Springfield EDA directs city manager to move ahead with sale of Memorial Building

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Economic Development Agency on Oct. 27 voted unanimously to direct the city manager to exercise a purchase-and-sale agreement for the Memorial Building at 765 A Street, map and tax lot 17-03-35-42-04600, with adjustments to terms as discussed.

Ally Camp, Springfields economic development manager, told the board an interested buyer had provided a purchase-and-sale agreement that was included in the meeting packet. "An interested buyer has provided a purchase and sale agreement, which is included in your packet tonight," Camp said. She added that an addendum to the agreement shows the buyers proposed use for the facility. "The addendum of the purchase and sale agreement indicates that the use of facility for the Springfield Drifters baseball club and Drifters Academy is consistent with the downtown urban renewal plan and the type of projects to be undertaken, like redevelopment and in the property disposition, policies you have in your plan," Camp said.

The motion to direct the city manager to exercise the agreement was made on the floor and seconded; the vote was recorded as unanimous. Board members recorded as voting in favor were Board member Van Gordon; Board member Weber; Board member Moe; Chair Rodley; Vice chair Blackwell; Board member Buck; Board member Stout; and Board member Lovell.

The board also approved the consent calendar at the start of the meeting by a unanimous vote. No members of the public signed up or spoke during the public-testimony period.

The agency packet for the meeting included a vicinity map, a board briefing memorandum outlining prior public conversations about disposition of the property, and the purchase-and-sale agreement for the buyer identified in the packet as Eich Olsen. The motion that passed directed the city manager to "exercise the purchase and sale agreement for the sale of 1 parcel of land in Springfields downtown, 765 A Street ... with adjustments to terms as discussed," according to the oral motion recorded in the transcript. The transcript does not record the exact adjustments discussed.

Next steps are administrative: the boards recorded direction authorizes staff to proceed under the terms of the agreement and to make the referenced adjustments to terms. The meeting adjourned after the vote.