From the Ground Up: Kids First Early Learning Academy and Kids Inn Child Care Center
1507 and 1511 E. Lark St.
BY: KAREN CRAIGO, REPORTERkcraigo@sbj.net
Owner/developer: 1500 Lark LLC
General contractor: H.C. Rogers Construction Group LLC
Architect: Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective
Engineers: Miller Engineering PC, structural; Anderson Engineering Inc., civil; and Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective, mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 7,500 square feet
Cost: WND
Lender: Mid-Missouri Bank
Projected completion: March
Project description: Two child care businesses will be housed in a new building being erected on a vacant site in southwest Springfield, according to Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective spokesperson Amy Pennington. Kids First Early Learning Academy LLC, directed by Leah Peebles, is relocating from 4344 S. Fremont Ave., and Kids Inn Child Care Center LLC is a new business venture for Christina Ford, founder of nonprofit The Rebound Foundation. The separate businesses will share a playground area. The facilities will operate south of Republic Road and east of Fremont Avenue, one block from the current location of Kids First. According to the Kids First website, the academy focuses on building academic and social skills for kids age 1-6. Kids Inn is a drop-in child care center for children ages 6 months to 12 years, and it will be open days, evenings, nights and weekends.