The Missouri State Penitentiary Community Partners approved a draft developer performance agreement for the old prison redevelopment site Tuesday.
The agreement outlines what members of MSPCP want to see in developers' proposals for the city's 31.28-acre Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment project. The redevelopment site is between the historic site and Chestnut Street, including some right-of-way areas and the old prison shoe factory.
Most of the MSPCP's discussion centered around a proposed convention center. The members suggested the center - which would include conference, ballroom, meeting and exhibit space - be at least 50,000 or more square feet total.
"With Jefferson City having (over 100) associations housed here in our city, we should be able to host some of those events instead of seeing them leave our community to go out and have their annual conventions," said Diane Gillespie, Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director and MSPCP member.
Gillespie added Jefferson City competes with Columbia and Lake of the Ozarks when attracting events and conferences.
Originally, the committee had a recommendation of 45,000-50,000 square feet, but members suggested setting a recommended minimum square footage instead of a range. Gillespie said having more meeting space would allow the city to host more events.
"The more space we have, it's just going to make us more competitive in that market and take us to the next level that Jefferson City should be in," Gillespie said.
If a developer's proposal does not include a convention center or does not meet the requested square footage, the proposal must include the reasoning, according to the draft agreement.
The agreement also states the proposals should include plans for vehicular connections, the existing walls, integration of the gas chamber in the development, and rehabilitation of the old shoe factory.
The old prison shoe factory sustained damage during the May 22 tornado. The state estimated it would cost $433,400 to repair and/or replace the building, according to the Missouri Office of Administration.
While the gas chamber is on the city's redevelopment site, the state will retain ownership of it, along with other historic buildings used during the CVB's prison tours.
The project proposals should also include project data, estimated cost, financial feasibility and implementation timeframe.
In June, the MSPCP selected five possible development teams to submit MSP redevelopment project proposals. The development teams are:
Americo Life, Burns & McDonnel, and Kit Bond Strategies.
Jefferson City Vision Partners, made up of Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A., Development Strategies, Killian Construction Company, CFS Engineers, SFS Architecture, hdesigngroup and Hoerr Schaudt.
O'Reilly Hospitality Management LLC.
Chesterfield Hotels, Arcturis, Peck-ham Architecture and Central Missouri Professional Services.
Farmer Companies.
If the Jefferson City Council approves the draft developer performance agreement Aug. 19, the city will sign agreements with each team. Developers have until Nov. 1 to submit their MSP redevelopment project proposals, according to the draft agreement.
MSPCP members will review the proposals before selecting a developer. The city anticipates selecting a developer by next spring, city officials previously said.
The MSPCP agreed to pay a stipend of $10,000 to each developer who submits a redevelopment proposal that satisfies the developer's obligations under the draft agreement. If the proposal does not meet the agreement's criteria, the MSPCP will give the developer its objections and the developer will have 15 days to revise and resubmit its proposal. If the revised proposal meets the agreements' criteria, the MSPCP will pay the developer the stipend. If the proposal still does not meet the agreement criteria, the MSPCP will again submit its objections and the developer can appeal the objections to the City Council.
The state conveyed nearly 32 acres of the old prison to Jefferson City in the summer of 2017. The state and city finalized the conveyance more than a year ago.
The city must select a developer within two years of the conveyance and start construction within four years, according to the agreement between the state and city.
According to the agreement between the city and state, primary proposed uses for the site include hotels, entertainment venues, office buildings, museums and convention centers, according to the agreement between the city and state. Developers could also construct secondary uses such as full-service and fast-casual restaurants, bars, coffee shops and retail establishments, as long as these features do not exceed 10,000 square feet each.
Developers could also build parking structures, green spaces and pedestrian plazas on the site.
Traditional fast-food restaurants, retail or restaurant establishments with drive-thru facilities, an enclosed shopping mall, and other residential uses other than condominium units and loft-style apartments are not permitted, according to the agreement.
All structures and improvements must be of a similar style to the existing MSP historic structures, according to the agreement between the city and state.