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In a unanimous decision, Springfield City Council passed an amendment this afternoon to alter the time table for the overhaul of Park Central Square, doing away with the city's August 1st deadline. KSMU's Brett Moser reports.
The original timeline required the city to complete renovation of the square before the developer Kevin McGowan would begin transforming Heer's Tower into luxury loft apartments.
The vote did away with the city's obligation to repurchase Heer's Tower if they did not meet the August 1st deadline. In addition, the clause requiring McGowan to pay fees if construction didn't start by September was eliminated.
The time table that now stands requires the city to begin renovation by December and McGowan to start construction by February 2009.
The amendment to the contract was drafted after state officials declared the square eligible for historic site status.
Economic Development Director for the city of Springfield, Mary Lilly Smith, explains why the announcement changed the city's renovation plans.
A particular contingency clause protected the city in the event of an unforeseen situation such as the historic status announcement.
Smith says the council's decision will be beneficial for both the city and McGowan.
For KSMU News, I'm Brett Moser.
