Downtown revitalization enters critical phase

The city is six months into its revitalization plan and has spent $850,000 on two of downtown’s 10 blocks, adding brick paving to the roads and placing trash receptacles, small trees and streetlights along the sidewalks, said City Manager Mark Rohr. Another $1.25 million in federal funding has been secured for the streetscape project.

There also are plans to add building murals, a town clock and street vendors.

The city’s plan doesn’t have an exact timeline, so as not to “restrict the momentum,” Rohr said.

“We’re off to a good start here, and we hope the private sector investment follows the efforts and the commitment the city is making,” he said. “Investors like to see the city’s commitment and see what’s taking shape and what the possibilities are before they commit.”

Catalyst for rebirth

Until 2001, investing in Joplin was not too popular an idea. The city was nearly dead, said John Joines, CEO of Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area.

That’s when Springfield’s Carlson-Gardner Inc., in partnership with Joines’ group, made the first move.

The two collaborated in the renovation of the 1913-built Frisco Station building ¬– which had been in ruins – into a 57-unit senior citizen apartment building. That project was completed in 2003.

Across the street from the Frisco, the city followed suit and declared its faith in downtown by renovating the former Newman’s department store at the corner of Sixth and Main into its City Hall, which was completed in February 2005.

“Now you’ve got two huge buildings in downtown Joplin that have been done, which represents a significant investment in downtown,” said Mark Gardner of Carlson-Gardner. “So the question becomes: Is this going to create enough activity to be the catalyst for the rebirth of downtown Joplin?”

$20 million in investments

As it turned out, it has.

Developers now are snatching up downtown real estate. Business owners are considering relocating to downtown, Joines said. Joplin banks are gladly offering financing.

“Once you see that it’s really going to work – and that’s the hard part – then it’s a bandwagon,” Gardner said. “Everybody wants on it.”

Rohr said the city has about $20 million in announced development downtown so far.

Developer Jeff Neal of Joplin’s The Neal Group is in the middle of renovating 116,250 square feet at 418 and 420 S. Main Street. For about $1.2 million, Neal is creating eight upstairs apartments, office space and a grocery store and deli on the first floor.

Neal’s apartments will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with granite countertops, hardwood floors and refinished 1890s Victorian trim. He says he has no doubt there is a market for luxury housing downtown and plans to rent the units for as much as $950 per month.

“Joplin is in many ways still a small town, but our metropolitan community is growing, and people are certainly interested in increasing their options,” Neal said.

Also under construction are three more buildings by Carlson-Gardner and Economic Security Corp. They have begun a $9 million renovation of the 88-year-old Zahn building, at 320 S. Wall St., and Ridgway Apartments, at 402 and 404 S. Byers Ave.

Joines said the Zahn will become 16 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments, all equipped with Internet and geared toward young professionals. Leasing will begin in August, and the project is expected to be finished in September 2007, Joines said.

The Ridgway, built in 1912, will house 24 apartment units in its two buildings.

Expectations

On Main Street, Springfield developer Matt Miller of Matt Miller Co., purchased some property May 1 with no intention to renovate it – yet.

“I bought it in expectation of appreciation, because I think their downtown’s catching on,” Miller said, declining to disclose the purchase price.

The 15,000-square-foot building currently houses several commercial tenants, including a gift shop and an architect’s office, Miller said. Its second floor is vacant.

Miller, like Gardner and Neal, said he watched the wildfire growth in Springfield’s downtown in the last decade and saw the same potential in Joplin.

“It’s structured a lot differently (than Springfield), but there are a lot of neat buildings,” Miller said. “I think it will develop differently than Springfield, but I think it will develop.”

Rohr agrees.

“It’s starting to pick up,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]