Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Mark Hardy Traveler's Hotel remains dormant Wednesday morning. The owners of the building took it off the market when an impending sale fell through.

The recent cancellation of a renovation project has left some Kirksville residents wondering just what exactly the DREAM Initiative will do for their town.

Carlson Gardener, Inc. of Springfield, Mo., had a two-year option in place to purchase the Traveler's Hotel building in downtown Kirksville. The group planned to renovate the old hotel into apartments for rent, creating unique housing in Kirksville's downtown. The deal fell through, however, and now the hotel remains vacant.

"The contract was contingent upon Carlson Gardener receiving a favorable award," said Mark Whitney, a real estate agent with Century 21. "Carlson Gardener filled out the application for the award. Unfortunately, the project wasn't approved."

A favorable award given by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) would have meant a tax break for Carlson Gardener, Inc. Whitney said the owners of the Traveler's Hotel took it off the market after the contract fell through and that they currently are reviewing their options.

"Carlson Gardener, Inc. submits applications for multiple projects in several communities," Denise Ogan of Carlson Gardener, Inc. said. "Unfortunately, the Kirksville project was denied by the MHDC, and we made the decision to pursue other projects in other communities" city manager Mari Macomber said Carlson Gardener, Inc. will now pursue business elsewhere.

"Originally Carlson Gardener was going to pursue the two-year option and try again," Macomber said. "[Carlson Gardener Inc.] then chose a project closer to Springfield."

Thanks to the federal government and the Community Development Block Grant, a grant started in 1974 to promote the growth of smaller local governments, the state of Missouri was given $3.5 million to put toward developing various communities. Of that figure, $2.5 million goes toward the initiative.

The Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri program (DREAM) is an effort by the state of Missouri to revamp and prepare cities for growth in population as well as businesses. Rather than simply providing a DREAM city with money, the initiative provides resources and services that a city either cannot afford or has decided not to pursue. In 2008 the DREAM Initiative will provide Kirksville with $214,000 in services. Kirksville residents are paying for 20 percent of that - about $43,000.

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