The Jefferson City Council unanimously approved a motion Monday night to accept a $1.5 million federal grant for development at the Missouri State Penitentiary.
This U.S. Economic Development Administration grant calls for the city to match it. As such, the project is projected to be around $3 million.
The MSP was impacted by the 2019 tornado, which qualifies the project for a disaster recovery grant.
Rachel Senzee, neighborhood services specialist, said the grant funding will go toward extending Chestnut street, an underground stormwater retention site, an additional street and pad sites for future development.
This is one step in the city's efforts to redevelop the area around the Missouri State Penitentiary.
The Parks and Recreation Department is in discussions about installing an ice arena there.
A plan put out by Planning & Protective Services, lists a hotel, conference center, parking garage, museum, train station, mixed use office and residential areas, offices, residential townhomes and a state laboratory. The plan would not touch the original historic penitentiary.
It does also look at additional public spaces such as a quad, interpretive park, social square and sculpture plaza.
Senzee said the next step is to meet with engineers from EDA and public works to develop a timeline for the project. She projected the construction phase starting around 2022.
Ward 4 councilman Ron Fitzwater said he wanted to thank the city staff involved with this project and receiving the grant.
"This is an incredible opportunity," he said. "As the old saying goes, it gives us one more arrow in the quiver on this project. It's a very important piece for our downtown community and very important part of the city."