The City of Columbia has approved the building plans for the controversial Opus Group development downtown.
In a press release Thursday, the city said Opus now had a permit to demolish three buildings on the north side of Locust Street between 7th and 8th streets, pending utilities being disconnected and a tenant moving out. Then Opus would be allowed to begin work on the six story, 256 bed apartment building it plans to build on the site, once it pays $319,779 in fees and charges collected by the city.
On top of that, the city council approved a development agreement in May that would obligate Opus to pay $450,000 dollars to the city to help pay for water and sewer system upgrades. But Opus and the city have not signed that agreement yet, as a group opposing the development continues its efforts to thwart the project. The permits have been approved despite that agreement not being signed.
Repeal 6214's petition to make city council vote to repeal the ordinance allowing the Opus Group developments or let voters decide on the issue was certified by the city clerk yesterday, according to the Columbia Missourian. The city council now has 30 days to act.