Boonville considering development plan for Kemper school campus

BOONVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- The city is considering a development group's proposal to use the former Kemper Military School campus for a mix of homes, retail units and other buildings.

Kemper was the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River before it closed in 2002. Boonville bought the 50-acre site in 2003 for about $500,000.

A development group wants to lease the Kemper campus from the city for 10 years, during which the town would receive $500,000 while the land was developed.

"I think it's the first really reliable project we've had," Boonville Mayor Danielle Blanck said. "I hope the council approves it."

The plan was unveiled last week by the development group, which includes Boonville businessman Jim Hackman; Adam Jones, a partner in the Frederick Hotel renovation; BNIM Architects, of Kansas City; and Neil Uebelein of the Kansas City-based nVision Group.

Ned Beach, board president for Boonville's Industrial Development Authority, called the plan "a really strong development" that would bring money and jobs to the town of about 8,200 residents.

The campus has nearly 220,000 square feet of floor space. Beach said the architects estimate they could build between 110 an 150 residential units, offices, a convention hall, academic space and more out of seven buildings on campus.

If the City Council approves the plan, Beach said, developers would pay Boonville $50,000 annually for the first three years and a $350,000 lump-sum payment at the end of the 10 years. In addition to the lease payments, developers could buy the property for $500,000 at any time.

The proposal also would require Boonville to pay $1 million in repairs and other improvements.

"In essence, the city puts out a million and gets a million back," Beach said.

Beach said he expects the developers to have a meeting with the council in the next two weeks but couldn't provide a more specific timetable for the project.

---

Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com