extending Chestnut Street from Capitol Avenue to the proposed MSP Parkway and include any necessary improvements for storm water management and sanitary sewer. The proposed MSP Parkway also would include improvement for storm water management and sanitary sewer, and would go from Capitol Avenue to Lafayette Street, providing an entry way to a possible conference center, if located at the MSP site.
What would it cost? $3.83 million
• MSP, gas chamber relocation
What would it do? It would move the gas chamber to be closer inside the historic quadrangle of MSP. The Transformation initiative has stated the relocation would improve the popular MSP tours, as well as open the other areas of MSP, where the gas chamber is located now, to potential private development in the future.
What would it cost? $225,000
• MSP, Housing Unit 1, 3, 4 exterior renovations
What would it do? It would fund various repairs to what is considered the historic buildings of MSP to ensure the areas remain intact as a tourist attraction and economic development tool for the area. Historic renovations and repairs would include the roof, flashings, gutters and downspout, as well as windows and doors throughout the historic buildings.
What would it cost? $3.33 million
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