Springfield Business Journal_2020-07-06

$2.00 · SBJ.NET JULY 6-12, 2020 · VOL. 40, NO. 50 Branson CID set to generate millions City issues RFQ for Jordan Creek daylighting District sales tax is expected to collect $4.5 million per year for more Highway 76 improvements Officials say project could be catalyst for downtown economic development by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Branson’s 76 Entertainment Community Improvement District is about to add over 170 businesses to the special taxing area, in a move that’s expected to increase sales tax revenue roughly tenfold to $4.5 million an- nually. The Branson Board of Aldermen on June 23 unanimously approved expanding the district, aka the 76ECID, to from one to six defined areas in the five-mile entertain- ment district corridor. The board’s deci- sion increases the number of businesses assessed the 1% CID sales tax by five times. The expansion allows for an ongoing $80 million revitalization project of Highway 76 to continue, officials said. “We want to continue to invest in the Highway 76 Country Boulevard corridor to ensure its longevity and to continue to be the heart of the tourist community in Bran- son,” said Joel Hornickel, city of Branson’s director of planning and development. Tax revenue collection in the expanded CID will begin Oct. 1, Branson Finance Director Jamie Rouch said. It’s expected to generate 10 times more than the cur- rent tax collections. The tax has brought in around $400,000 annually since October 2016 in the initial CID, totaling roughly $1.5 million to date. In May 2016, property owners along Highway 76 west from Presleys’ Country See BRANSON on page 19 by Kathryn Hardison · khardison@sbj.net The city of Springfield has taken the first step in a long-discussed project that would daylight Jordan Creek and poten- tially spur economic activity downtown. Last month, city officials issued a re- quest for qualifications for engineering and architecture firms to submit pro- posals by July 15 for the phase of Renew Jordan Creek that runs from Main to Boonville avenues. The multiphase project will “daylight” Jordan Creek by removing concrete box culverts that cover the downtown wa- terway and modifying the existing flood- plain and floodway areas, according to a city news release. Kirkland Preston, project manager with the Department of Public Works, said the main goal is to re- duce the Federal Emergency Man- agement Agency floodplain. However, he said it’s also ex- pected to revital- ize the two-block stretch downtown and lead to economic development. The project is bordered on the east by Boonville Avenue, Water Street on the south, Main Avenue on the west and Mill Street on the north. Civic asset Tim Rosenbury, the city’s director of quality of place initiatives, said Re- new Jordan Creek is a key project for See RFQ on page 8 Major Tax Bump Branson’s 76 Entertainment Community Improvement District now covers six areas. The city added five sections, growing the CID to 973 acres and over 200 properties; see examples below. The first CID area was approved in 2016. MCKENZIE ROBINSON HEATHER MOSLEY Source: City of Branson and 76 Entertainment Community Improvement District Back To The Water The city plans to daylight a portion of Jordan Creek that has been under concrete box culverts since the 1930s. Director of Quality of Place Initiatives Tim Rosenbury says the project could spur economic development.