1 week Ago By By Lucas Geisler
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Department of Veterans Affairs is searching for a building in Columbia for a new research facility. The VA is taking bids to lease a 70,000-square-foot building for research and office space.
Bid documents show the government wants to rent a building between 59,709-70,246 square feet and 250 parking spots. The documents do not say what kind of research would take place at the facility. Bids are open until Dec.
20. VA public affairs specialist Gary Kunich told ABC 17 News the department could not comment on the specifics of the plan beyond the bid documents. "VA is committed to improving Veterans’ lives through health care research," Kunich said in an email.
"VA researchers across the nation explore a wide range of issues to uncover and understand new and innovative treatments that help both Veterans and the American people." Documents show the facility would sport 258 rooms. Sections include those for imaging, surgery and animal holding and handling.
At least two developers have submitted plans to the City of Columbia to build brand-new facilities for the VA on the north side of town. One of them -- from Vet Med Property LLC -- would go on the southwest corner of Range Line Street and Blue Ridge Road near the Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins restaurant. Another proposal from Columbia engineer Ben Ross calls for a facility on the east side of Range Line Street, just north of Smiley Lane.
Ward 2 Councilwoman Lisa Meyer said the area is in need of development. Meyer said she hoped the development -- if the VA chooses north Columbia -- would spur more housing and other business like grocery stores and restaurants. "You drive by and you see this unused land, it's not being used to its highest and best use, how fantastic is would be," Meyer said.
"That means more jobs, that's healthy for economic development." The bid documents do not specify if the new facility would create new jobs at the VA or move existing employees at the Harry Truman VA Hospital. The VA is the fifth-largest employer in the City of Columbia, according to the city's fiscal year 2025 budget, with 1,957 workers.
The hospital's website says its R&D department helps "facilitate discovery and innovation through state-of-the-art discoveries. "Our basic scientists and clinician investigators are studying a wide range of medical issues that are important not only to our Veterans, but to the health our nation as well," the website said. While the two proposals with the city are in north Columbia, the VA's bid is open to any property in the city that can handle the facility.
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