Ray (webmaster) on 12/8/2010 8:11:48 PM:
[ link ]By Eric Berger Boonville Daily NewsPosted Dec 07, 2010A pair of agreements that give the City of Boonville control of buildings envisioned to be part of a tourism hub near the Katy Trail received the City Council’s approval at a meeting Monday.Tourism Director Lisa McClary said that acquiring and renovating Katy Depot and Gingrich Warehouse building would attract more travelers from the trail.“The end goal is a tourism hub,” McClary said.Several residents and business people spoke in support of the projects during the public comment section.Barron Fuller, general manager of the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, said he had experienced a similar situation in Marquette, Iowa where there had been attempts to develop an old railroad depot. He said the efforts dragged on for 16 years until the city found a developer.The project is expected to take five years and estimated to cost between $300,000 and $500,000. That includes acquiring the Gingrich building, renovation of both buildings and finding a new location for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources office currently in the Katy Depot.