One proposal includes a "Fergburger" family restaurant and bar plus a specialty coffee and dessert tenant.
The city of Springfield is considering two competing proposals for reuse of the former Visitor Information Center on West Columbus Avenue.SPRINGFIELD - The city, after failing to find a business tenant two years ago for the vacant, former Visitor Information Center building on West Columbus Avenue, is now considering two competing proposals for reuse of the site.
The redevelopment plans include a proposal filed by Peter J. Pappas and his company, Alliance Converting Machinery Inc., who is proposing two business tenants for the site: a family restaurant and bar named “Fergburger,” which he said he discovered on a family trip to New Zealand; and a specialty coffee and dessert tenant.
Pappas said he will personally invest $1 million into redevelopment of the site, as stated in his proposal.
A second proposal was submitted by Lustra, LLC, formed in April, listing Jennifer Stefanik as manager, and also involving local developer Raipher Pellegrino.
Stefanik and Pellegrino declined comment on their proposal Friday, saying they did not believe it would be appropriate to comment while the proposals were still under consideration.
The corporate records for Lustra LLC, however, state the general character of the business is for “food and beverage services and all other business associated with operating a restaurant.”
City officials said they could not release specific details about the proposals other than the names of each developer while bids are under review, under bidding laws.
Pappas and a partner, Michael A. Spagnoli, invested $14 million in redeveloping the former Basketball Hall of Fame on West Columbus Avenue, adjacent to the Visitor Information Center site.
The Rivers Landing complex, which opened in 2008 includes the LA Fitness center, a restaurant and a physical therapy clinic. The initial restaurant, Onyx, recently closed and is being replaced by a Mama Iguana’s restaurant.
The William C. Sullivan Tourist Information Center relocated in November 2009 to the nearby Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame building. The move was designed to increase the public use of the center, which is off Interstate 91.
Pappas has offered to pay $2,000 per month base rent for the vacant Visitor Information Center site for the first five years, increasing in future years, and also paying utilities, maintenance, repairs and insurance costs. The building is 4,100 square feet.
The site, once redeveloped, can become a important bridge between the downtown, Basketball Hall of Fame and the riverfront, Pappas said.
In 2009, the city solicited redevelopment proposals, but received no bids for the site.
Pappas had stated an interest at the time, but chose not to bid, saying the lease terms and other factors were unacceptable. At the time, the city was seeking a minimum lease of $5,125 per month, and offered just a three-year lease with two, one-year renewals.