The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (JCCVB) board of directors has signed a new long-term lease for its headquarters.
The board of directors voted to approve a five-year lease with Greyson Manor LLC, owners of the property at 700 E. Captiol Ave.
JCCVB’s base rent is $62,400 through monthly installments of $5,200. The base rent, according to the commercial lease contract between JCCVB and Greyson Manor, will increase 3 percent cumulatively each calendar year after 2024. The lease is automatically renewed each year until the end of 2029, when the bureau will pay about $70,200 for that year’s rent.
Greyson Manor is responsible for electric and gas services not to exceed $7,560 a year, and water and sewer services not to exceed $1,080 a year.
JCCVB occupies the second floor of the building, named the Col. Darwin W. Marmaduke House for its first tenant and former warden of the Missouri State Penitentiary. JCCVB also uses the basement of the building as a museum of the Missouri State Penitentiary.
The bureau has operated out of the Marmaduke House since 2016, according to JCCVB Executive Director Diane Gillespie.
Greyson Manor purchased the building earlier this year from Jeff Schaeperkoetter of Oakbrook Properties LLC, according to the Cole County Assessor’s Office.
JCCVB board member Andy Fetchel said he’s not concerned about the price increasing each year.
“We knew that if the past landlords would have stayed here and would have fixed all the things that needed to be fixed, our rent would have taken a substantial increase. At least we’ve got the repairs and maintenance being done on the building to justify the increase in rent and those kinds of things,” Fetchel said.
Board member and treasurer Brian Bernskoetter said he’s pleased with the owner, DJ Drury, and his work on the structure so far.
“This is probably not the option that we envisioned because, honestly, we didn’t think anyone was going to buy it (the Marmaduke House). But they did, and that’s great,” Bernskoetter said. “I think this is awesome, I think (Drury) has made an invesment, we’re good tenants to have, and I think he sounds like a good owner.”
Gillespie said Drury is currently occupied with repairing the roof at the former Simonsen Ninth Grade Center at 501 E. Miller St., another building Drury owns through another company, Daegans Consortium LLC.
“I think then some things will start happening, I hope,” Gillespie said.
She said she isn’t too concerned about Drury taking some time away from the Marmaduke House for other projects.
“He seems like a reasonable enough guy, if you just brought up, like, ‘Hey, so about those steps,’ he’d get on it,” Fetchel said.
The owners of the Marmaduke House on Capitol Avenue have been seeking commercial entities to rent the upstairs floor.
Drury said his LLC is interested in either a non-profit organization, a government agency or simply a “like-minded company” that aims to promote Missouri’s capital.
He last showed the office spaces to a nonprofit grant-writing organization, Gillespie said.
JCCVB’s board of directors also voted to name Fetchel as chair and Deb Brown as vice chair of the board.
Outgoing chair Kevin Zumwalt presented outgoing vice chairman Michele Braun with a plaque recognizing Braun’s nine years with the bureau.
“She’s been on the board in many positions and helped us out a lot,” he said.
Braun’s term expires in December.
“I know this doesn’t mean you’re not going to be involved with us one way or another,” Zumwalt said.
The board voted for Zumwalt to take over Shelley Klebba’s role as secretary and for Bernskoetter to remain as treasurer.
“I was more than happy to step aside as the chair, and when Andy expressed interest, I made a point to reach out to him and say, ‘I’ll back you, dude.’ It’s great, I’m glad to see it,” Zumwalt said.
Stephi Smith/News Tribune The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau uses the basement and first floor of the Col. Darwin W. Marmaduke House at 700 E. Capitol Ave. The owners are seeking a commercial entity to rent the third floor.
Stephi Smith/News Tribune The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau has signed a new lease with Greyson Manor to rent out two floors of the Col. Darwin W. Marmaduke House at 700 E. Capitol Ave.