Planning commission to vote on Southside redevelopment

The Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission will vote on a plan to improve the Historic Southside and Old Munichburg District & Neighborhood during its July meeting, commissioners decided Friday.

During a work session Friday, the commission heard from city planners, plan designers and Capital Region Medical Center officials.

The plan aims to use the Old Munichburg area's rich history to revitalize the neighborhood and unique culture in it during the next two decades. Planners aim to do that by re-zoning several areas in the neighborhood, creating new parks and creating plans that allow for Lincoln University to grow.

Capital Region Medical Center, which sits in the district at 1125 Madison St., introduced the plan more than a year ago. The hospital invested $37 million in an expansion project in 2014. CRMC President Gaspare Calvaruso said Friday because of that contribution, the hospital is invested in all parts of the neighborhood.

"Whether we like it or not, whether you're in a hospital or a hardware store, your neighborhood has a reflection on your business," Calvaruso said. "We wanted to be able to do something about that and be a positive force and influence."

Over the past year, Jefferson City has held numerous workshops, open houses and meetings that sought input from residents, businesses and other stakeholders.

Thirty-seven percent of the district's population is African American, and the largest age group is 20-24.

During public workshops, representatives from the city's Planning and Zoning department found the neighborhood is diverse, has views of downtown and the Capitol, and has recreational assets like the greenway bike trails and The LINC wellness center. Longtime businesses like Central Dairy and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. also sit in the district.

Still, the area contains 2,100 homes, 14 percent of which are unoccupied. About 20 percent of buildings in the neighborhood are now in poor condition, making housing conditions in the area worse, according to the plan.

Planners created 10 goals, including expanding the types of affordable housing in the district and improving landscaping. City officials also hope to turn areas near Dunklin Street, U.S. 50 and U.S. 54 into a hub for businesses.

Parts of the district reside in a flood plain, so planners want to expand Community Park at 725 Marshall St. east to Lafayette Street. The city also wants to create a park next to Wears Creek near Missouri Boulevard.

Eric Barron, senior planner for Jefferson City, said space also needs to be made to allow Lincoln University to grow.

"They're handicapped by not having any commercial use located adjacent to them," Barron told the commission. "So the idea here is to put in place mixed use commercial development and also housing options for students and residents."

One of the biggest goals, and possibly the last to be finished, is to redesign the intersection of Stadium Boulevard and U.S. 54 within 20 years.

This plan would result in at least three roundabouts re-routing traffic. Madison Street would also be re-routed and disconnected from U.S. 54. Drivers could still access Madison Street from U.S. 54 via Stadium Boulevard. Barron said the current interchange design is flawed and hinders commercial development.

"It's resulted in a fairly fragmented ownership of property in the area," Barron said. "The property lines are rather odd."

Within five to 15 years, designers hope more commercial activity will spring up along Dunklin Street and near Lincoln University. They also hope landscaping projects along Jefferson and Madison streets will be finished.

The commission voted unanimously to vote on the plan at its July meeting.

Barron said again toward the end of Friday's meeting every effort was made to preserve historic buildings in the neighborhood while also creating a revitalized community.

"Redevelopment can be a touchy subject," Barron said. "There are areas that are shown as being proposed for redevelopment. That is a necessary component of strengthening a neighborhood."