Shoe factory development detailed for council

The building that formerly housed the International Shoe Company on East Capitol Avenue was sold to a Springfield firm that plans to renovate it into loft apartments.
The building that formerly housed the International Shoe Company on East Capitol Avenue was sold to a Springfield firm that plans to renovate it into loft apartments.

Ten days after unveiling plans for a $13 million, 80-unit housing project, a Springfield developer acclaimed for repurposing landmark factories was back in Jefferson City Tuesday night to whet the City Council's appetite for launch of the International Shoe Factory project.

Christened the Capitol Avenue Lofts, designers from the Vecino Group LLC gave a presentation to acquaint the council and several dozen residents with images of the sturdy, decades-empty 65,300-square-foot main building and warehouse, accompanied by a positive narrative emphasizing the likelihood of success of the tax-leveraged venture.

Bruce K. Adib-Yazdi, director of design and construction, and Jefferson City native Kate Medin-Stockton, an environmental designer, joined local developer Larry Kolb and other members of the Vecino team in the delivery, which followed their filing a formal application for tax credit approval with the Missouri Housing Development Corporation.

Adib-Yazdi and Medin-Stockton told the gathering they expected to win approval of their application from the state panel sometime in March. Adib-Yazdi, a 25-year veteran architect, paired well with Medin-Stockton, who earned her degree in environmental design at the University of Missouri in 2003 and a master of architecture from the University of Kansas in 2013.

The structure they were promoting, the well-manicured possession of DeLong Properties, isn't even zoned residential. However, Mayor Carrie Tergin and most others at Tuesday's meeting enthused over the plans for its conversion to affordable housing on the city's east side. Adib-Yazdi and Medin-Stockton said they were anticipating return trips to City Hall as the project evolved.

The Vecino team members took time to explain the Capitol Avenue Lofts proposal was not a Section 8 project, the well-known low-income federal rental program. The Capitol Avenue Lofts will be built as a Section 42 project, they said.

"Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) is a federal housing assistance program that provides tax incentives to owners of affordable housing," they said. "The program does not provide direct assistance to renters and is strictly used to finance the construction and not the operation of rental properties."

The Capitol Avenue Lofts will be for working people who must income qualify, depending on the size of their household. In Cole County, an individual earning $24,000 a year would qualify, as would a family of four earning $34,485.

Vecino anticipates the lofts will be what it calls "a full gut rehab historic renovation." It would feature five studios, 44 one-bedroom, 21 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom units. On-site parking will be provided, and no neighborhood street parking is anticipated. Rent would range from $403 for a studio to $667 for a three-bedroom unit.

In answer to questions from the council, the Vecino professionals said their facility would feature a leasing office with on-site agents, as well as parking lot and maintenance staff on duty during normal business hours.

Councilman Carlos Graham said he had reservations about the proposal because of its unknown impact on nearby East Elementary School and would seek further information on the subject as the project moves forward.

In other business Tuesday, the council held a brief public hearing then gave initial approval to a preliminary planned use development for property at 925 S. Country Club Drive and final subdivision plat of Westport Plaza subdivision.

The council also recognized completion of the 100th River City Habitat for Humanity home, completed in 98 days.

A proclamation from Tergin honored the centennial celebration of the American Red Cross of Central and Northern Missouri.

In an unusual turn of events for a City Council meeting, the Jefferson City Firefighters Pipes and Drums were named the winner of the city's outstanding employee service award for January. The band includes Pipe Major Mike Schultz, Drum Major Ryan Back, Piper Evan Jennings and Bass Drum James Noah.

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