The City of Joplin hosted a press conference yesterday to update the progress of recovery efforts following the May 22, 2011 tornado. During the press conference, City Manager Mark Rohr discussed the residential building permits are up to 79% of the 7,500 homes affected by the storm.
“This number is a good indicator that people are moving forward in their construction and repairs to their homes,” he said. “We are feeling very positive about the activity that we have seen throughout 2012. We know it’s been a difficult time for all affected, but yet their positive energy continues to show, and we’re proud of our citizens and their endurance. We always said that this recovery is not a race, but a marathon.”
With this perspective, Rohr noted that the City is also keeping pace throughout this recovery. “We originally were concerned about minimizing population loss and worked hard to lessen any population loss for our community. Now, with the numbers we’ve been given and are reviewing, it is very possible that our community will see a population growth within the next three years, which is our goal. Time will tell, although the redevelopment proposals from the master developer are strong and will create a synergy in our community that we feel will draw people into Joplin.”
Commercial recovery continues also in Joplin and surrounding area. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce noted that 90% of the 553 affected businesses have reopened or have plans to do so, and that several new businesses are creating more job opportunities. Last week, the Chamber hosted Heartland Pet Products for a ground-breaking to start construction on a new 400,000 square-foot facility. Owned by Blue Buffalo Company, this new facility will create approximately 150 new jobs. Company officials acknowledged the resilience and solid work ethic of the people in the community was compelling and was a major factor in their decision to build the facility in the in Joplin’s Crossroads Industrial Park.
David Wallace, chief executive officer of Wallace Bajjali, master developer contracted by the City, provided an update to the potential Joplin has currently. Noting a list of projects as the “Redevelopment Launchpad”, Wallace discussed these developments that will be a turning point for Joplin. These include:
1. 20th Street Anchor Redevelopment
2. Overall 20th Street Redevelopment
3. Housing Redevelopment - Principal Reduction Plan
4. Post Graduate Educational Facility
5. Arts & Entertainment Center
6. Joplin Museum Complex
7. Trails Network – Connecting All Parts of the City
8.Completion of Downtown Renovation
9. Overall Recovery of Tornado Area
10. Future Development of Broadway – Route 66 corridor
The first project listed, the 20th Street Anchor Redevelopment, relates to a resolution recently passed by the Joplin City Council to apply for a $20 million grant from the Economic Development Administration. This grant application is seeking disaster assistance to help in the economic recovery following the tornado. Wallace provided information to the City Council about the anchor project, noting that it would locate a public library and theater complex in the same facility. With this type of structure, Wallace noted that the revenues of the commercial operation would enable other projects on the list to occur.
“These projects will have a domino effect,” said Rohr. “Some of the projects on the list have been discussed in the past as we envisioned the future. Now, as we work on the recovery of our community, they have become intertwined with the redevelopment of 20th Street. The projects’ completions rely on the others in a matter of speaking, and all relate to repairing the scar that May 22nd, 2011 left on our community. Although not all of the projects are in the disaster area, they are part of the holistic approach as we work on the recovery from the tornado.”
Wallace and his staff continue to meet with community leaders, city officials and the general public to gain feedback on their ideas about the future of Joplin. On Monday, October 29, Wallace Bajjali will host two informational meetings about the redevelopments. The public is encouraged to attend. The meetings are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again, at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Joplin City Hall Basement Conference Room. In addition, members of the Joplin Citizen Advisory Recovery Team (CART) will be seeking input for a community memorial that has been under discussion during previous CART meetings. Citizens will again have an opportunity to voice their thoughts and ideas to CART leaders as in previous meetings held by this citizens group.
For more information about the meeting or data shared during the press conference, contact the City’s Public Information Office at 417-624-0820, ext. 204. Presentations made by David Wallace, chief executive officer and co-founder of Wallace Bajjali, relating to these developments can be found on the City’s website at www.joplinmo.org
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