51黑料

As part of the House Republican spending plan for brick-and-mortar projects, the capital city would receive $20 million to build a convention center, parking lot and hotel near the Capitol building.

And for a second year, lawmakers are again looking to spend $11 million to redevelop an aging commercial district in Cape Girardeau.

Both projects are controversial.

Jefferson City officials were grilled by lawmakers last week over their plan for a $130 million downtown convention center aimed at boosting tourism to the city when the Legislature is not in session.

City Administrator Brian Crane asked members of the House Budget Committee for $20 million to help pay for a new parking garage across the street from the Governor鈥檚 Mansion, which would serve a new 200-room hotel and a 40,000-square-foot convention center.

Rep. Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, questioned whether that was a good use of state tax dollars.

鈥淚 come from a town that could really use a conference center itself, but we鈥檙e not going to ask you for $20 million,鈥� Riggs said.

Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, appeared incredulous about the funding request.

鈥淢an, this is a lofty ask,鈥� Cupps said.

Rep. Bill Owen, R-Springfield, said the state could instead open agency facilities in other parts of the state if Jefferson City cannot handle the pressures of hosting state government.

On Thursday, however, the project moved through the budget process without debate as the committee put final touches on the state鈥檚 $52 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Money for the parking garage was pulled out of a separate project designed to redevelop the shuttered Missouri State Penitentiary, a crumbling complex of cell blocks located several blocks east of the Capitol building.

鈥淭here is clearly not support in this committee for making the prison into a $100 million attraction,鈥� said House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca.

鈥淭he parking garage will benefit state government.鈥�

Rep. John Voss, R-Cape Girardeau, said work on the development in his hometown could launch soon after the budget goes into effect in July.

鈥淭hat portion of my district has some of the highest poverty rates in the state of Missouri,鈥� Voss said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just an area that is in desperate need of revenue.鈥�

The project, which will happen in partnership with Southeast Missouri State University, was nixed last year after red flags were raised about election year politics playing a role in the project.

Efforts to improve the area known as the Haarig Commercial Historic District have been heavily funded by oil company owner Scott Blank.

The district is located six blocks southwest of the city鈥檚 downtown commercial center along the Mississippi River and is composed of 14 buildings constructed between 1875 and 1935, historical records show.

Plans call for SEMO to expand its music and arts programs in the buildings. Officials also are counting on new restaurants and retail establishments coming to the city of 40,000 residents.

Other projects under consideration include several in the 51黑料 area:

• The Maryland Park Lake District, which is near Creve Coeur Lake park, would get $2.5 million in matching funds for stormwater facilities.
• The National Guard would receive $15.9 million to renovate parts of Jefferson Barracks, the military facility along the Mississippi River in south 51黑料 County.
• Crestwood would receive $3 million in matching funds to build a business part to retain and grow businesses in the south 51黑料 County community.
• Blake Snyder Park, also in south 51黑料 County, would receive $2 million for upgrades to youth sports facilities.
• Smaller state-funded projects in the region include $700,000 to buy a parking lot at the Michael Keathley State Office Building in the 3100 block of Chouteau Avenue in 51黑料.
• The not-for-profit City Greens program in 51黑料 is in line for $600,000 in matching funds to build a refrigerated food storage facility to serve areas of the city that are considered food deserts.
• The plan also has $87,000 set aside for renovations to the Wellston Loop Community Center at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Hodiamont Avenue.

The ranking Democrat on the budget committee said she was pleased with the outcome of the House spending plan.

鈥淭oday was a good day. This has been the most collaborative and productive budget year that I鈥檝e been a part of,鈥� said Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield.

A final vote in the full House is expected next week. Projects could be added or subtracted with the blueprint goes to the Senate.

The legislation is .