A proposed 25-story building is still ready to move forward, one of the developers of the project said on Monday. Rick Huffman, CEO of the Branson company HCW Development Company, said that the current owner of property he and another developer plan to purchase in order to construct the multi-use facility, was able to move the closing date for selling the property. Originally, the closing date was scheduled for Sept. 15, which HCW and its partner, Evergreen Investments, of Lebanon, could not meet because they did not have final approval of the project from the city.
“The project is still on,” Huffman said. “The owner of the land got an extension on his closing until the 30th (of September). We’ll be able to propose it to the city, hopefully for the last time.”
If the city’s aldermen give final approval of the project at their meeting on Monday, the project would be built on Missouri 248 at U.S. 65 at the current location of Branson Inn. The building would contain hotel rooms, condominiums, a pool, a restaurant and bar, retail stores, office space, a museum and a parking garage. It would be the tallest building in southwest Missouri.
The project gained a recommended approval from the city’s planning & zoning commission, only after tabling it once due to a lack of information. At the city’s board of aldermen meeting last week, Huffman had hoped the board would approve both the first and final reading of a bill approving the building, but, after hearing comments from several residents who opposed the bill, the aldermen decided to take the more traditional route and wait two weeks before the final reading.
On the first reading, the board approved the building, 4-2, with aldermen Dave Edie and Jack Purvis voting against it. Despite the opposition, and promises of more opposition showing up Monday, Huffman said there is a lot of support for the project.
“I went to football and softball games over the weekend,” he said. “I talked to people and the response was pretty positive.”
City bills do not require discussion for final approval unless it is requested by one of the aldermen. City officials expect the aldermen to open this issue up for more discussion at the meeting.
Information courtesy of Branson Daily News