With a $6 million grant, the City of Springfield has more means to buy the Hotel of Terror and replace the Main Avenue bridge in downtown Springfield, as work on the Renew Jordan Creek project gets underway this summer.
On April 8, the Springfield City Council approved an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for a $6 million Surface Transportation Block Grant to replace the structurally deficient Main Avenue bridge. The grant covers up to 80% of the project, with the remaining 20%, or $1.5 million, funded by city tax revenues.
The project includes the removal of the existing bridge, and the construction of a new, larger structure with increased water flow, pedestrian accommodations and aesthetic improvements.
The funding can be used for construction and right of way and real property acquisition. The agreement requires a construction contract be awarded or a planning study completed by May 15, 2025.
Renew Jordan Creek, Main Avenue bridge now separate projects
Main Avenue borders the western edge of the Renew Jordan Creek project area, which will be developed in phases. The first phase, which is slated to go out to bid this summer, stretches from Main Avenue to Boonville Avenue to the east, Water Street and railroad tracks to the south and Mill Street to the north. The objective of the project is to daylight, or unearth, Jordan Creek to reduce flooding, improve water quality, provide public amenities and promote quality of place.
In order to acquire the necessary property for the project, the City Council authorized eminent domain in February 2023 on the Hotel of Terror, located at 334 N. Main Ave., but was essentially forced to repeal the ordinance two months later when owner Sterling Mathis submitted enough signatures to put the fate of his haunted hotel before Springfield voters. Since then, negotiations between Mathis and the city have continued.
Originally an element of Renew Jordan Creek, the bridge replacement is now being managed as a separate project due to the setbacks in acquiring the Hotel of Terror, according to city stormwater engineer Kirkland Preston, and is not included in the $37.5 million cost estimate for the larger project.
“Once we experienced the complications acquiring the property necessary to construct the Main Avenue bridge, we did a little bit of redesign so that we can still build the project with the exception of that area right near the property acquisition,” Preston said. “And so we will still construct the lion's share of the project between Main and Campbell, with the exception of the Main Avenue bridge and some grading around the bridge.”
Construction costs of the bridge replacement are still uncertain, Kirkland said, and will become more clear once the design is finalized.
Negotiations between Mathis, city continue
However, the city still needs to acquire the Hotel of Terror in order to replace the bridge. The $6 million grant from MoDOT could help make that happen.
“We are simply getting ready for the day that we reach an agreement with Mr. Mathis and are able to move forward with the replacement of the bridge,” city spokesperson Cora Scott said in an email.
If and when the city buys the property, Mathis plans to merge portions of the Hotel of Terror with his other haunted house, Dungeons of Doom, located a block away at 701 W. Wall St. The city recently facilitated the rezoning of Dungeons of Doom from heavy manufacturing to center city district, which eases parking requirements.
Much like the ballooning costs of Renew Jordan Creek, Mathis said the price tag of relocating the Hotel of Terror has also increased substantially in recent years. He previously estimated the cost of recreating the hotel between $1.5 to $2 million. Mathis said he submitted details on the Hotel of Terror property to city staff in a meeting on April 11, and is awaiting further dialogue.
“We’re working towards getting something done…Hopefully we can all work it out and everybody’s happy,” he said.
The city hosted a public meeting on April 11, where staff outlined the construction timeline for Renew Jordan Creek and gave a presentation on the environmental impact of the project. A draft of the Environmental Information Document is available on the Renew Jordan Creek website, and public input was due April 14.
