Joplin rail station becomes senior apartments

Senior housing will take on a new look later this year as the old Frisco Railway Station in Joplin is converted into a 57-unit apartment building.

The nearly century-old historic building at 601 S. Main St. had been vacant for more than 14 years when Carlson Gardner Inc. initiated development of the property. Carlson Gardner develops housing for both families and seniors throughout the state of Missouri, according to Denise Ogan, manager of development and acquisitions.

Springfield-based Carlson Gardner retains ownership within the project in association with Frisco Station Apartments LP, Ogan said. The project is a joint venture with Economic Security Corporation, a Joplin based not-for-profit agency.

ESC is responsible for seeking affordable housing for the residents of Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald counties, according to CEO John Joines.

"There's a consistent need in our area for more housing, but specifically for senior housing," Joines said.

Work on the building began last summer and the project should be completed by September. The architectural firm for the project is Stark Wilson Duncan Architects Inc., and the structural engineer is the Walter P. Moore Company, both from Kansas City. The mechanical/electrical engineer is Professional Design Consultants, based in Lee's Summit. Environmental Works and Gerken Environmental, both of Springfield, were in charge of abatement of any environmentally hazardous products existing in the building.

The estimated cost of the project is $6.5 million, according to Denton Cline, chief estimator with Larry Snyder & Co., project contractor.

Carlson Gardner was awarded historic tax credits for restoring the building. Ogan said the historic tax credit program is important to a project such as this one because it generates an additional equity source and it ensures that the building and its history will be preserved.

When completely restored, the 80,000-square-foot building will closely resemble its original design.

"There are a lot of challenges in making it look like it did before," Cline said.

"You have to find, or have manufactured, a brick that matches the brick from back then. That presents a major challenge being a nine-story building."

The railway station's main lobby area, where passengers once boarded trains, is being recreated to look the way it did when the building was new.

"We're keeping that as a common, open area, so when you walk in it will look like it did in 1907," Ogan said.

She said one of the requirements of the historic tax credit program is to restore the corridors to their original design. The marble on the walls, the doors and the wood casing and trims around the doorways were all removed and restored and then remounted.

"All this adds time to a project," Cline said, "but when it's done we've preserved a neat old building and made use of it instead of tearing it down."

Ogan said the city of Joplin provided grant funding and was supportive of the project. "The Frisco building has been a priority for the city and community for a long time," she said.

In addition to meeting all Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing design requirements, the project also meets universal design standards. Ogan said those standards are not required, but they include amenities that cater to elderly and handicapped occupants.

Joines said the building is in a perfect location for senior living. A police station, library, Social Security office, YMCA and other services are all located within a few blocks, he said. An emergency ambulance service is located directly behind the building. "There are so many services that surround the property, it's a natural fit," Joines said.

Rent for the one- and two-bedroom units will run from $315 to $395. ESC, which will have an office within the facility, already has a list of people interested in the apartments. Joines said they are not yet qualifying residents, but they have information available. They will contact the people on the list when the building is closer to opening, he said.

"I don't think we'll have any problem whatsoever filling the building," Joines said.