Council approves $1.5M contract amendment for schematic design of downtown garage, hotel and conference center amid financing questions

The Jefferson City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the predevelopment services agreement with Garfield Public Private LLC to continue schematic design for the proposed downtown parking garage, hotel and conference center and to extend predevelopment work through Sept. 30. The amendment increases the project budget for predevelopment services by $1.5 million, according to staff presentations during the meeting.

Luke Holzire of the Jefferson City Regional Economic Partnership described the next phase as schematic design and said the schematic design phase ‘‘is gonna be going through September. So it's 3 months.’’ The schematic design work is intended to advance structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing design; engage interior and exterior consultants; and solicit…