HVAC repairs at Armory to cost more than $2 million

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Armory Sports and Recreation Center in downtown Columbia will close for a few months beginning in October for HVAC repairs.

Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington told ABC 17 News in an email that the Armory will be closed from Monday, Oct. 5 through the first week of January.

City documents show the cost of the project will be $2,038,726, which will be paid with “from the City’s internal loan fund,” which will be paid off in 12. 1 years. Loan payments of $1,668,700 will be made in the final 10 years of the loan, documents say.

Huffington wrote that CARE offices temporarily relocated to the Water’s House @ Waters-Moss Memorial Wildlife Area and Community Recreation staff will work at other parks and recreation facilities.

The gym will not be available for rental while the project occurs. The Silver and Gold drop-in program will be moved to Waters House. A number of events – including Spiritually Growing, Kwanzaa Celebration and Black Business Expo, Community Recreation Holiday Party and Toys for Columbia’s Youth – will be moved to the Activity and Recreation Center. Other “drop-in” programs will be canceled during the closure.