Springfield’s Government Plaza is expanding.
The city government acquired the building located at 811-813 N. Boonville Ave., which will serve as the temporary office space for the city’s Risk Management Department as Historic City Hall undergoes renovations.
With the purchase approved unanimously by the City Council on Oct. 16, the City of Springfield closed on the property on Oct. 20. The property, which consists of a divided office building — hence the two addresses — as well as a parking lot to its west, was sold at its appraised value of $560,000. The city allocated an additional $40,000 for closing costs and an environmental assessment.
The purchase was made with the Department of Risk Management’s unrestricted reserve fund, and will not impact the cash balances of the city’s general fund or sales tax funds, according to City Council documents.
The building is the former home of the Johnson, Vorhees and Martucci law firm, which is now located on South Campbell Avenue. The property’s previous owner is R & P Holdings Company LLC. It sits across the street from City Hall and the Busch Municipal Building and between a city-owned parking lot and a bail bond agency.
No immediate long-term plans for 800 block of North Boonville
While the purchase of the property fits into the city’s long-term plans for an expansion of the Government Plaza, which includes the 800 block of North Boonville Avenue, Deputy City Manager Collin Quigley says that there are no immediate plans for future property deals. The acquisition of 811-813 N. Boonville was described as an “opportunity” in the council bill’s explanation.
“Obviously, there's a couple other property owners there, we're not looking to move anybody out at all,” Quigley said. “But that's just our long-term vision, we know that it would be best for the maximum use of that property to acquire it and so, as properties become available, if it makes sense and then we would like to purchase it but we're not actively out there trying to pursue any properties.”
Quigley said the city has “enough” property on North Boonville, but that it eventually made sense to “finish” the block out in the long term. With the purchase of 811-813 N. Boonville, the only two properties on the block not owned by the city house Conklin Bail Bonds and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Hope Center, at 817 and 819 N. Boonville Ave., respectively.
Risk Management, department shuffle amid ongoing renovations
The building’s immediate purpose will be to provide office space to Department of Risk Management staff. Up until now, the employees have been working in City Hall and/or remotely. However, Risk Management will likely not return to City Hall once renovations are completed and may eventually call the Busch Building its home, though Quigley said that could be several years from now.
Quigley described the new building’s long-term purpose as “flex space,” to be used as needed as the city government shuffles departments around between renovations to the Busch Building and City Hall.
“It’s a series of dominoes and moving pieces,” Quigley said.
As it formerly served as office space to a law firm, the building is currently move-in ready. As the offices of Risk Management, it won’t be open to the public, but for scheduled appointments.
