Council to hear TIF request

Dec. 20—An agreement to provide tax increment financing for the proposed 32nd Street Place retail development will be considered Monday night by the Joplin City Council.

The development would be anchored by a Menards home improvement store. It would eventually involve construction of 300 units of multifamily housing, a movie theater, retail and commercial buildings, as well as the renovation of the former Holiday Inn hotel. Those projects are proposed in five phases through 2027.

The developer is Woodsonia Real Estate Group, which previously built the Natural Grocers store at Seventh Street and Range Line Road.

Joplin's TIF Commission in October recommended approval of Woodsonia's request for TIF financing. The commission approved four resolutions related to the financing.

Another special tax district, a community improvement district, also will be considered for final approval. It would provide about $21.3 million toward the project's costs. It would allow the development to collect an extra cent of sales tax in the retail areas except Menards for project funding.

Drew Snyder, president of Woodsonia, told the TIF commission that the former Joplin Convention Center on Hammons Boulevard is not included in the development plan.

Project costs, which have been revised since planning started nine months ago, are now estimated at $188.8 million. Of that, nearly $139 million, or about 73%, would be private investment and debt. The developer is seeking tax increment financing of about $28.7 million of the cost.

In order to qualify for TIF funding, properties must meet certain specifications in the state law. One of those is blight.

In addition to the TIF request, the council will hold a public hearing on a zoning question for the construction of a new restaurant at 3507 E. 20th St., which is east of the Mercy Convenient Care and Academy Sports store.

The request would change zoning of the property from heavy industrial to commercial. City documents do not identify the type or name of the restaurant that is proposed for the location. The request was made by Josh Comer, who is not identified in the documents.

The council also will hear a quarterly economic development update from Toby Teeter, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

An update also will be given regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of business items — including a contract for appraisal services for property needed for the widening of Connecticut Avenue from 32nd Street south to the Interstate 44 bridge — will be presented for approval.

After the regular meeting, a notice of closed session is cited by the agenda for the purpose of council consideration of lease, sale or purchase of public property.

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