Jim Koman's $70 million lesson plan for SWIC
St. Louis Business Journal - August 24, 2007

Southwestern Illinois College may soon have what few other community colleges can boast -- a mixed-use development on campus that provides housing, stores and work opportunities.

Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC), located in unincorporated St. Clair County at the northeast corner of Carlyle Avenue and Green Mount Road near Belleville, has selected St. Louis-based Koman Properties to develop 23 acres on the school's campus. The school issued a request for proposals to developers in January for the undeveloped land that's adjacent to its main campus.

The $70 million plan, which still must be approved by SWIC's board of trustees, includes up to 70,000 square feet of retail space, 100,000 square feet of office space, 90 apartments and a 75,000-square-foot hotel. No tenants have yet been named for The Shoppes at College Square, as the retail portion of the project will be called.

Pending approval from the board of trustees, construction could start before the end of the year and be completed within two years. Asking office rental rates will range between $17.50 and $21 per square foot. Rental rates for the residential units, featuring both furnished units and unfurnished lofts, have not been established. The project includes plans for jogging/walking trails, a fountain, and open space for events and concerts.

"There are very few college campuses that have this much ground available," said Koman Properties President Jim Koman. "We believe we have a unique opportunity to create a community college experience that more closely mirrors the four-year campus lifestyle as we bring amenities that will become a more integral part of the students' education and social lives."

A lender and general contractor have not yet been selected. Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets Inc. designed the site plan. Stephen Schott of Koman Properties is project manager.

SWIC decided to pursue commercial development on the 23 acres after it acquired a 156-acre parcel east of the campus in May 2006 for $5.25 million. It plans to use that land for future expansion of the school's facilities.

The community college, which has 25,000 full-time and part-time students, also has campuses in Granite City and Red Bud. Construction also is under way on a new $25.5 million academic building on campus that will be completed this fall.

SWIC President Elmer Kirchoff said businesses that locate within Koman Properties' planned development will give students work-study opportunities. "We feel like it will enhance students' opportunities greatly and give them the chance to practice what they learn in their courses." SWIC has not yet determined whether it will sell the property to Koman Properties or lease it to the developer.

Koman said he's already begun talks with potential office tenants interested in locating within the development. "It would be very attractive to have an employee base right at your doorstep," Koman said.

Several new retail developments have been proposed near SWIC's campus in recent weeks due in part to the growing population nearby. Koman's proposed Shoppes at College Square project is across the street from St. Louis-based THF Realty's $90 million Green Mount Commons Shopping Center in Belleville. North of THF's development in Belleville, St. Louis-based Gundaker Commercial Group has partnered with Waterloo-based J2K Development to build a $140 million mixed-use development on 172 acres of farmland at Green Mount Road and Shiloh Station West in Shiloh. And last week, McEagle Properties of St. Louis announced its plans for a $750 million mixed-use development on 586 acres at Green Mount Road and Frank Scott Parkway in Shiloh.

Kirchoff said he hopes Koman's development will pave the way for the school's property to be annexed to the city of Belleville.

"We're talking to the city, and we think this could be the vehicle that makes it happen," Kirchoff said.

lrbrown@bizjournals.com

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