Jefferson City is now the proud owner of 32 acres of the Missouri State Penitentiary, which the city plans to redevelop to attract more tourists.
Gov. Eric Greitens signed Senate Bill 486 Tuesday, granting the city 31.82 acres of the old prison grounds. The bill - sponsored by state Sen. Mike Kehoe and carried in the House by state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter - passed the Senate unanimously in March and the House 127-17 in May.
"What this conveyance does is it gives us the opportunity to work with the city, to work with the county and help us revitalize this property and I hope to continue some real, tremendous progress," Greitens said. "This is a fantastic example of what can happen when the city, county and state come together and start working together."
Greitens said redeveloping this area will attract more tourists to not only the city but also the state.
Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, who was not present at the signing since she is out of state, said this is a "historic day" for the city, county and state.
"The potential is so amazing for MSP, and now with this bill singing, it allows us to move forward and continue with prison redevelopment and take what we currently have at MSP and get it to the next level," she said. "This will bring new life to the entire area, and Gov. Greitens signing the bill today is what really is going to help bring this project to reality."
Of the site's 140 acres, 128 acres are undeveloped. While the city will develop 32 acres, the state will control 95 acres to the east.
Tergin said now that the city has possession of the land, it will work with the state and county to discuss how to develop the land. The council plans on using a master plan developed by a redevelopment commission in 2001 as a guide.
The city hopes the next step is building the MSP Parkway on 4.4 acres. The parkway will go from the circle end of Lafayette Street, east and south through the property, eventually connecting with East Capitol Avenue. Another roundabout will be located east of Chestnut Street.
Of the 31.82 acres, the railroad takes up 6.2 acres and the Lafayette Street right of away uses 1.5 acres.
The city plans to partner with Cole County and use the joint city-county sales tax funds to fund the construction of the parkway. The cost of the parkway is unknown.
After the parkway is built, the city will have 19.7 acres left to develop.
Proposed redevelopment uses included dining areas, entertainment venues, hotels, retail stores and offices.
MSP operated as a prison for 168 years, from 1836-2004 when prisoners were moved to the Jefferson City Correctional Center. The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau leases the prison from the state for prison tours, which started in 2009.
Ward 5 Councilman Mark Schreiber, who was a deputy warden of operations at MSP, said he is excited to see positive redevelopment, especially after he witnessed tragedies in the prison.
"This is just a new chapter; it's a new dawn in the chapter of MSP," he said. "We need to take advantage of and capitalize on what we've got and that's exactly what we're trying to do with the MSP property. It's a great economic opportunity, but it also makes sure our history is preserved with all the men and women that gave a lot of sacrifices in here, that were killed and injured and worked in the heat and cold and everything like that. It's not only a new beginning but it's going to be an age of enlightenment."
While the gas chamber is part of the 32 acres the city now owns, it will be available for tours. The main prison buildings used for the tours will also remain under the state's possession.