JOPLIN, Mo. —
Bunny Newton took part of his lunch hour Wednesday for a drive to Joplin’s Union Depot.
The longtime downtown businessman and resident was in the City Council audience on Tuesday night when City Manager Mark Rohr proposed the next step of a downtown development plan. It calls for a town green, a cultural arts and entertainment center, and renovation of the historic depot to house the Joplin Museum Complex now located in Schifferdecker Park.
Newton, whose family jewelry business has been at Fifth and Main streets since 1939, said he likes the whole proposal and is “especially excited about the depot.”
“It’s such a beautiful building that it shouldn’t be allowed to go to waste,” he said of the 100-year-old building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cautionary notes
The depot also got the focus among other downtown merchants and customers who were discussing the city proposal Wednesday. Despite praise for the plan, cautionary notes were sounded by a few who questioned whether the projects could be completed without new taxes.
Rohr told the council that the town green and depot projects could be financed by the use of “carefully structured” tax credits, with tax credits and private financing envisioned for the arts and entertainment center. The council endorsed the proposal and authorized Rohr to spend up to $25,000 to hire architects and other professionals to further refine the plan.
Missouri tax credit programs have come under increasing scrutiny during the state’s budget crunch, as jobs and programs have been cut to balance the budget.
The state continues “to recognize and promote the fact that tax incentives create jobs and boost economic development,” said John Fougere, director of communications for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, in a phone interview Wednesday.
“I can’t speak for the federal programs, but Gov. (Jay) Nixon has made clear that all state tax credit programs must provide a tangible return in terms of jobs created,” he said. “With those programs that are not providing a tangible return on investment, the state will be looking hard at reducing them or scrapping them altogether.”
“I think it’s a really good idea if they can do it without a tax increase,” said Doyle Conroe, who was downtown visiting with the owner of All Things Grand, 424 S. Main St.
“I’d love to see the depot saved and restored,” he said. “I’d really like to see something done with the old Carnegie Library too.”
‘Awesome structure’
The Union Depot “is an awesome structure, architecturally,” Catherine Ramoly said during lunch at Columbia Traders.
“I’ve passed by it many times, and I always thought something should be done with it,” she said. “I always thought it would be a great railroad museum.”
Both Newton and Ramoly also like Rohr’s idea for a town green, which he proposed for an area just east of the 100 block of South Main Street. An artist’s concept shows that Virginia Avenue would be incorporated into the park area in the 100 block.
“It would beautify that area of Main Street and encourage business development in that part of Main Street,” Newton said.
Newton said he has been happy with the growth along Main Street downtown in the wake of streetscaping and other projects originally proposed by Rohr five years ago.
Jane Richart, owner of Upstairs Boutique, 502 S. Main St., agreed.
“I love what’s been done, and I think the new ideas are great,” she said. “We’ve been downtown for 14 years, waiting for it to come alive.”
Newton said he had thought, from time to time, about moving away from downtown. “I’m glad we didn’t give in,” he said.
Outdoor gatherings
Ramoly said the town green would provide space for larger outdoor gatherings downtown. She said the normally used Spiva Park at Fourth and Main streets “is too small for any crowd.”
But Ramoly said she does not believe there should be a tax increase to finance the project, or that funding should be redirected from other city projects.
“I know things are tight,” she said. “The one thing I wouldn’t want to see done is for money to be reallocated from things that need to be done.”
The green would be in an area owned by Dave Wright that includes John and Dave’s Automotive, 101 S. Virginia Ave. Wright was unavailable Wednesday for comment.
Also unavailable for comment was Brad Belk, director of the Joplin Museum Complex. Allen Shirley, president of the museum’s board of directors, said Tuesday night that museum officials are “ready to sit down and discuss what would be required.”
Rejected
Joplin Museum Complex officials earlier had proposed renovating Memorial Hall as museum space, but voters in April rejected a proposed sales tax to fund the project.
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Related Photos
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Town Green Urban Park Courtesy/City of Joplin
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Town Green Urban Park Courtesy/City of Joplin
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Town Green Urban Park Courtesy/City of Joplin
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Town Green Urban Park Courtesy/City of Joplin
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Town Green Urban Park Courtesy/City of Joplin
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